Sight Lines Entertainment’s debut production, When Tan Meets Tan, is a political parody musical revue with obvious references to the hotly contested presidential election 2011.

Just when I wanted to purchase tickets while at the Arts House watching On This Emerald Hill, I learnt to my dismay that the show had been “indefinitely postponed”!

I had believed that any and all productions would have gone through the censors before ticket sales started, but apparently I thought wrong. Or might the cancellation stem from a totally different reason altogether?

The truth is out there I guess.

I’m guessing that they’re banking on the sensuality factor, but unfortunately 9 out of 10 look childish, spastic, or perverted.

Shame strikes my soul whenever I succumb to temptation and stalk your Facebook account.

To my immense surprise, I learnt from your Facebook page that you have pledged allegiance to your “Lord, Jesus Christ”. While we were still together, which wasn’t that long ago, you had been so fascinated with the philosophy and teachings of buddhism, attending weekly classes, and at Point Break, you had said that perhaps, at the end of the day, you were destined to be a monk.

Christianity damns homosexuality Elliot. You know that. Or are you trying out a “normal” relationship yet again?

Blue… Oh, so lonesome for you. Why can’t you be blue over me?

An in-depth study into the sexual behaviour of homosexual men here is under way.

Entitled Sex In The City: A Health Study, the survey initiated by Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) also aims to determine the prevalence of syphilis and HIV infection among homosexuals.

Surveys on the gay community have been done before by organisations such as advocacy group Action for Aids (AfA) and gay lifestyle portal Fridae.com, but those did not combine a blood test with questions on sexual habits.

A principal researcher of this study, TTSH consultant Mark Chen, explained that overseas data has shown that gay men are more at risk of syphilis and HIV, the virus that causes Aids, but this has not been proven conclusively here.

So it appears that they are aiming to prove this, and if they do, will the results of this study be but one of many excuses to subject homosexuals to continued moral and criminal persecution?

‘The key objective of this study is to understand the risk factors of this population, and what predisposes them to certain diseases.

‘Such information has the potential to improve on prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections,’ said the epidemiologist.

But the research team has already encountered a hiccup – getting enough homosexual men to take part in the study.

The researchers want 1,000 participants, but in the year since work began, only 40 individuals have submitted to the blood test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and volunteered information about their sexual habits in a computerised survey.

Test and survey take 45 minutes.

The response has been poor despite the promise of confidentiality and a small financial incentive of $60 for their time, and a further $30 for every successful referral they make.

A unique feature of this survey is its recruitment method, known as ‘chain referral’, which is being used here for the first time.

In a typical research survey, anyone suitable can sign up as a participant.

With chain referral, researchers – with help from joint study partners AfA and Fridae.com – identified profiles or ‘seeds’ to be included in the survey. These seeds then refer other homosexuals they know of to join the study; these participants continue the chain referral by introducing other gay men in their networks to take part.

This route was taken because of the sensitivity of the study topic, said Dr Chen.

The research team, which also includes representatives from the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic (DSC Clinic) and the National University of Singapore, identified nine profiles they want to study.

These include certain age groups and the main language spoken.

It is apparent the community beyond the first 40 participants remains uncomfortable about just how confidential the collected data will be, although no names or identity numbers are taken down.

Research assistant Ridzwan Abdullah said: ‘The most common concern is that the survey is not fully confidential and will be shared with the authorities. But this is not true.

‘There isn’t even a signed, written consent, or any taking down of particulars.

In Singapore, all STIs must be reported to the Ministry of Health. STIs are reported without identifying the patient, unless it is a case of HIV.

But some people test positive for HIV at anonymous test sites. In those cases, the Health Ministry does not get their names, which is the case with this study.

Dr Chen said: ‘We want to emphasise that we have good intentions behind this study. It’s strictly confidential and the data collected will not in any way affect them adversely.’

AfA vice-president and TTSH senior consultant Lee Cheng Chuan, who is not involved in the study, said this is the first such local study that links a questionnaire survey with a biological test.

He says the survey is timely as the community of men who have sex with men is an increasing risk group.

‘It is good to understand the risk factors to come up with solutions. In research, ethics and protocol are very important. Singapore has rigorous reg-ulations. Those who can participate but are hesitant should have faith in the system.’

Source: insing.com

In response to the article, Ms Pam Oei wrote in to The Straits Times Forum:

A case for repealing 377A

I REFER to last Tuesday’s article (‘Study looks at sexual behaviour of gay men’).

The effort to glean information for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections is admirable. But I am not surprised that the study has fallen far short of its target of 1,000 participants and has managed only a meagre 40.

With Section 377A of the Penal Code still in place, sex between men remains illegal in Singapore.

No matter how much confidentiality is promised, there will be understandable reluctance from potential participants. For, in effect, the study asks that gay men make the admission of having committed a criminal act.

Section 377A not only hinders important studies from being conducted, but also ties the hands of educators who should be teaching young ones the proper way to regard safe sex, irrespective of one’s sexual orientation.

In short, 377A is detrimental to the fields of medical research and education.

It should be repealed (just as Section 377 of the Penal Code outlawing oral and anal sex between men and women has been repealed), so that studies such as the above can be conducted without impediment.

Nakedtruth’s personal comments.

Can someone please explain to me how beggar shoes (a.k.a. Toms) figure into the fashion sphere?!

Just. Plain. Awful. PERIOD.

“Friends? I always go alone auntie. More flexible lah, otherwise making arrangements to go together can be so cumbersome.”

“Oh… I thought you got go with your friends. Auntie’s daughter hor, told auntie that a lot of the men who go gym are gays leh.“

Not so subtly trying to determine if I’m gay eh?

“No lah auntie, nowadays young men are more body conscious, and go to the gym to workout to keep in shape. Don’t have to be ah gua one.”

“Oh…”

A guy who actually bothered to chat up (AND send over a self-pic with nary a prompt) a blank profile (couldn’t be bothered to insert some useless and pointless graphic) such as mine provided a useful Grindr tip:

Keep blocking people you know you won’t be keen in having any further interaction with. It’s tedious yes, but it means that whoever’s left in your list are those who really matter, or are worth exploring further.

Intriguing.

Anyone else doing this?

Warning: Read on only if you’re comfortable with gay erotica.

As with most dreams, the details get fuzzy after a few hours of awakening, but basically I was somehow engaged in a playful fight with him in a hotel room. I daringly aimed for his cock a few times (something I’ll never do in real life methinks!), giving it a few pulls and squeezes. He had this pained expression on his face, and then he started rubbing himself through his pants! Before I knew it, it was off with the pants, and out his cock (couldn’t tell if he was wearing any underwear), and he started masterbating himself to an orgasmic bliss! He even squeezed out some drops of cum from his drained penis and ate them!

All this while, I was half-staring and half turning away, unsure of what I should do in such an unprecedented situation. Then to make things even more bizarre, the backdrop suddenly changed to that of a bus, and there was this other guy seated next to me all of a sudden, who nudged me with his elbow to see what my bud was doing. I pretended not to notice and looked away, and…

I woke up.

For the record, it was still dry down in the nethers.

As predicted, tears did indeed roll down my cheeks involuntarily at those moments where Jasper grieved at the grave for Ivan.

Oh wait, it’s Daniel and Joseph.

And therein lies the problem; just barely hours after watching the play, I’m already disconnecting from it.

Quite a significant difference in reaction really, compared to my first homosexual-flavoured exposure to theatre, Happy Endings: Asian Boys Vol. 3.

Perhaps the dissatisfaction came in the form of how it dissatisfied in length, clocking in at barely an hour.

The girth wasn’t anything to shout about too; thick and promising it was at the start, before shrivelling up into a hastily wrapped up sorry end. I would have loved for Daniel to reveal more about the Joseph the family never knew, beyond the verbal epitaphs. To add insult to injury, Joseph’s final departure from the world (at the end) was unnecessarily cheesier than a stuffed-crust pizza.

I guess the biggest letdown was that Family Outing simply didn’t succeed in making me feel for the gay characters.

Was it a matter of eyecandy? Ben Xiao and Pierre Goh in Asian Boys Vol. 3 were much easier on the eyes, and closer to what Nakedtruth looks like *Hint Hint* They looked like a more plausible couple than Galvin Yeo and Koey Foo too.

Another gripe, in concurrence with a review I read (from Life! I think), would be that Galvin and Koey’s acting were too exaggerated. The cheery disposition of the character seemed about as genuine as the acrylic smile of a counsellor I had more interactions with than I cared for. I was also looking at Joseph’s reaction during certain key poignant scenes, but he just seemed oddly removed from it all. The earnestness of Daniel also seemed over the top and unconvincing.

Now for the positives…

(Source: Time Out Singapore)
The above pic doesn’t do him justice, seriously.

Johannes Hadi! Young, cute, lean, sprinkled with just the right dash of muscle, boyish, warm baritone voice, and straight (he doesn’t show up on my Android 2.3.4 gaydar, and I believe him when he declared his preference for the female bosom in his Time Out Singapore interview with Jo Tan). Such stage practitioners are a rarity these days!

He already had my attention in H is for Hantu, and his turn as Brandon really deserves commendation. I cried too when his character grieved and denied the brother’s true sexual orientation, a foreboding parallel to the anguish, pain, and disappointment my mum would feel should I ever have the courage come out to her.

And we aren’t even Christian.

Karen Tan and Lim Kay Siu delivered solid acting as usual. Kudos to them!

Last but not least, it’s a gay-themed play which survived the censors! That’s always something worth celebrating about!

Despite the flaws, Joel Tan’s tale is still a relatively engaging one. Add in some expansions here and there, and it could be an unofficial Asian Boys Vol. 4.

I mean, think about it,

Who’s to say that the strappin’ young man you see, with that generous cleavage contrained within the Renoma, is not just some heterosexual gym rat, eager to display his less vulgar asset to the ladies?

Pink shirts, pink tees, pink CKs even. Fashionista wannabe or a gay cliche?

Man bags. Even ah tiongs lug them these days, albeit the evident awkwardness.

Speedos at the pool have made a mainstream comeback too ever since they’ve banned board shorts and the like from the waters.

Fred Perry polo tees. Determining the authenticity of the clothing and the wearer’s sexual orientation are near impossible tasks at times.

So therein lies the double-edged sword: limp appendages aside, it is much easier for the closeted and the discrete to hide their sexual orientation while indulging in fashion, but it is also now harder than ever to find a mate with similar preferences for self-disclosure.

Bummer.

Wonder if the tears will start falling involuntarily again.

Feeling the need to do something about the blossoming pear, but time and energy have become rare commodities of late.

Finite shelf lives bear hardpressed extensions.

Better that than involuntarily going Gaga I guess.

I loved the tribute song to the Singaporean Dragonboater to bits. It is uniquely Singapore indeed, for muscle-bound boys to be seen straddling along CBD Orchard in their skimpy FBT shorts and Havaianas, and trying their utter best to ensure that their paddles do not touch the floor of the MRT train. They are the quintessential object of any self-respecting gay man’s sexual fantasy, tanned, ripped, youthful, full of life, and full of energy to ensure a more than satisfying romp.

A friend once told me that it was a wonder, really, that he has yet to cream from being among the creme de la creme male specimens every Sunday morning at Kallang. It is one of his main motivations for continuing with the heavily demanding sport. Yours truly, meanwhile, is contented with having the occasional dream of an “involuntary” birthday strip by the boys.