S01E15 Through The Looking Glass

Please note: this episode mentions suicide. In previous episodes of Semua Kita, we heard about the importance of SigNeL, the Yahoo group which introduced many LGBTQ Singaporeans to each other for the first time in the 90s. But this on-line space catered mainly to gay men; what about lesbians? In this episode we talk to Eileena Lee who set up Red Queen, initially as a virtual bulletin board, and then as in-person events. The burgeoning community eventually led to the establishment of the women's counselling service Looking Glass and the Pelangi Pride Centre which continues to this day. RedQuEEn! tried to bring women with different perspectives at very different points in their journey of self-understanding together. Where were some of the friction points? Looking Glass was one of the first counselling groups for women in Singapore, which grew out of these early on-line spaces. How did it get started? In what areas were the users of Looking Glass looking for help? Pelangi Pride Centre, which we have heard about in previous episodes, had also started up initially as a queer library. It remains an important physical space for LGBTQ people to meet. RedQuEEn! today, continues in different forms on social networks while Pelangi Pride Centre is flourishing. What does Eileena see as the future of all of the groups she set up? Other subscription, listening and following options here: ⁠https://bit.ly/m/semuakita #lgbtq #queer #oralhistory #singapore