In this final episode with Vanessa, we talk about how she managed her work-life balance, particularly when the fires of youth die down in the face of tasks which never end. She tells us about the increasing diversity of the queer community in the wake of the decriminalization of homosexuality and how the dream of a more inclusive society had led to new initiatives. How does political change happen in Singapore? Who gets drawn to activism and volunteering?

Vanessa also reflects on the assumption of conformity predicating social cohesion. Is assimilation the way to achieve the Singapore dream? How can the diversity of objectives of other advocacy groups which leads to tensions be navigated? What are her hopes for the future?

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In this episode of Semua Kita, Vanessa tells us about the changes which have taken place since she has been with Project X. In particular, she identifies generational differences in the trans rights struggle and how the emphasis has moved from gender recognition to gender identity.

She also talks about the work that Project X does, both serving the immediate needs of its clients while also working for long term social and legal change.

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Over the last few episodes we heard from Selena about her role in Project X. In the next few episodes we speak to Vanessa Ho who runs the advocacy and support group for sex workers in Singapore and explore her reflections on organizing and activism on the island.

In this episode Vanessa talks to us about her journey into the organization, and how her experiences of marginalization as a queer women fostered an empathy with the experiences of sex workers. She further explores the ideas of meritocracy and privilege in Singapore and what this means for those living on the edge.

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In the final of this series of episodes featuring Selina, we hear about how she discovered a new direction working for Project X, a non-profit providing social, emotional and health services to people in the sex industry in Singapore.

Now that Selina is in a more stable position, she has also had the opportunity to look back on her life, reflect on what she has achieved, and plan for the years to come. She also tells us what it is like when the roles are reversed and she has been a client.

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What happens when love gets in the way of work? Is the decision always either / or? In this episode Selena tells us about her experience of this situation and the choices she had to make.

In the late 2000s, Selena decided to both travel and work in the United States of America. As she explains, for a Singaporean, it was an eye-opening time for her living in a different country and meeting a wide range of people.

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In this episode of Semua Kita, Selena tells us more about her process of transition, what finally made her decide to go for top surgery, and the career path she decided to follow after that. In particular she talks about running her own business in the 2000s and what it took to attract clients.

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In the next few episodes of Semua Kita we hear from Selena, a transwoman and former sex worker, about her experience of being queer in Singapore. She tells us about how shenavigated being different in a place with dominant gender norms, what options for work and life she felt were open to her and whether she regrets the path she followed.

In this episode she tells us about some of the challenges she faced as a gender non-conforming person who still felt obliged to live up to familial and societal expectations, particularly in school and in national service.

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In the last of our series of episodes featuring Max Lim, we hear more about the closure of his sauna, the complete change he made to his life when that happened and how he found a new purpose after that. He shares some of the memories of his brief stint at a drag cabaret in New York and how he has found companionship in his later years.

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In this episode of Semua Kita, Max talks to us about the challenges he faced with tempremental venues and greedy landlords. We hear more about how he moved into venues of his own, including his sauna Spartacus and its successors, Stroke and the legendary Raw located on Ann Siang Hill which also hosted regular cabaret shows.

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In the next series of episodes we speak to Max Lim, serial entrepreneur, Sunday night gay club promoter and, amongst other venues, the founder of Singapore's first gay sauna, Spartacus in South Bridge Road.

Here, however, we hear about what it was like growing up in a kampung in Hougang then discovering his same sex attraction. How did he meet other like-minded men when he didn't know what the word "gay" even meant? We learn how this led to the setting up of his first nightclub.

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#queer #LGBTQ #oralhistory #singapore