Singapore to legalize oral, anal sex for heterosexuals only!

[Val]

While doing some reading of papers around the world, I came across several articles that left me speechless regarding some news on Asian  newspapers.  Especially the news coming from Singapore.
So, I did some research and found out that what I took  as a bad joke was indeed a reality!  Needless to say, I thought to myself that this was  not the way to stop the spread of HIV!
What a better way, I say,  for The Singaporean Government to increase the stigma related to  AIDS and the lawlessness that existed already in that state regarding Human Rghts in general; and, particularly, the rights of the poor homosexuals who are forced to hide themselves and, consequently, live as second-class citizens!


Mail & Guardian
http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/&articleid=289375

Val
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[Ihavehope]

Ok. So now what? Gays can now have sex in Singapore?

[Val]

I will not be able to post all the articles 'cause my computer refuses to do so!  Here is another one, hopefully...!

Fridae
http://www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/article.php?articleid=1800&viewarticle=1

Val
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[jack]

Bush made them do it.

[Ihavehope]

Are you a republican Jack?

[J.R.E.]

Sodomy laws throughout the world :


http://www.sodomylaws.org/index.htm


Definitions of sodomy on the Web:

Often simply refers to anal sex; however, the actual dictionary definition includes anything considered "unnatural or deviate sexual intercourse" which may include everything from oral sex to sex between partners of the same gender.
www.mysexproblems.com/cst.asp

intercourse via the anus, committed by a man with a man or woman
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Sodomy is a term of religious origin to characterise certain sexual non-procreative acts. Most commonly used to describe the specific act of anal sex both between heterosexuals and homosexuals, the term "sodomy" also may include non-coital sexual acts such as oral sex and other paraphilia. Laws forbidding certain types of sex acts have been found in some pre-modern cultures.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy


Ray

[aupointillimite]

I'd say that's an impressive step for the country that only recently allowed chewing gum to be imported.

It's like Calvin's Geneva... except without the chocolate.

[J.R.E.]

I'd say that's an impressive step for the country that only recently allowed chewing gum to be imported.

Just don't spit that gum out on the street . I heard it's a felony !

[wellington]

Reminds me of something I stumbled upon - don't ask - recently.

http://www.sexinchrist.com/fist.html

There seems always a never-ending cycle of "reframing" around contentious issues. Jell-o, nails, tree anyone?

[joemutt]

The bigger problem being that singapore doesn't provide any access to retrovirals under it's national health policy for hiv poz people, thus mostly outlawing them but for the more affluent.

[Andy Velez]

OK. Singapore is definitely crossed off of my list of possibilities for another home. Next!

[Val]

I know what you mean, Andy!  It does sound awfull to even think about visiting Singapore --- let alone living in there!   
Now, what I don't get is that Singapore is one the the wealthy States in Asia; and, according to Joemutt, it doesn't provide meds for its own population through the national health plan  system?
Although I am aware of the difficulties that gays in general endure in Asia, I would think that such a wealthy country would at least provide  some free medicines for the needy ones!  So, if you're not extremely rich, for the price of HIV medication is astronomical, you just die?
I've  travelled throughout Asia and have experienced first hand the strong, rooted stigma against homosexuality all over the continent.  Now, I only dare to imagine if you're poz!

And Jack, you could be partially right about Bush!   I would not doubt that the American policy,  which bans Hivers from entering the U.S.A. and, therefore, only adds to the stigma of AIDS in your own country,  has perhaps played a role on the Singaporean Government's decision!  After all, they might have thought....""Hey, if the so-called 'Land of the Free' impose such policy, why not us?"" By the way, some States in your country still consider homosexuality a ..."only tolerable practice!"  Slightly better than the Singaporean Government, I'd say!
Bush, Haggard, Swaggart, Fawell, Robertson and some other American hypocrites in  this administration would be at home in Singapore, I can assure you!  Even though I doubt they would practice "anal and/or oral" sex...!  They'd go for the Fisting!

You see, the main difference between Western Europe and several so-called democracies, including the U.S.A.,  is that we don't brag about civil rights and liberties.  We apply and cherish them!  No Guantanamo Concentration Camp in the European Continent. 
How's the homosexual cause/rights  in your country? It does not come even closer to the rights and liberties we now have enjoyed for so many years in Europe...No ban on Hivers in Western Europe either...  Do you get my drift? 

If you compare the Singapore régime to the American one, the gap is not all that wide, you see!   But, I digress...

It would be interesting to have someone who really understands Asia in general, especially Singapore, to enlighten  us on this subject.  I, for one thing, am completely astonished by the thought that someone can be poz in this country and not be able to get proper health care.

Val
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[joemutt]

Sad but true, I cdnt believe it when I first heard it, but that's the way it is 
Although it improved Singapore has a legacy of the colonial (British) laws (including the sodomy laws still prevailing in many of its ex colonies, Malaysia, Brunei, ...), hypercapitalism with very little concern for the weaker, a confucianist believe system (extremely 'paternalist'-a lot of social control, group thinking) and a mean superiority complex to top it off. But the shopping is good. Like finding a Louis Vuitton bag on a heap of skeletons.

[Miss Philicia]

Here's a fascinating article on the HIV medication situation in Singapore which I found out of curiosity.  It's kind of realistic and balanced, though of course the whole thing sounds utterly wrong based on the standard of care Westerners are used to.

[joemutt]

It sounds utterly wrong but not only based on western standards, Thailand which is a developing country with far fewer resources than S'pore does give retrovirals to its hiv population and in many cases absolutely free. (and at cost it wd be app 100 USD a month -generics) It's just a choice of how much a human life is worth, be it seen through western or other eyes.

[Miss Philicia]

however, I realised that local people place greater value on support from their families than from the State. It was wrong to judge the system with my Western values; Singaporeans would be just as shocked by many aspects of British society, such as our system of caring for elderly people. People with HIV and AIDS in Singapore accept that it is their responsibility to pay for their treatment and they constantly impressed me with their determination to do so.

He doesn't seem to give an indication that residents are demanding huge changes in their system.  Just saying.  Cultural stuff like this is always sticky.  If they were marching in the streets demanding change I'd be more likely to throw my hat in the ring and encourage them, but until then what can you do?

Maybe because their income level is higher comparatively to the region they have a high savings rate for medical expenses.

[Val]

Philly,

Knowing only too well the régime and its ways in Singapore, I would behave more or less the same way!   Unless you are ready to put your life on the line, be thrown in jail and so forth...
But, I suppose there must be some other way for poz people to deal with their problems in there.  In the article you provided there is sure evidence that Thailand is the place they go to obtain medicines.
I just wonder about the folks who cannot afford to go to Thailand!  Once again, we should be more than proud of the European ways of doing anything...Just saying as well!

Val
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[Miss Philicia]

I have a friend (Lebanese) who has lived in Singapore off and on since around '01 and he seems to really like it.  I'm aware of its oddity of being uber-capitalist but strangely authoritarian at the same time.  Other than that I can't really say myself, as I've not visited there nor do I particular harbor a desire to do so.

[Val]

Philly,
The more are read about Singapore, the more I think it will sometime be a paradise for Eugenic Science!  And, since I am not hypocrite, I will say that I am not totally against Eugenics.  But, then again, I have always tried to find the right balance in n o matter what subject I'm interested in!

Eugenics
http://www.whatwemaybe.org/txt/glad.john.2006.future_human_evolution.web.003f.en.pdf

Val
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