S3E2 Pride Podcast Special on Self-Expression, Coming Out & Love (Part 1)

In Part 1 of Seek to Speak's Pride Podcast Special, we will be exploring the lived experiences of the LGBTQ community in Malaysia and in particular, on issues such as self-expression, coming out, and love! We hope to build a connection through these stories and create empathy between our local communities. While we do not claim that the views shared here are representative of the wider LGBTQ experience in Malaysia, the stories here and true and real to the people who shared them.It takes a lot of courage for the people on this episode to come out and tell their stories, so we hope you feel as deeply as we do when we heard them. Seek to Speak values compassion, tolerance, and respect, and we hope that since you're listening to this episode, that you share the same values as well. Any type of harassment, intimidation, or abuse shown in the comments/msgs or to our guests will not be tolerated. Seek to Speak will not hesitate to report such comments to the appropriate authorities.We invite you, our listeners, to keep an open mind and encourage you to talk about these issues in a meaningful and productive way. As Jason Collins says, “Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.”Thank you to all the people and personalities who shared their views for this episode:1) Ken & Justice from PLUHO2) Mitch of SEED Foundation3) Li of Tabung Pelangi4) Kumela Kumslut5) G6) Miemo7) Kimchi8) Raj9) Anonymous story submissions10) S2S Community Members who helped on the episode including, Abigail, Samantha, Priya, and Jaspreet.About PLUHO & BlueBirdPLUHO, or People Like Us Hang Out!, is an LGBTQ-inclusive organisation focused on community building, service delivery and empowerment in Malaysia. Since its founding in 2016, PLUHO has grown from a loose social collective of queer activists to a registered organisation running a number of projects on HIV & sexual health, LGBTQ mental health (‘the BlueBird project’), a community-run shelter (‘Rumah Angkat’), and various community engagement events.The BlueBird project is a mental health referral service based in Malaysia that is queer-affirming, inclusive, and open to all LGBTQ individuals who seek sustainable mental health treatment. As of June 2021, BlueBird has served more than 80 LGBTQ individuals who submitted enquiries seeking peer support and recommendations for therapy.Buy Stories for a Cause 2 by Tabung PelangiPurchase link hereSEED FoundationDonate to the Trans Solidarity Fund hereKumela Kumslut on SpotifyListen to Sunshine on SpotifyWatch Raj's ABC News FeatureDarwin's Karaoke CultureRecommended places or resources for queer-affirming support (Compiled by PLUHO)About BlueBird / LGBTQ-affirming therapyBlueBird sign-up sheet: bit.ly/bluebirdprojectQuestions, ideas, feedback: [email protected] as BlueBird/ PLUHO volunteer: bit.ly/pluhovolunteer (*If BlueBird-specific, please mention "BlueBird" in your submission)For mental health professionals interested to be included in BlueBird project's directory: https://www.queerlapis.com/lgbtq-affirming-mental-health-survey/Context, information, and resources for LGBTQ-affirming therapy in Malaysia: https://www.queerlapis.com/where-to-find-lgbtq-affirming-therapy-in-malaysia/Resources & trainingFree and accessible resources about common mental health issues, including worksheets and guides on how to take better care of ourselves and others:https://www.orygen.org.au/Training/Resourceshttps://cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/OverviewSign up for Psychological First Aid (PFA) training, or learn about it online. PFA isn't therapy, it's a set of techniques anyone can practice for helping people experiencing a crisis. It focuses on helping them feel safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful, and be able to access physical, emotional, and social support.An overview: https://www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/ppt.pdfFor emergencies:Hotlines:Befrienders: 03-7627 2929Women's Aid Organisation: 03-3000 8858 (call) / 018 988 8058 (SMS, WhatsApp)If you are dealing with thoughts or feelings of harming yourself or others, we would advise that you go to the emergency (A&E) department of a general hospital, ask to see a psychiatrist and tell them your situation. The psychiatrist will assess your situations and needs, and assist you accordingly. Hospital emergency staff are generally equipped to deal with this.Effective allyship: Check out Queer Lapis's resources on SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity & expression, sexual characteristics):https://www.queerlapis.com/gender-bear/https://www.queerlapis.com/glossary/Opening Audio Snippet Sources:https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2021/03/23/crime-report-20-riskiest-places-for-gay-travelers-and-the-5-safest/?sh=2e994ae36d1bhttps://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/20/stop-using-lgbt-community-as-punching-bag-says-rights-group/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gJ5SE0YvlUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84gRCt9MFt0&t=2s