Straight/LGBT: how do you pick your label?

87 %  of students identified as heterosexual. 3.5 % identified as homosexual; 6 % identified as bisexual; and 2.2 percent were undecided.

13 percent of campus (10 percent of men and 16 percent of women) say they have had a homosexual encounter. Looking for the gayest/most questioning major? CMS wins: 42 percent of students who listed CMS as their primary major said they had a homosexual encounter. The second gayest major is Course 11 at 35 percent and Course 9 at 20 percent. The least gayest major? Course 3, where only 9 percent of students say they have had a sexual encounter with someone of the same gender.

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I’m intrigued by the difference between the proportions of people identifying as straight/homosexual/bisexual, versus the proportions of people with same gender encounters.

Again, I’ll like to seek your, the readers’, opinions on this.

What i’m specifically curious & hoping you’ll share with us all (anonymously) is this:

How did YOU decide which sexual orientation to identify/label yourself with?  Am really curious to hear personal experiences & personal decision-making thought processes, rather than theories……..

Straight & LGBT etc all invited & most welcomed to share!

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Edited 10 min after original posting:

OK just realise that my maths FAIL. The overall numbers do square up, but the intriguing question still remains.

Perhaps I’m thinking of personal stories I’ve heard from people who have had same gender encounters, but vehemently identify as straight… They claim its not because of social prejudice or religious leanings, but something they’ve experimented with and decided they weren’t really that way. I’ve also heard stories of the opposite way around : where people identify as homosexual, even tho (or because of?!) they’ve had opposite gender encounters…..

Is there validity in this whole “experimentation” accusation after all?

Tell me what you think?

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Source:

http://tech.mit.edu/V129/N49/survey.html

Sex@MIT: The Survey

By Jeff Guo

NEWS EDITOR

October 30, 2009

Earlier this month, we [The Tech, MIT's newspaper] asked all [MIT] undergraduates via e-mail to take a sex survey. We asked you if you were having sex, when you were having sex, what kind of sex, and how good it was. About forty percent, or 1729 people, responded. We present the results here. Some of the statistics will not surprise anybody. Some surprised us all.

How can we have a good LGBT-Faith group dialogue : Your views please?

I received a comment asking what I think LGBT groups would want in and out of a faith-LGBT dialogue.

Before I impose my own 2-cents worth on everybody, I’ll like to invite you, my readers, to give your views?

So to everybody out there : LGBT, straight, health-freaks, conservatives,liberals, Christians, Buddhists, (all other religions), humanists etc etc

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May I invite you to generously share your views on all or some of these questions please:

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1. What do you think should be the objective(s) of a constructive LGBT-Faith dialogue ?
(eg, To change the minds of the ‘other’ camp? To clear up factual misconceptions? To show that we’re all humans and can be friends? To negotiate positive terms of engagements?)

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2. What are some specific items you’ll like to include in this dialogue?
(eg, medical perspectives of sexuality? the laws of different countries? history? doctrine? etc)

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3. Who do you think should be present at the dialogue?
(eg. doctors? lawyers? children? christians? people of different faiths? etc?)

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4.  I respect your anonymity. However, perhaps you could share the perspective/angle you’re coming from, and tell us, What would you like people to know about you?
(eg. how you feel? struggles you had growing up? etc)

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5. What would you like to learn through this dialogue?  or learn ABOUT through this dialogue?

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6. Would you participate in this dialogue? why/why not? In what capacity?
(eg. as a dialogue participant? as a facilitator? as a factual info provider? as an audience? etc)

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7. What are the necessary preconditions needed for a successful, constructive dialogue?
(eg. What attitudes? What safeguards? etc)

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8. Any other thoughts you’ll like to share, or hear from others, on LGBT-faith dialogues?

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I’m really looking forward to hear your thoughts, ideas, opinions.

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If anyone would like to organise anything, feel free to share too, I’ll be happy to be involved/help in anyway I can!

THANK YOU!!!!

Cord blood banks: Scam, Science, or matter of faith?

‘Should I bank my baby’s cord blood or not?’ Because my Phd is a study into the way each and every different cell of an embryo develops from a single stem cell, the mother of my now-2month-old god-daughter sought my advice a few months back.

‘It’s a matter of faith’ I answered very carefully.

In light of today’s reports, where prominent & highly respected scientist Dr Irving Weissman cautions us against fraudulent stem cell therapy claims,

(http://www.todayonline.com/Print/World/EDC100222-0000066/US-scientists-warn-of-stem-cell-fraud )( http://www.todayonline.com/Print/Singapore/EDC100222-0000083/Warning-is-timely,-says-StemCord-director )

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I thought I’ll share the reasons I gave her :

- The way the whole cord blood idea works is this:

In the cord blood (found in the umbilical cord that attaches the placenta to the baby at its navel and is cut off at birth), there are lots of stem cells.

In some kind of diseases, the body’s natural stem cells or other types of cells are damaged.  Stem cells from cord blood (bone marrow can be used too) is meant to replace these damaged stem cells, or used to grow the types of cells that have been damaged for transplant.

Like organ transplants,  the cord blood or bone marrow stem cells need to match the patient. It can be very hard to find a bone marrow donor who matches the patient. This is why cord blood and bone marrow banks are so important : to increase the chance of finding a matching donor.

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This is also why parents choose to bank their child’s cord blood – because the child’s own cord blood will be his perfect match.

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-As of now, stems cells found in cord blood can save lives, and can treat various diseases.  

If your child unfortunately has some of these conditions treatable by stem cells, having the cord blood would be useful since they are a guaranteed perfect match
(Locally, here are some news features of the successes:  http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_407175.html

http://www.sgh.com.sg/about-us/newsroom/News-Articles-Reports/2007/Pages/The-miracle-of-cord-blood-TODAY–20070828.aspx

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_339862.html

http://www.cordblood.com/cord_blood_news/stem_cell_news/article_patients_get_new_knees.asp?fbid=-rNm9uMUGoH

And MOH’s response to a question raised by an MP in 2007:

http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/parliamentaryqa.aspx?id=17888 )

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-Not every single disease can be treated using stem cells. Not every treatment is successful.

That’s just a limitation of medical science currently.  Currently very few illnesses can be cured using stem cells.  Amongst the illnesses that CAN be cured , the success rate isn’t 100% either. The success rate depends on many things — the patient’s condition, the doctor’s skills, the hospital facilities, the donor’s cells’ condition, and many more factors which are unknown or poorly understood as of now.  What is the success rate locally? I’ve no idea, have not got the chance to go find out. That will be an interesting question, if anyone knows, let me know?

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So when parents bank their child’s cord blood, it is not for a guaranteed cure, but for a possible cure. Just in case the child has an illness that can be treated by stem-cells. Just in case the child can’t find a donor. Just in case the treatment is going to be successful. Just in case = Faith.

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-However, medical science progresses so quickly, you never know what new cures can be found tomorrow using cord blood stem cells

This is where the biggest lead of faith lies.

This is where you need so much faith in science, it becomes religious

When I was doing my undergrad studies in the early part of this decade, only embryonic stem cells (cells derived from an embryo in the first few weeks of conception)  could make a whole new complete animal. Then Yamanaka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinya_Yamanaka came along, and invented a method where you could convert skin cells into cells similar to the embryonic stem cells. These cells could form a complete whole new animal as well — meaning that today, your skin cell can be used to make a whole new you.  It’s not a perfected technology though; the success rate is low.

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When the Human Genome Project (where all the human genes were being sequenced and decoded) was started in 1990, it took so long no one thought in could be done in 10 years.

Then in 1998, Craig Venter of Celera came along with a new technology that revolutionised and sped up the whole project. In 2 years, a rough draft was completed.

In 2008, I was at a conference here in Singapore,  where this guy was presenting his new sequencing technology which just amazed us. I remember at the end of the presentation, the host of the session asked him incredulously “You’re saying that the Human Genome, which took us  10years to sequence, can now be done in an hour with your technology?!?” I will always remember the guy ‘s face (looking like a complete geek) when he answered. Without hubris, without arrogance or show off, almost embarrassed at making such a ground-breaking invention, he answered “Yes”

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What’s my point?

Scientific progress doesn’t always evolve slowly. A lot of times, it progresses in a quantum leap. In the second it takes for an apple to fall on Newton’s head, gravity gets discovered. In a few weeks that Flemming got his cultures accidentally contaminated, he discovered antibiotics.

Theoretically,  cord blood stem cells can be stored for decades. Today, Prof Wiessman might be right in saying that lots of diseases cannot be cured and are false claims. In ten years however, will that still be true? Who knows.

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It’s that leap of faith, in science.

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-The most important point tho’: Are they keeping your baby’s cord blood stem cells properly?

When your child grows up and unfortunately, falls ill and needs to use his bank, the cells must be in good condition. It would be great tragedy if the cells were not usable, because the cord blood bank did not store the cells well.

Cord blood stem cells need to be processed very carefully before they are stored, and when they are taken out for use.  During storage, the temperature should be always at -180 degrees Celcius, and should not fluctuate. For this purpose, cells are stored in vials in liquid nitrogen. This also means that for the decades the cells are being stored at, the tank must never ever run low on liquid nitrogen.

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These techniques are very well established; it’s one of the basic routine techniques every laboratory that works with any cells will have.  Yet it’s a technique that can go wrong, especially if there are insufficient quality control checks, insufficient training and supervision given to the cord blood bank’s staff, or insufficient resources spent on ensuring good reliable equipment.  Even when done properly, things can go wrong, but at a much lower rate. 100% is unreasonable.

Because current medical science cannot guarantee that stem cell therapy would always work, some unethical cord blood banks have exploited this uncertainty to cheat clients.

It’s very similar to those shady investment companies. We all know that investments, even when ethically done to the best of the investment banker/trader’s ability, may or may not profit. We all know that there are unethical bankers who exploit this uncertainty to earn huge brokerage commissions by running a scam.

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It’s exactly the same with cord blood banks. There are banks that will bank the cord blood stem cells well, and banks who are just a rip off, and when the time comes, will tell you “Ooops, you fall into the category where the stem cells didn’t work”

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-So are cord blood banks a scam?

The short answer is yes, some are, and no, not all are.

Companies which makes false claims to attract customers, are also companies I doubt will be ethical enough to keep the cord blood properly.

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-What can parents do? How will parent’s know?

Honestly, as laymen, parent’s wouldn’t know everything. It’s really like investment banking — there are things that consumers need to be aware of and investigate, and then there are things which regulatory bodies need to  be responsible for.

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In cord blood banking, regulatory bodies need to ensure 2 main things

1. False claims are not being made. Companies should describe pros, cons, uncertainties etc.
2. Regulatory bodies need to ensure (eg. Through audits) that processes and facilities are CONSTANTLY in place, over the LONG TERM, to ensure proper treatment and storage of these cord blood stem cells.

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As consumers, it is a huge leap of faith.

Things that one can do:

1. Talk to your doctor, get his recommendation. A good doctor should know which are the more reliable cord blood banks
2. If you are approached by banks, or scouting for banks on your own, the ones that make wonderful claims are likely not legitimate. But then again, it’s really hard to tell. If your country has a regulatory body, call them up and check with them. Look for more banks — rivals tend to rat on each other.
3. Cord blood banks that regularly make it into the credible news papers for contributing to successful treatments, or who are endorsed by independent good doctors, would be a little bit more reliable as well.

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So to bank or not to bank? At the end of the day, it’s one’s choice to make that leap of faith.

Sex. Religion. Politics

http://www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/2010/02/18/9670.police-reports-lodged-against-singapore-pastor-over-offensive-gay-and-lesbian-remarks

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I’m going to put forth a provocative thought here :

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I think that religious leaders need Comprehensive Sexuality Education. Why are interfaith dialogues all about polite rituals still? You know what people say about the kids doing It anyway, whether adults are acknowledging it? I say the same thing about interfaith dialogues. The masses and pastors are already talking about faith and sex. Isn’t it high time the Inter Religious Council sits down with the Pink Dot?

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Perhaps this is an opportunity for the Pink Dot to be the bigger person and make the first move, invite the IRC to dialogue.

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People have commented , how can we do anything for people who legally don’t exist? or how can we, as people who cannot legally exist, do anything?

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Well I say this,

You don’t have to an animal to campaign for animal rights.

You don’t have to be a tree to campaign for environmental protection.

You don’t have to be a child to campaign against child abuse

so

You don’t have to be LGBT to campaign for LGBT rights

You don’t have to be atheist to campaign for secularism

You don’t have to be religious to campaign for interfaith respect

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It isn’t criminal to have compassion

It isn’t immoral to have a sense of justice

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It’s really sad when we’ve to resort to using ISD threats and police reports

It’s really sad when other religions and marginalised people must be insulted to get your flock to heaven.

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Education and dialogue.

Can we at least give it a try?

Happy Chinese New Year

Wishing one and all a very Happy Chinese New Year

There has been so much going on lately, and there’s so much I’m bursting to say, but thing’s have been insanely hectic lately! Mainly all sorts of work. I’ve actually scribble stuff about some of the events that’s been happening lately, so if you see any really out-dated posts coming up, pardon the lateness!!

Income Inequality In Singapore

Came across this interesting article on inequality in Singapore, posted on the MAS website

“Income Inequality in SIngapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Options”  – Ishita Dhamani, NUS

 http://www.mas.gov.sg/resource/eco_research/eco_education/Esss2007/uni_%201st_%20Ishita.pdf

In case it is removed one day, you can download it here too

Inequality Singapore

Related Articles

http://www.unescap.org/STAT/meet/povstat/pov7_sig.pdf

http://www.informaworld.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/smpp/content~content=a778629070&db=all
(This article has restricted access. If anyone knows of an unrestricted access site, do let me know & I’ll put up the link. In the meantime, if anyone wants the article, please email me. For copy right reasons, I can’t put up a restricted-access article as a weblink. My email add is mathialee@yahoo.com. Please qoute “The Poor in Singapore – William Lee”.  For convenience, I’ll be responding to all requests for the paper every Friday, & will be sending as a mass email with addresses in bcc. Hope it’s useful!)