Old guard members counter allegations of a pro-gay stance

Straits Times - April 25, 2009

Old guard members counter allegations of a pro-gay stance

AWARE'S old guard yesterday rejected the new leaders' accusation that the association had become pro-lesbian and pro-homosexual. This was their response to the allegations made on Thursday.

PROMOTED A LESBIAN MOVIE

Aware sponsored the screening of the lesbian-themed movie, Spider Lilies, at its charity gala two years ago.

Former Aware president Constance Singam, 72: 'Over the years some of the movies we have screened include Singapore Dreaming, Mrs Henderson Presents, The Soong Sisters, Summer Snow and Paradise Road.

We exercise our judgment. Earlier this year an Israeli Film, Seed Of Summer, was offered to us but we turned it down because the subject matter was sensitive and controversial - it dealt with military service and lesbianism.

Spider Lilies was about the relationship between a tattoo artist and a Web camera woman. One of my exco members - a mother of three boys - told me the two protagonists' sexuality was secondary. It was a film about love, companionship and longing.'

HAD A MEN'S WORKSHOP

Aware invited Mr Bert Bjarland, a Finnish gender activist, to hold a workshop.

Male associate member Tan Wah Kiat, 37: 'Bert Bjarland had spent 20 years working with men's groups in Finland and wanted this issue tackled in Aware. His workshop helped men to recognise that there are many different masculinities.

We do not want to live in a box where men are supposed to be all macho, rough and aggressive; and women, soft, meek and domesticated.

I used to be a jock, and that is one of my biggest regrets. Joining Aware, I learnt the value of being soft and sensitive. I've been happily married for seven years. It really helps to build family and personal relationships.'

WANTS TO LET MEN VOTE

Former Aware president Dana Lam, 57: 'We have been discussing this in Aware for years. We are a bit divided over this.

We women have been saying that decisions - public, personal, family - cannot be made by only men; that they have to be made jointly with men. If we walk the talk, then we have to give men the right to vote.

On the other hand, some of us feel we are not that ready to admit a male voice in the organisation. We are still debating this, and debate is healthy.'

MOTHER'S DAY 2006

Aware held an event featuring lesbian-friendly mothers and lesbian daughters talking about themselves.

Aware member Corinna Lim: 'We had mothers with lesbian daughters coming together to share their pain and issues in a very supportive environment.

It was done in a loving way. How could they say it was bad when they didn't even attend the forum? To me, that was love. The bond between a mother and child is precious, no matter what the circumstances.'

INVITED GAY ACTIVIST ALEX AU

Former Aware president Tan Joo Hymn, 38: 'This forum, Playing It Safe: Keeping HIV At Bay, was organised because statistics showed that cases of women contracting Aids had shot up in Singapore.

Mr Au was one of four people at the forum; the others were a doctor, a representative from Action For Aids and then Aware president Braema Mathi.'

REACHING OUT TO TRANSVESTITES

Former Aware president Constance Singam, 72. 'I've never talked about reaching out to transvestites in any newsletter.

Last year, I gave a talk to a lesbian audience and they asked me very tough questions and demanded to know why Aware was not fighting for their rights. I told them we were inclusive, but we could not lobby exclusively for lesbians.

The fact is, Aware represents all women. I told them we are also fighting for them when we fight for issues like equality, the right to personal choices and sexuality.'

WONG KIM HOH

http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/STIStory_368132.htm

A defence tinged with regret

Old Guard explains its leadership; refutes pro-lesbian accusations

Today Weekend • April 25, 2009

Teo Xuanwei

xuanwei@mediacorp.com.sg

TEARS welled up as she related how "saddened" she felt that it happened under her watch. Ms Constance Singam, the immediate past-president at the Association of Women for Action and Research, was visibly shaken when she said the "fundamental value of trust" in the women's advocacy group was "gone", following its very public leadership tussle.

And the implications for civil society arising from the dramatic events unfolding within the group, such as the death threats said to have been sent to the new leadership, were keenly felt as well.

"We are saddened and sorry. That's not how we want civil society to operate," said Dr Kanwaljit Soin, a founding member. "We don't know who gave it to her and we don't think such actions should take place in a civilised society."

But the "Old Guard" firmly defended the way they ran Aware. In a heated 90-minute press conference on Friday, 10 members, accompanied by a legal adviser, responded to the newly-elected committee's barbs that the feminist organisation has become pro-gay and pro-lesbian, among other things.

A press statement was issued to account for each activity listed by the current Exco to support their claims.

Responding to allegations that its comprehensive sexuality education programme promotes homosexuality, the Old Guard said information about lesbianism only constituted a "very small percentage of the whole package".

Other elements included risks of unsafe sex and how to deal with peer pressure, for instance. Such activities were a bid to respond to the "changing needs of women".

"Homosexuality exists. We cannot be ostriches and bury our heads and pretend it doesn't exist. We have to address the issue," said Dr Soin.

The common refrain from the 10 on Friday to refute claims that Aware has deviated from its original aims: It was set up as a "secular" and "inclusive" civil society. It does not seek to "impose values", said Dr Soin.

"We are anti-discrimination. We are anti anti-anything," Ms Singam said passionately.

The current crisis at Aware is also not about "women fighting against women", the group noted, but should instead serve as a wake-up call for all civil society actors.

As advocates for issues that would benefit society, civil societies are "responsible for being transparent and accountable", said Dr Soin.

The right way to go about advancing an issue was to work together within the organisation even when there were differing viewpoints, she added, and not "stealthily taking over", as the focus eventually turned on the new Exco.

Dr Soin said: "There seems to be an ideological divide. It would have been more easily bridged if they had come in as members, gave us their viewpoints, see what they feel is objectionable and argue with us."

The new Exco has not stated in exact terms what its agenda is and how it is going to carry it out, she added.

This demand, which had been made since the issue was reported, has now led to an online petition to opposed the new Exco at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on May 2 — started by one of its founding members, Vivian Wee.

The Old Guard described the petition as "an expression of how civil society works".

That more than 500 Singaporeans and foreigners have signed up is an indication they are "not happy with how things have worked out" since the elections, said Dr Soin.

Declining to speculate on whether the bid to overthrow the Exco would be successful, Ms Margaret Thomas, a founding member and past vice-president, said the Old Guard would have a slate of new candidates ready.

Ms Dana Lam, a past president, also took issue with the current Exco's firing of staff. Noting that Aware has always been run by "dedicated" volunteers, she said: "We are not a corporation. We don't hire and fire."

Behind the barbs against the new Exco, however, there remained that notable a tinge of regret about the current crisis at Aware.

The Old Guard were sideswiped because it has traditionally been "too trusting" and "welcomed all new blood", said Dr Soin.

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/316013.asp

Aware's public education officer quits

Today Weekend • April 25, 2009

ESTHER NG

estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

SHE was barely two months into the job before Aware's centre manager Schutz Lee was sacked.

The reasons, according to Aware vice-president Charlotte Wong: Insubordination, blocking the president's email and poor performance — allegations rebutted by Ms Lee.

"It was mostly performance-based," Ms Wong told Today. She said she was alerted to Ms Lee's performance by volunteer Lilian Wong who had helped out during the transition.

"Let me give you an example: I've been receiving irate calls from people, who, when signing up as ordinary members online, got a `student membership' message," said Ms Wong. "They were not students, but this problem has been ongoing for some time. As vice-president, I am concerned about these things."

The association has student, ordinary, associate and life memberships.

On Friday, Ms Lee refuted the charges. "Firstly, I'm not a techie person. If there's a problem, I'll call the vendor," she said, adding that the problem had existed for almost a year and she had got the vendor to look into it.

As to the charge of locking Aware president Josie Lau out of the organisation's email system, Ms Lee said: "Charlotte comes to the office every day unlike Josie. On April 17, Charlotte asked me for the password to the president's email. I gave her the password, the same one which I had given to (former president) Constance Singam — this was around 4.30pm. She spent around half-an-hour trying to access the email, but couldn't."

So, Ms Lee contacted their webmaster, who "created a password immediately" and gave it to Ms Wong before the vice-president left the premises.

As for insubordination,Ms Wong said Ms Lee corrected the president when she was making a statement to the media on April 15. Ms Lau had told the press that she was "delighted to have been elected", at which point, Ms Lee pointed out that Ms Lau had been "appointed".

Ms Lee, 41, said she had worked with many chief executives as a public relations consultant and marketing director, and it was her job to correct them when they were wrong.

"Is this insubordination?" she asked.

Ms Lee's contract was due to expire on May 31.

The acrimonious exit ofMs Lee saw Aware's public education executive Joanna D'Cruz also throw in the towel on Friday.

Said Ms D'Cruz: "It was the way they fired Schutz so easily. I was scared — this is my first job. I'm quite outspoken and I don't like confrontations ... I don't want to be fired."

Aware has appointed a new manager, Ms Magdalene Teo, a member of Church of Our Saviour.

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/316009.asp