It's been a while since this has happened and I'm heartened that it did again recently.

Someone reached out to me and I was the first person he came out to.

He did so after having followed my blog since 2008 saying he felt like he knew me. I started my website "Out, Loud & Proud", http://www.geocities.com/jermyn_toh,when I was in my 20s. I hoped sharing my coming-out story would help people in their journey to be comfortable with themselves as gay people. It's heartening to know my blog continues that.

His concerns for not coming out are discrimintation, social stigma & possibly getting beheaded by family. The stories I shared with him about an openly out friend working as a PA in a ministerial office helped give him a different perspective on discrimination.

All this stems from fear. But I'm gald he took the first step to address his fear and to being a happier person able to come to terms with being himself.

Coming out is a different process for each person and my advice is to take baby steps. To go through this journey of self-discovery, gaining self-confidence & self-empowerment at your own pace.

Being able to be free from hiding behind half-truths is a wonderful & liberating way to live.

Surrounding yourself with people who will reaffirm and love for you for who you really are, all sides of you including the positive and not-so-positive, is the best way to live coz you'll never live in fear of being alone and uncared for.

This just reinforces the need for people to support Pink Dot.

Everyone should have the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation. But fear, ignorance and prejudice often stand in the way.

So I do hope this will make those who are closeted, who happen to read this blog, know that there are many others like you and some of them are taking their first tentative steps to be themselves openly.

For those who support freedom to love, do come for Pink Dot happening this Saturday at Hong Ling Park, 4.30pm.




Pink Dot Q&A
Q: Is this event legit or legal?
A: Yes, of course! We have registered for the event and we shall strive to conduct ourselves appropriately, as set out in National Parks’ terms and conditions. Who says we can’t behave and have fun at the same time!

Q: Is this a gay event?
A: As gay as any event can get at Hong Lim Park. The gathering is a show of support for those who believe in openness and love between people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Anyone can attend – straight and gay.

Q: Singapore is a largely conservative country. How can you organize such an event?
A: We love Singapore. This is our home and we believe that diversity is a cornerstone to our civil society. Like it or not, LGBT individuals exist. We are aware that many people harbour much hatred towards the LGBT community. That is why such events are important. It serves to foster understanding, and through that, there is hope for trust and social cohesion.

I never expected 2 great performances this trip back.

The only thing I can think of to say is that it would be a crime if there is an empty seat in any of this show's performances.

The script is touching, honest, inspirational and so so much more. I don't know what words I to use to do describing it justice.

Watching the performance unfold, I felt such a range of emotions and identified with so many different aspects of the play that I walked out at the end ... teary-eyed, clensed, refreshed and with a feeling of hope.

The performances are heart-stirring. I have a super talented best fren!!! But seriously .... everyone was good. Everyone gave their all from their heart and the result is something truly special that only dedication, passion and love for their work and the piece they are doing can produce.

For anyone who's been in love ... whether you're gay or straight ... I highly recommend this show... the moments in this play speak to all of us.

For fellow gay people .... i really hope you'll be able to catch this really special piece of theathre coz there are so many messages that strike a cord in so many parts of our lives .... including 377A.

After the performance, I got to meet the playwrite and all I could think of to say to him was "thank you from the bottom of my heart .... thank you for creating something like this, for helping me relive so many memories, re-feel so many things and learn about myself again."



I've never maid it a point to watch a theatre performance again but ... I'm gonna catch Asian Boys again another 2 times (i hope) coz there are so many things I'm sure I'll catch that I didn't see the first time round.

... you can guage a person's age range based on how he describes falling in & out of love

... someone connects you as the owner of a personal website about coming out and being gay in singapore built years and years ago

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robingoh had to look after a girl-fried of ours so he left Play early and by chance I hung out with runecircle and his frens. Play on Friday nite was weird. Saturday was better but I just can't get over how many new faces there are. Just after 3am, they decided to go over to Maxwell.

While sitting there listening to the conversation .... one guy recounts a recent heartbreak and i can only think ... goodness ... he's young. (turns out he's 30 but still a strong believer in happily-ever-after and innocent untainted true love)

later as we're about to leave ... i think he gathers enough courage to ask ... "you have a website right? .... you shared your coming out story and had pictures of you and your boyfriend ... and weren't you flying back then?"

argh .... this trip back to singapore is turning out to be a weird one

website the guy's talking about is still around ... not in its original form which had quite a few more pages ... just kept the important pages and comments visitors left

the website the guy was talking about: http://www.geocities.com/jermyn_toh/

just visited it again and saw the web-stats ... 38,199 visits to my site's first page since they started the tracking service on geocities

ok la i guess

:-)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/11/04/doogie.ap/index.html

I used to have a small crush on him when i was younger ... and i always had a hunch he might be family

:-)

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On 2 November 2006, after an unsubstantiated report about Harris's sexuality and his "longtime sweetheart" actor David Burtka surfaced on www.canada.com, the actor's publicist issued a denial, stating that Harris "is not of that persuasion." However, a day later, Harris confirmed to People that he is gay. The actor's statement read:

"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships. So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.