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SQ21: Singapore Queers in the 21st Century
What is it like for men and women to grow up gay, lesbian or bisexual in Singapore, to come out to their families, to find love and work and meaning?
What are their stories? For the first time, 15 individuals who have lived through these questions - a mother of gay sons, a government scholar, a poly student, and a hearing impaired man among others - give powerful accounts of their lives.
Accompanied by Alphonsus Lee's photography, SQ21 shows an unabashed straightforward honesty and celebrates the lives of these ordinary Singaporeans. Written in a light, readable style, these insprirational stories will touch the hearts of readers gay and straight, Singaporean and otherwise.
What are their stories? For the first time, 15 individuals who have lived through these questions - a mother of gay sons, a government scholar, a poly student, and a hearing impaired man among others - give powerful accounts of their lives.
Accompanied by Alphonsus Lee's photography, SQ21 shows an unabashed straightforward honesty and celebrates the lives of these ordinary Singaporeans. Written in a light, readable style, these insprirational stories will touch the hearts of readers gay and straight, Singaporean and otherwise.
- GenresLGBTNonfictionQueerAsia
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Ng Yi-Sheng
60 books43 followersNg Yi-Sheng is a poet, fictionist, playwright, journalist and activist. He was awarded the Singapore Literature Prize for his debut poetry collection, last boy (2006). His other publications include a spiritual sequel to that work, called A Book of Hims (2017); a compilation of his best spoken-word pieces, Loud Poems for a Very Obliging Audience (2016); the bestselling non-fiction book, SQ21: Singapore Queers in the 21st Century (2006); and a novelisation of the Singapore gangster movie, Eating Air (2008). He also co-edited GASPP: A Gay Anthology of Singapore Poetry and Prose (2010) and Eastern Heathens: An Anthology of Subverted Asian Folklore (2013). He recently completed his MA in creative writing at the University of East Anglia and is currently pursuing his PhD at Nanyang Technological University. Lion City is his first fiction collection, published in 2018 by Epigram Books.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 27, 2018
This book is a really lovely compilation of stories from queer Singaporeans. They are honest, personal, distinctly & lovably Singaporean. It is very important to me to learn about queer history in Singapore. So I am grateful for this book. Read it! #supportsinglit
December 25, 2020
I completed reading this book in the 21st year of the 21st century. On the cusp of 2021, we should ask what the state of Singapore queers in the 21st century is.
SQ21 is a feel-good and heart-warming collection of stories about the lived experiences of individuals from the queer community. Very often these lives get caught up in our culture wars, and we forget that queer individuals are humans too(I know this sounds so cliched). It highlights the unfairness of the double standards society enforces while evaluating their lives and condemning them.
The parts about how different parents accepted their queer children were particularly heart-wrenching. I honestly doubt that any homophobe could read this book and not come out regretting the vitriol they spill.
I do think, as much as the author attempted to display diverse and intersectional queer experiences, the book falls into the trap of cleansing queerness into societally acceptable forms of monogamy and cis-gendered experiences. But given the courage and difficulty associated with getting individuals to put their real names and faces in this book - I would not be surprised if this lack of diversity was a product of its form instead of its intent.
This is a book I will return to whenever I want to feel less alone. Anyone’s free to borrow my copy if they’re interested.
SQ21 is a feel-good and heart-warming collection of stories about the lived experiences of individuals from the queer community. Very often these lives get caught up in our culture wars, and we forget that queer individuals are humans too(I know this sounds so cliched). It highlights the unfairness of the double standards society enforces while evaluating their lives and condemning them.
The parts about how different parents accepted their queer children were particularly heart-wrenching. I honestly doubt that any homophobe could read this book and not come out regretting the vitriol they spill.
I do think, as much as the author attempted to display diverse and intersectional queer experiences, the book falls into the trap of cleansing queerness into societally acceptable forms of monogamy and cis-gendered experiences. But given the courage and difficulty associated with getting individuals to put their real names and faces in this book - I would not be surprised if this lack of diversity was a product of its form instead of its intent.
This is a book I will return to whenever I want to feel less alone. Anyone’s free to borrow my copy if they’re interested.
September 23, 2019
This book is extremely heartwarming and cute, and I find it's format to be really digestible and especially un-preachy.
Not only is the act of coming out brave, being insistent on living a life honest to ourselves and actively staring societal pressures head-on is something that is admirable in all humans. This is, to me, the essence of the LGBT movement; ordinary people with extraordinary stories of daily struggles just for what? Being able to love, and live boldly? Why should that be such a problem, and who are we to stop people from themselves?
Statements that are really common in Singaporeans usually run something along the lines of "I don't mind them but why do they have to be so public?", or "I mean I won't bother them about it lah but it's unnatural". These are, to me, akin to non-statements. If you want to be intolerant at least spare the pandering facade.
My favourite stories are the ones by Elsin Seow, Nicholas Deroose, and Khoo Hoon Eng, though all the stories are brilliant, fun and heartbreaking in all of life's ways. I don't think I could really put into words how proud this book makes me feel to be Singaporean and how paining it feels to see that we still have such a long way to go.
"I usually drink a vodka mixed with Red Bull. I can't hear the music, so I anyhow dance. You may find me crazy, but we don't care. All of us deaf gays together, we go down to the floor, and we anyhow dance."
- Daniel Lim
Not only is the act of coming out brave, being insistent on living a life honest to ourselves and actively staring societal pressures head-on is something that is admirable in all humans. This is, to me, the essence of the LGBT movement; ordinary people with extraordinary stories of daily struggles just for what? Being able to love, and live boldly? Why should that be such a problem, and who are we to stop people from themselves?
Statements that are really common in Singaporeans usually run something along the lines of "I don't mind them but why do they have to be so public?", or "I mean I won't bother them about it lah but it's unnatural". These are, to me, akin to non-statements. If you want to be intolerant at least spare the pandering facade.
My favourite stories are the ones by Elsin Seow, Nicholas Deroose, and Khoo Hoon Eng, though all the stories are brilliant, fun and heartbreaking in all of life's ways. I don't think I could really put into words how proud this book makes me feel to be Singaporean and how paining it feels to see that we still have such a long way to go.
"I usually drink a vodka mixed with Red Bull. I can't hear the music, so I anyhow dance. You may find me crazy, but we don't care. All of us deaf gays together, we go down to the floor, and we anyhow dance."
- Daniel Lim
September 23, 2019
A very insightful read. Love is love and no one should feel afraid to love someone, or even themselves.
October 30, 2008
Reading about the real lifes of gays and lesbians in Singapore is really an eye opener. The struggles is something that straight people can never comprehend no matter how they try (akin to men "knowing" what it feels like to give birth).
This is a great book for people who don't like gays and lesbians but don't know why. It gives them a face and makes them into real people. If you read this with an open mind (no judgements, religious or otherwise) you'll came away wiser than before.
This is a great book for people who don't like gays and lesbians but don't know why. It gives them a face and makes them into real people. If you read this with an open mind (no judgements, religious or otherwise) you'll came away wiser than before.
May 28, 2019
An anthology of non-fiction prose from the lgbtq+ community in Singapore. An honest and raw portrayal of experiences and stories from a minority group in Singapore that are glossed over and ignored. It is important that people from the lgbtq+ community read these stories to know that they are not alone, and similar for people who are not lgbtq+ to read these stories and continue to understand, grow and celebrate the diversity present in our small nation.
May 14, 2007
A previously invisible group, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Singaporeans live in the midst of a Disneyfied closet-country. This book provided an insight into their very different stories and ways of dealing with their sexuality in the context of living in Singapore. Very intersting reading and very insightful.
February 4, 2018
These stories are Singaporean stories. Written in transparent, clear first person narratives, they are stories of love and loss, family and faith and community. I admire the people whose stories are shared in this book for their bravery and Ng for taking the initiative to compile them.
April 3, 2013
A really brave book filled with such brave stories.
December 30, 2018
It’s just so beautiful and full of hope.
February 23, 2019
this was a really heartwarming book, i'm really happy i discovered this one through my sexuality class, it's a gem. a brave book with brave stories!
October 20, 2020
An important book in Singapore.
It has flaws, mostly in the form (editing is far from good), but it is one of those books that hit you hard with the reality of how things are (were) in SG for the LGBT community.
I say were because, though I am completely ignorant on the matter and I have no first hand accounts, I would hope that things improved in the 15 years since the book was released.
Good book.
Important book.
It has flaws, mostly in the form (editing is far from good), but it is one of those books that hit you hard with the reality of how things are (were) in SG for the LGBT community.
I say were because, though I am completely ignorant on the matter and I have no first hand accounts, I would hope that things improved in the 15 years since the book was released.
Good book.
Important book.
April 11, 2020
A beautiful compilation of both coming out and love stories in Singapore. We purchased this book to give as a gift to our daughter and her partner who live in the USA. With COVID-19, not sure when we will see them next. A wonderful read and I hope other allies will read this book and rally behind the GLBTQ community in Singapore still without proper rights.
June 15, 2020
The stories are well-captured, and poignant. They evoke empathy without sympathy. Highly recommended for the (alternative) narratives presented.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews