I will survive: LGBT book

"I will survive" is a collection of personal gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender stories in Singapore written by Leow Yangfa.

=Synopsis=

I Will Survive: Personal gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender stories in Singapore brings together real-life experiences of love, grace, faith, dignity and courage from 21 ordinary people who have survived extraordinary circumstances.

Prefacing these stories are contributions from 5 local commentators who share their personal reflections on the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in Singapore. They are: Mrs Juliana Toh, Executive Director of Counselling and Care Centre; Reverend Yap Kim Hao, former Methodist Bishop of Singapore; transgender activist Ms Leona Lo; and former Nominated Members of Parliament Ms Braema Mathi and Mr Siew Kum Hong.

The book also contains a glossary of the common terms used to describe the diversity within the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, and a listing of relevant community and professional resources in Singapore.

The editor’s proceeds from sales of the ebook will be donated to Oogachaga and the Pelangi Pride Centre. Oogachaga is a counselling and personal development organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. Pelangi Pride Centre is a LGBT community space and resource centre in Singapore, with a library collection of fiction and non-fiction books of LGBT interests.

To quote the visionary Harvey Milk,

“It’s about giving people out there hope. You’ve gotta give them hope.”

There is hope. We will not remain invisible forever. Like it or not, we will survive.

What is it like to be gay and experience bullying in school or National Service ? How do you deal with being rejected by your family and religious group because of your sexual orientation ? How are women's experiences different or similar to men's ? What does one go through in an abusive same-sex relationship, or when one loses a partner to suicide ? What does a transgender man or woman go through in Singapore ? When you have been diagnosed with a life-long illness, how do you continue living ?

This collection brings together 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.

=Book launch=

The book was launched on Friday, 17 May 2013 at Math Paper Press, 62 Neil Road to mark the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO).

Special guests for the event were:


 * 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.

=See also=

Singapore gay literature

=External links=


 * The "I will survive" website on Wordpress:.


 * The "I will survive" Facebook page:.


 * The "I will survive" book launch event page on Facebook: