About Us

Sayoni conducts research on LBTQ women and the larger community in order to support our advocacy work. Our research has sought to uncover facts and patterns in the lives of LBTQ women over the years. Past and ongoing projects include:

• Shadow report on Singapore's compliance to the United Nations' (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• Shadow report for the UN Universal Periodic Review
• Sayoni Queer Women Survey 
• Documentation project on discrimination and violence against queer women in Singapore

Our advocacy and education efforts include:

• International advocacy (e.g. reporting on CEDAW compliance gaps at the UN)
• National advocacy with local groups and the government
• Regional advocacy (e.g. with the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus)
• Campaigns (e.g. Come Out Come Home)
• Publications (e.g. Coming Out Guide)

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To:

1. use standard international English;
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7. email admin[at]sayoni[dot]com to inform us if any site user continues harassing you despite you telling them not to do so;
8. consider approaching Counselling & Care Centre or other counselling or therapy bodies for assistance with personal issues if needed.

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Please note that Sayoni complies with the Protection Data Protection Act. More information can be found here.

Sayoni was founded in 2006 by six women from diverse backgrounds, ages, economic status and ethnicities, who recognised a dearth of women leaders and representation in society, particularly in the area of LGBT rights. Since then, we have gone on to work at the local, regional and international levels to advocate for equality and build bridges between people and other organisations.

Our name was inspired by Giti Thadani's book, Sakhiyani, where the author gives the ancient myth of 'Sayoni' an unique interpretation, regarding it as a symbol of relationship and sexual play between women, and as mythological evidence that queerness was very much a part of ancient civilisation.

Yoni is Sanskrit for vagina / womb / origin of life. The 'sa' prefix denotes the joint existence of two yonis, hence Sayoni is an ancient name for the unique concept of the two revolving yonis of Ushasa-naktam, a pair of cosmic twin goddesses mentioned in the text of Rig Veda. They are regarded as so deeply intertwined that even their yonis revolve around each other. Separately, these deities are known as Ushas and Nakra.

To us, the word is a fitting representation of female rights and sexuality, often suppressed and ignored in Asian societies. Our logo is a reflection of our goal, with two petals symbolising Sayoni, the embodiment of the spirit of a confident, modern woman-loving woman.