Singapore IDAHO Report 2013

The International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia in Singapore was marked by the presentation of the book I Will Survive – a collection which ‘features real-life experiences of love, grace, faith, dignity and courage from 21 ordinary gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Singapore who have survived extraordinary circumstances.’ The well-attended event featured excerpt readings by special guests (Ovidia Yu, Tania De Rozario, Leona Lo, Ng Yi-Sheng and Miak Siew), a question & answer session, and a book signing session with the editor Leow Yangfa.

I Will Survive, featuring life stories and experiences of LGBTQI people in Singapore
Leow Yangfa, the editor of the book, has spent most of his adult life involved in social services, including a previous job in a statutory organisation, and volunteer work with an HIV/ AIDS group in Singapore and a charity for the homeless in London. He is professionally trained in social policy and social work.
SPECIAL GUESTS :
Ovidia Yu, award-winning novelist, short-story writer and playwright. Among her many works are The Woman in a Tree on the Hill, Three Fat Virgins, Hitting (On) Women, and Miss Moorthy Investigates.
Tania De Rozario, award-winning writer and visual artist, whose latest collection of poetry Tender Delirium has just been published by Math Paper Press.
Leona Lo, who published her autobiography From Leonard to Leona, A Singapore Transsexual’s Journey to Womanhood in 2007 . This was staged as The Ah Kua Show in Singapore in 2009, & in New York a year later.
Ng Yi-Sheng, freelance writer & visual arts administrator. His publications include a collection of coming out stories SQ21: Singapore Queers in the 21st Century, GASPP: a Gay Anthology of Singapore Poetry and Prose.