Do you like doing your part for a meaningful cause? Do you feel that you have something to give to the community? Would you like the chance to grow through valuable working experiences? Would you like to make a difference to someone's life — someone like you?

Sayoni is actively seeking volunteers to contribute to our growing needs. A wide range of opportunities are available, covering skills as diverse as copywriting, event organisation and academic research. You may volunteer for a one-off/short-term project or for a longer effort.

Whether you are a seasoned volunteer or completely new to volunteerism, we welcome you to apply with us and have a conversation.

Examples of our past and ongoing projects include:

• CEDAW advocacy at the United Nations
• Sayoni Summer Camp
• Queer Women Survey
• 'What If I'm gay?' A Coming Out Guide
• Talks and discussions, as part of Indignation or otherwise
• Community-building (dinner gatherings, Events, online Forum)
• Copywriting, editing, designing and maintaining the website and online media

If you identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer), you are invited to participate in the first ever NATIONAL LGBT CENSUS 2013 SINGAPORE, jointly supported by Sayoni, PinkDot and Oogachaga.

Your responses (all anonymous) are important in helping us understand our community’s health, housing, education, employment and family needs.

Apart from being a useful resource for local LGBT-affirmative NGOs to plan for the community, the findings will generate greater awareness to improve the day-to-day experiences of LGBT people amongst both public and private institutions in Singapore.

The census has 54 questions and should take about 30 minutes of your time.

Thank you for taking time to contribute to the understanding of our community!

More info

The National LGBT Census is a collaborative effort between Pink Dot Sg, Sayoni, and Oogachaga -- three lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) affirmative non-profit volunteer groups in Singapore. With a common goal to understand the everyday experiences of LGBTQ people in Singapore, this census covers a range of issues, from family-life to friendships, school and work experiences to thoughts on citizenship. Heterosexual individuals are welcome to participate in the study as well.

Pink Dot Sg is a social movement that champions the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation, through an annual gathering and campaign. Sayoni is a community of queer women, including lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, that organises and advocates for equality in well-being and dignity, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Oogachaga is a counselling and personal development organisation for LGBTQ individuals and groups.

Links

• NATIONAL LGBT CENSUS 2013 | SINGAPORE website www.sogiresearch.blogspot.sg
• Contact the researchers www.sogiresearch.blogspot.sg/p/contact-us.html
  
  

We, the ASEAN SOGI Caucus[i] are deeply outraged and concerned by the decision of the National Organizing Committee (NOC) of Brunei Darussalam's to restrict discussions and limit civil society spaces at the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People’s Forum 2013 (ASCS/APF) for selective groups of people whose opinions and views are not aligned with the state's views, namely sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE), sex work, sexual and reproductive health rights.

We are disappointed that even in spaces that are meant to foster and uphold democracy and human rights principles by and for civil society organizations, specific sectors of society are being discriminated against and are restricted.

People of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity as well as sex workers and advocates of sexual and reproductive rights are banned and given conditions from organizing educational workshops that promote understanding and address the human rights violations that we are subjected to because of our identity and orientation.

We strongly believe that the invisible hand of the state in policing civil society spaces is highly unacceptable, and if such policing continues the ASCS/APF will no longer be a relevant space for civil society. We strongly urge the ACSC/APF to immediately address and correct this matter.

We are at the stage in our struggle for equality and respect that we will not accept discrimination, abuse and violence or state sanction as a part of our existence by the denial of our rights and our humanity.

It is in this spirit of pride and dignity that we are reclaiming our rightful space in our respective countries and in our region, and we demand our governments to:

1.Immediately repeal laws that directly and indirectly criminalize SOGI, recognizes LGBTIQ rights as human rights, and harmonizes national laws, policies and practices with the Yogyakarta Principles.

2.Establish national level mechanisms and review existing regional human rights instruments (e.g. AICHR, ACWC) to include the promotion and protection of the equal rights of all people regardless of SOGI with the active engagement of the LGBTIQ community.

3.Depathologize SOGI and promote psychological well being of people of Diverse SOGI in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and ensure equal access to health and social services.

We urge the ACSC/APF 2013 to correct and apologize for the discriminatory and regressive action that grossly disrespected our basic human rights as members of the ASEAN community. We call on members of society to support our call for a TRULY INCLUSIVE and a REAL ACSC/APF that protects and promotes the human rights of ASEAN peoples regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity as well as socio-economic background.