ST: HIV up among gays and bisexuals

Source

5 June 2009

By Judith Tan

THE number of homosexuals and bisexuals here who tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) last year climbed to a new high.

The increase comes as overall figures rose 7.8 per cent, with activist groups and counsellors calling for more education across all genders and lifestyles.

Although the number of HIV cases from heterosexual transmission – which makes up the bulk at 54 per cent – has fallen from 255 in 2007 to 248 last year, the spread among homosexuals and bisexuals has spiked, rising by 16 per cent and 127 per cent respectively between 2007 and last year.

TNP: Celebrity sex ed

2 June 2009
The New Paper
Source

Celebrity Sex Ed

By Kwok Kar Peng

ACTOR Adrian Pang isn’t one of those parents who shies away from talking about sex with his children.

Whether it’s how to use a condom, sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) or homosexuality, the 43-year-old father of two does not believe in beating about the bush when it comes to the birds and the bees.

His sons, Zachary and Xander, are 10 and 9. Adrian said he first spoke to Zachary about sex when the boy was just 6 because he did not want the topic to be shrouded in mystery.

TNP: CONTRACEPTION: S’PORE STYLE

Source

By Ng Wan Ching

May 31, 2009

By most accounts, Anna (not her real name) is an intelligent student. She scored mostly As and Bs throughout her school years.

But ask her whether there’s sperm in pre-ejaculate (which is produced when a man is aroused) and she’s stumped.

‘Er, no?’ she said.

She’s wrong and she isn’t the only one.

Amid all the buzz about sexual education programmes in schools and what is appropriate to be taught, a study has found ‘worrying’ gaps in the knowledge of even post-secondary students.

ST Forum: Why teaching youth about condoms is important

25 May 2009
Straits Times Online Forum

Why teaching youth about condoms is important

I REFER to last Wednesday’s Forum Online letter, “Useful programme except for condom excerpt” by Mr Steven Tan, in which he argues that teaching youth about condom use will “confuse” them into unprotected sexual activity.

Last November, it was reported in the media that one in four sexually active women does not use birth control.

ST Forum: Supporting gay rights does not make one gay

23 May 2009
Straits Times Online forum

Teach sex education in context of meaningful relationships
I READ with interest the reports on how sex education is needed to counter worrying trends and the approaches to be taken.

There is one important factor missing in all the discussions and that is the context in which sex happens – in a relationship.

Sex education is not just about teaching how sex takes place or when sexuality is aroused. Nor is it about accepting the barrage of emotions involved in exploring alternative lifestyles. These make up only one component of sex education.

Homosexuality not our main focus, says minister of education

22 May 2009
Youtube video of a segment of the press interview given by Minister of Education Ng Eng Hen to Channel NewsAsia on 21 May 2009

ST: MOE tightens vetting of sexuality education

22 May 2009
Straits Times

MOE tightens vetting of sexuality education

Schools lose autonomy to hire external programme providers
By Theresa Tan

THE Education Ministry is tightening its processes to vet and approve external agencies allowed to provide sexuality education in schools.

From now, schools no longer have the autonomy to hire external providers of sexuality education programmes. They will have to choose from a list vetted and approved by the ministry.

The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) will not be on the list. Its sexuality education programme came under attack during its recent leadership struggle when critics charged that it promoted homosexuality.

ST: Sex education needed to counter worrying trends

22 May 2009
Straits Times

Sex education needed to counter worrying trends
Attitudes among teens are changing; more are contracting infections

By Amelia Tan

THE number of teenagers getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV has risen in the past few years, the Education Ministry said yesterday.

Last year, 787 teens caught STIs, more than three times the 238 cases in 2002; for HIV, the figure rose from one in 2002 to nine in 2007.

These figures, the ministry said yesterday, are a key reason its sexuality education programme is necessary.

ST: Minister slams rival sides in Aware tussle

22 May 2009
Straits Times

Minister slams rival sides in Aware tussle
By Theresa Tan & Amelia Tan

EDUCATION Minister Ng Eng Hen had strong words yesterday for the parties in the recent Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) leadership tussle.

He said that as both sides went at each other, ‘schools were dragged into this melee, and could have become the proxy arena for competing ideologies’.

‘Issues became muddled, emotions ran high. This is an unhealthy, unproductive way to try to resolve issues that are inherently divisive.’

ST Forum: Self-described feminist mentor’s actions invited a reaction

19 May 2009
Straits times Online Forum

Self-described feminist mentor’s actions invited a reaction
I REFER to Monday’s letter by Dr Thio Su Mien, ‘Gay activists a key constituency of Aware’. I would like to highlight a number of statements she made that serve no purpose other than to confuse.

I am perplexed how Dr Thio can, in the same paragraph, say that Aware’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) manual ‘expressly states that homosexuality is neutral and normal’, and then go on to attack the content of the CSE programme as ‘non-neutral’.