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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger Beer
transvestites/homosexuality - Yeah, pretty much confined to Thailand, and the Philippines as well. I've seen that in Indonesia too, although not to the extent of Thailand especially or the Philippines.
It does exist up here in Korea/Japan, but it's not out in the open, and seen publicly. In Thailand and the Philippines, people will regularly see homosexuality or transvestites in the malls and bars and such. Much more tolerated than anywhere else in Asia.
Keep in mind that the tourist redlight districts are where they all congregate so isn't typical of Thailand as a whole. Singapore's community is underground, I wonder if the sodomy laws are even really enforced. Living in those HDB flats privacy might be hard to come by. The Phils seem similar to Latin America socially, quite liberal laws but conservative Catholic population. Jakarta is quite cosmopolitan in that sense, and there are more hookers than in Malaysia. Singapore has had a history of prostitution and in fact is the only SE nation where prostitution is legal. It's ironic they're so strict about it compared to Thailand where it's illegal but tolerated, so much for the law meaning anything.
Homosexuality is only really visible in Thailand. It's actually illegal in Singapore and Malaysia and hardly visible in Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos etc. of course there are gay people everywhere but I'm talking of visibility. Taiwan probably has the most tolerance of alternate sexualities, and its only east or southeast nation country to have legal brothels.
The so called safety net in Singapore is minimal at best. Overall Asia is pretty conservative, just about slightly different things than American conservatives. It's pretty pro business and pro family, but of course Christian fundamentalism is replaced by eastern religion.
Depends. Laws are all over the place in Asia. In Singapore and Hong Kong, some limited forms of prostitution are allowed, and Singapore is not very pro-life. However, it is significantly more difficult to obtain an abortion in Hong Kong than in the U.S. However, Singapore has capital punishment and Hong Kong does not, and the conformity in Singapore is strong, rivaling Japan's, although it is based on the government, rather than societal/ethnic norms.
Practically everywhere in Asia bans civilian gun ownership, and that is not truly a measure of conservatism as extreme conservatives such as Fascists would shun that for the security of the state.
Keep in mind that the tourist redlight districts are where they all congregate so isn't typical of Thailand as a whole. Singapore's community is underground, I wonder if the sodomy laws are even really enforced. Living in those HDB flats privacy might be hard to come by. The Phils seem similar to Latin America socially, quite liberal laws but conservative Catholic population. Jakarta is quite cosmopolitan in that sense, and there are more hookers than in Malaysia. Singapore has had a history of prostitution and in fact is the only SE nation where prostitution is legal. It's ironic they're so strict about it compared to Thailand where it's illegal but tolerated, so much for the law meaning anything.
It is illegal to be seen naked in an HDB flat in Singapore.
Keep in mind that the tourist redlight districts are where they all congregate so isn't typical of Thailand as a whole. Singapore's community is underground, I wonder if the sodomy laws are even really enforced. Living in those HDB flats privacy might be hard to come by. The Phils seem similar to Latin America socially, quite liberal laws but conservative Catholic population. Jakarta is quite cosmopolitan in that sense, and there are more hookers than in Malaysia. Singapore has had a history of prostitution and in fact is the only SE nation where prostitution is legal. It's ironic they're so strict about it compared to Thailand where it's illegal but tolerated, so much for the law meaning anything.
Well Homosexual/gays/lesbian is well accepted in the Philippines already although same gender marriages is not allowed or transgender like "legality" like other countries in Canada and USA etc. that granted transgender. I think in Thailand they considered transgender "legal", male to female transgender are more common in Thailand.
I think the term 'liberal' can only really be applied to Asia in an economic non-interventionist sense, I'd vote for HK on that measure. I can't think of a truly socially liberal city in Asia.
If we're speaking about all of Asia, then that is incorrect. You have to mention Turkey for this. Homosexuality has been "legal" in Turkey since 1852. In the smaller cities, of course it's kind of like other places where it is viewed as very bad. If you go to a place like Istanbul though? There's openly gay clubs in many places, gay bath houses, etc. I know an openly gay couple that lives in Istanbul too. They actually took me to a openly gay bar there, even though I'm straight. There was something hilarious about the place they wanted me to see. It was a good time and PACKED AS HELL. Hell, even at the Turkish bath, this 50 year old guy tried to make a pass at me and had no reservations about it.
You can't serve in the military if you're openly gay, and gay marriage is not legal there, but you will not get in trouble for being openly gay and/or having gay sex. The older people might be more against it, but Istanbul is increasingly young and I find a lot of them pretty open. There's no anti discrimination laws with homosexuality there even though it's legal, so there's that, but the society in the large cities are pretty open about it. They also have a pride parade every year in Taksim Square that attracted 10,000-30,000 this year.
Compared to other places though? Homosexuality has been legal there longer than most places in the world. I kind of view them like the US. They are secular, but religious--ish sometimes meaning many don't go to church (or the mosque/synagogue) all the time, but every once in awhile they do. The ones who do, just like the US, are the more religious and usually more against homosexuality. Many others don't care in the big cities it seems.
Thailand is definitely not the only place in Asia where it's visible. Just google "Gay istanbul" and you'll see a lot of results.
Last edited by marothisu; 08-14-2012 at 12:17 AM..
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
Reputation: 11862
True but I see Istanbul as the most European city culturally (geographically it's part European). I guess I was comparing Bangkok to cities like Singapore and Seoul, which in some ways still aren't that progressive relating to homosexuals (particularly Singapore).
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