Fruits In Suits... Hong Kong style

The gay and lesbian business networking gathering, Fruits In Suits, was established as part of GLOBE (Gay and Lesbian Organization for Business and Enterprise) in the early 1990's here in Melbourne.

What many here in Melbourne may not realize is that over the ensuing years Fruits In Suits has also successfully migrated to, and been established in, a few other locations as well, including in Hong Kong. And there is currently interest for even more such business networking groups to be established around a number of other Asian countries.

Fruits In Suits Hong Kong (currently being rebranded as FINS...) was established around 6 years ago. FINS Hong Kong is currently headed up by expat Eric Herrera, the self-titled Chief Dreamer of FINS. Eric has an interesting ethnic background, and lives and works in Hong Kong with his partner of more than 20 years.

While Allan was in Hong Kong in November, he sat down with Eric for a chat about FINS in Hong Kong and how it varies from Fruits In Suits in Melbourne and other locations, about his life and background, about being a ballet dancer in an earlier life, and about life as an expat living and working in Hong Kong.

This very interesting interview is coming up this week (Wednesday, 9th December) on Orange Ribbon.

AND DON'T FORGET...! Starting with this weeks program, Orange Ribbon moves to its new timeslet of 8:00pm on Wednesday evenings, with JOY's new Koori program, Black and Pink, taking over our old 7:00pm timeslot. So Wednesday evenings on JOY will be one of international programming with Black and Pink at 7:00pm, Orange Ribbon at 8:00pm, and Global Sounds at 9:00pm.

And while this week's program is officially program edition No. 400 of Orange Ribbon, we will actually be having our 400th celebration next week on 16th December, where we hope to be able to bring back some old memories of Orange Ribbon over the past eleven and a half years.

Remember... Orange Ribbon now at its new timeslot of 8:00pm, this Wednesday evening, where Allan speaks with the Chief Dreamer, Eric Herrera, from Fruits In Suits Hong Kong..

New time-slot for Orange Ribbon

Yes... after two and a half years in our current time-slot, Orange Ribbon is being moved to a new time-slot on Wednesday evenings. Taking over our previous 7:00pm slot will JOY's new koori program called "Black and Pink".

And what happens to Orange Ribbon? Well, we move back by one hour only, but still on Wednesday evening. So that means that you will now hear Orange Ribbon at 8:00pm every Wednesday evening, starting from next Wednesday, 9th December.

So... DON'T FORGET! By all means listen in to the new Black And Pink at 7:00pm, then continue your Wednesday evening listening with Orange Ribbon now at its new time of 8:00pm.

Lost and found...still looking...

We all have seen on TV programs where people joyously get reunited with family they have not seen for decades- the elation and tears. One can only imagine their strong need to reconnect with their biological loved ones.

Does it always end happily as those shows portray? Sonya joins us this week and shares candidly her personal journey in her search for her family; her subsequent battle with drug addiction and her exploration of her sexuality.

You will be moved by her courage and her resilience as she recounts the innumerous layers of her complex life .

Do join us on Orange Ribbon, on Joy 94.9 fm at 7pm, Wednesday on the 2nd of December 2009.

Some interesting chats from Hong Kong

Regular Orange Ribbon listeners will know that Allan has spent the past month back in his favourite city in the world... Hong Kong. During his stay there, he attended the 2nd annual Gay Pride Parade on Sunday afternoon, 1st November, as did also our occasional program contributor, Reggie Ho, although somehow they missed each other on the actual day.

However, Allan did catch up with Reggie for a pleasant lunch at a Greek Restaurant in the Soho area of Hong Kong a couple of weeks later, and then arranged to meet up with Reggie again last Friday afternoon at his office in Quarry Bay, overlooking the beautiful Hong Kong Harbour. With that view in the background Allan recorded an interview with Reggie, covering a number of local LGBT issues, and also a review of the Pride Parade of earlier this month.

But Reggie also provided Allan with contact details for Brian Leung, who is well-known in radio and music circles in Hong Kong.

Brian Leung has more than 20 years radio experience with the three major radio networks in Hong Kong. Three years ago, Brian was approached to return to his former employer, the government-held RTHK Radio 2, to present a couple of new programs for that network. Brian assumed it was to use his music knowledge and experience to present new music programs. However he was amazed to learn that RTHK Radio 2 wanted him to present a weekly gay & lesbian radio program each Saturday evening. This was at the height of the Brokeback Mountain movie release, and RTHK thought it might be a good time to introduce a program for sexual minorities... specifically for the gay & lesbian community.

"We are Family" is Brian's weekly radio program, broadcast live at midnight every Saturday evening ion conservative Hong Kong. Brian chats to Allan about the start of the program, the issues of running such a program in Hong Kong, and about his own gradual "coming out" publicly over several years.


The only opportunity of catching up with Brian was last Friday evening, in a noisy coffee shop at the Festival Walk shopping Centre at Kowloon Tong. Brian was on his way to the premiere screening for the Hong Kong LGBT Film Festival, but was able to make 45 minutes available to Allan for this recorded chat.


Brian has several internet presences, including on Facebook, but perhaps this link will provide a general background to some of Brian's interests.

So.. all of this will be presented on Orange Ribbon on Wednesday evening, 25th November, at 7:00pm. Please join Allan as he chats to these two influential Hong Kong gay men, who each, in their own way, have a serious impact on attitudes to the gay & lesbian community in Hong Kong.

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 18 November 2009

This week on Orange Ribbon we will be talking to Heath who originally comes from New Zealand. Heath will talk about moving around with his mother and step-dad, attending different schools and finding it hard to make friends.

He also will talk about being very ill with depression, not understanding his illness and trying to commit suicide. He is very open and will lets us know what it is like to have a troubled up-bringing and trying to come to terms with his sexuality.

Heath's story is sad and happy, he is happy to tell us what it was like coming out to his family but sad about his life until recently.

The story is not to be missed, tune into Joy 94.9 on orange Ribbon on Wednesday at 7.00pm.

Allan in a "Pink Dollar" TV segment in Hong Kong

Last Sunday week (1st November, 2009) I attended the 2nd Annual Gay Pride Parade here in Hong Kong. Because I was rushing around with my JOY 94.9 t-shirt on, and my microphone and recorder, I was approached by a couple of media representatives wanting to know who I was, and what I was doing in Hong Kong.

RTHK English Language television also briefly interviewed me, and then later asked for a further interview regarding the so-called "pink dollar" and how it is handled in other countries compared to the lack of business interest in it in Hong Kong. About 50 seconds of this subsequent interview was used in the weekly TV program "The Pulse" on Friday night, 6th November. The entire segment runs for 9 minutes, and initially covers Hong Kong's Pride Parade then moves into the topic of the "pink dollar" and the apparent lack of business support here for gay & lesbian events.

I get my 50 seconds of fame at 4' 25" into the segment. And if you keep watching the segment a little further (at 6' 39") you will see introduced "... a former organizer..." of an earlier attempt at a gay Pride Parade in Hong Kong in 2005. That "former organizer" is our very own Hong Kong correspondent, Reggie Ho, who also gives his views about the "pink dollar" here in Hong Kong. Regular Orange Ribbon listeners will know that Reggie occasionally provides a Hong Kong news update for us, and has done so for about 7 years now.

Anyway, if you wish you can check out the 9-minute segment from RTHK's "The Pulse" program from last Friday night by clicking here.

But try to ignore some of the mis-facts that were allegedly attributed to me though. They sort of got some of the statistics and facts I had given them a bit confused.

Allan Smales (In Hong Kong)

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 11 November 2009

We are honoured to say our guest this week is Prince Manvendre Singh Gohill of the former state of Rajpipla in India's Gujarat province.

The prince made headlines around the world when he came out as a gay man in 2006. He is also the founder of the Lakshya Trust, a leading HIV organisation in Gujarat in India.

We pre-recorded the interview last week on Melbourne Cup Day at 9.00am in the morning, and we were the second interview of the morning for him.

The prince is very open about his younger life in India as part of a very privileged family, he also talks about his marriage to a young princess that was never consummated. He tells us about having a nervous breakdown and then on the advice of his doctor, coming out to his family.

Prince Manvendra tells us about meeting the love of his life and how he now has thoughts about going to Nepal, to get married in a temple with all the rituals.

To hear his amazing story, tune into Orange Ribbon on Wednesday 11 November at 7.00pm.

This Week on Orange Ribbon on Wednesday 4 November at 7.00pm

This week on Orange Ribbon we will be speaking to Cleo.

Cleo is a pre-op transsexual who decided to leave India and come to Australia to finally bring out the woman within the body of a man.

She will talk about her early life in India, coming to Australian and all the medical people she has had to convince she is a woman and not a gay guy who wants to be a woman.

Cleo's story will help you understand what it is like to be trapped in a body that is not you.

It will also help you realise what you have to go through to change your life, way of presenting yourself and eventually your body.

Bit of Spain, Bit of Aussie

Ana (pronounced AA-naa) and Toni-couple, partners, lovers- run a Spanish school in Northcote, Melbourne. They join us in the studio to share their stories with us- huge hiccups with immigration, Spanish and Aussie culture, world travel and Spanish tracks brought to you by Ana and Toni.

Between the two of them, their life experience is comparable to the world's biggest dish of paella. Do join us on Joy 94.9 on Wednesday, 28th October 2009.

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 21 October 2009

This week on Orange Ribbon we are bringing back a guest from approximately one year ago. Somesh told us about his severe depression after breaking up with his partner, failing exams at university and going as far as losing his job due to his illness. We will hear about his recovery and how he found happiness and romance along the way.

We will also talk with John who had a big part in helping Somesh recover from his illness. They bacame very good friends during this time and Somesh decided, maybe it was time he helped John.

To hear the whole story of Somesh and John, tune in to Orange Ribbon on Wednesday 20 October at 7.00pm.

To be Jewish and gay

Orange Ribbon is JOY's GLBTIQ multicultural program, and so we present topics, or chat to people, about other cultures and how they interface with their respective GLBTIQ communities. Generally this is assumed to be different nationalities or ethnicities. But at Orange Ribbon we have always considered religion to be a "culture" as well, and from time to time have spoken with GLBTIQ folk from various religions, and how those religions have affected their lives.

This week on Orange Ribbon we go back and visit Judaism, and the history of Israel. It is several years since we last covered this topic. Our guests will give us a background to the Jewish state of Israel, what it means to be a Jew, and how GLBTIQ folk are accepted (or not...) within that community.

We will also take a look at the various sub-cultures such as the very conservative ultra-Orthodox Jews and how they perceive homosexuality.

And there has been some very recent publicity over a sad event that occurred in Israel a couple of months ago which has created some heated discussion within Melbourne's Jewish community. We hope to get to the bottom of that issue, and to learn the current status and whether there is, or has been, a resolution.

Finally, a brief review of TWO support groups for GLBTIQ men and women here in Melbourne.

Join Hugh and Allan on Wednesday night, 7pm, on JOY 94.9 for this interesting chat.

Maltese Malteser

This week on Orange Ribbon, Sam, Australian of Maltese background joins us. He is a single dad living with a partner. He has a spiritual view on life. Gay or bisexual? He prefers the label of a being. And he has strong views on Catholicism.

Join us for an interesting chat on Orange Ribbon, Joy 94.9 at 7pm, Wednesday on the 7th of October 2009.

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 30th September

If I said 'what do you know about Brazil'?, you would say 'Mardi Gras' or maybe 'South America'

This week on Orange Ribbon we will be speaking to Almir from Brazil. he calls himself a 'Welsh Brazilian Jew who practises Buddhism'

Almir will give us an insight on what it is like to be Gay or Bi in his country, he will talk about HIV issues and how many Gay and Transvestite Mayors they have in Brazil.

His story will change the way you think about Brazil, he will definitely entertain you and maybe give you the feeling you need to visit his country to experience what he is talking about.

Tune in to Joy 94.9 on Wednesday at 7.00pm to hear Almir's story.

Radical gay activists, and the Hong Kong Rainbow Centre

Ken jai (jnr.) and Tommy jai are two somewhat radical, yet committed and caring gay activists in Hong Kong, and are the founders of Rainbow Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Rainbow Centre. Both have fought hard and struggled to open, and then operate, a "drop in centre" for GLBTIQ folk in Hong Kong.

The first Rainbow Centre was opened in Mong Kok (Kowloon side) in 2000, but had to close again one year later because of lack of funds. But after several years, a replacement Rainbow Centre was re-opened in Jordan (also on the Kowloon side) in 2007. While an obviously much-needed venue and used by many gays & lesbains there, it still struggles to the present day in order to raise sufficient finance to keep this essential centre open. While Ken is the full-time coordinator of the centre, there is often insufficient funds left over each month for Ken to eke out even a poorly wage.

But Ken is also well-known for his radical activities in conservative Hong Kong, arising as a result of discovering he was HIV+ in 1995 while he was still in secondary school. Instead of going right into the HIV closet and locking the door, he got involved in AIDS Concern, and the AIDS Foundation... and so his Hong Kong activism commenced. Not only was he openly gay, but also openly HIV+.

Following the closure of the first Rainbow Centre in Mong Kok, Ken decided to try to enter electoral local politics as an openly gay HIV+ man. While unsuccessful on two occasions, his public profile was never-the-less elevated, and to this day he contiues to fight for right and justice for both GLBTIQ people in general, but also for the HIV community.

Ken met Tommy at a Tongzhi (GLBTIQ) Conference in Hong Kong in 1998, and immediately discovered another radical and concerned peer with whom he could work and share his concern for the community.

Tommy is also not publicity-shy (he admits to being a "media whore"...), and he has taken some radical actions that many of us in the West would not even be prepared to do. He became famous for his ‘Rainbow Actions’ in the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and in front of the Hong Kong Central Police Station where he led a protest against the prosecution of a BDSM club and shop, Fetish Fashion, by chaining himself in full leather gear to the police station hand rails.

These are two radical gay activists, yet who are also very genuine, committed, and deeply caring young Chinese guys who just want to make for a better place for gays & lesbians (or locally known as the "tongzhi community") in Hong Kong.

And Allan will be chatting with both Ken and Tommy on Orange Ribbon this coming Wednesday, 23rd September at 7:00pm on JOY 94.9. Please join us for a wonderfully interesting, and sometimes challenging, discussion. Would YOU be prepared to do just some of the things (in the West) that these guys have done in much more conservative Hong Kong?

Oh... and given the financial struggles that the much-needed Rainbow (drop in) Centre in Hong Kong continues to face, Ken and Tommy would be eternally grateful of any donations people may wish to make in order to help keep the centre open. It is constantly facing pending closure due to its limited finances, almost a month-by-month, hand-to-mouth operation. If you feel so inclined and would like to assist in some small way, donations can be made as follows:-

• 
  Bank: Hang Seng Bank (Hong Kong)
  Account: 356-142059-001
  Name: Rainbow of Hong Kong

Or if you would like to communicate with Ken about the struggles of the Rainbow Centre then you can email him at ken@rainbowhk.org .

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wed. 16 Sept., 2009

Here are some questions for you:

1. Have you ever used a sex worker for sex?
2. An Asian sex worker?
3. Do you know a sex worker?
4. Do you have a friend who is a sex worker?
5. Is your partner a sex worker?
6. How would you react to your partner being a sex worker?

On Orange Ribbon this week our guests are two very nice and genuine guys, Christian is a part-time sex worker and Douglas is his partner. On this week's program Christian will talk about his early life with his Fillipino family, leaving home at 16 years old and in his own words 'spent a lot of time on Flinders Street Station steps with the streeties and buskers and hung out with the roughnecks'

Douglas will talk a little about himself, how he met Christian and what he thinks about his partner being a sex worker.

Tonight's program will make you see sex workers in a different light. We are sure you will definitely admire and warm to Christian before the end of the program.

This is a show you should not miss. You can also listen to the podcast which should be available from the JOY website from later on Wednesday night.

A belated note about our Aline

In case listeners haven't actually noticed, our esteemed French lesbian component of the Orange Ribbon team has had to reluctantly withdraw from the team, at least for the short-to-medium term. At the time of her return from holidays back to France earlier this year, she was promoted at her work, and then immediately posted to a project where it was impossible for her to be available on Wednesday nights to take part in Orange Ribbon.

So it is (hopefully...) a temporary farewell to Aline, and we all wish her well in her new work role. However, we are also hoping that when her work circumstances change that she will be able to return to the airwaves again on Orange Ribbon.

Many thyanks for the 15 months contribution you have made to Orange Ribbon, and we DO hope to see you back among us again sometime soon.

Vous parlez français?

Can a French person not feel French enough in France? Julien does!
Come join us and listen in as Julien chats with us openly about being a writer, Paris, dog piss to religion. You might even change your romantic views about Paris!

Orange Ribbon - Wednesday 9th September at 7:00pm on JOY 94.9

A previous guest returns for another chat

When I was in Hong Kong around this time last year I recorded an interview with Chung Yiu, a Hong Kong chinese guy who told me about growing up in a strict christian family, and then much later going to bible college to become a christian minister. Unfortunately for Chung Yiu, three weeks before he was due to graduate, he was "forced out of the closet" by his bible college room-mate. This resulted in his immediate dismissal from the college and the destruction of his dream to become a christian minister.

Last year, just before I recorded that interview with Chung Yiu, he had just done his first bungee jump from the Macau Tower, and he told me that one day he intended to do a second jump from that tower, but that next time he would do it backwards instead. Well, things have moved on for Chung Yiu, and three weeks ago while I was back in Hong Kong I recorded another interview with him. Since my previous chat with him last year, he has now reached the official "middle age" milestone. And yes... he DID do that second backwards bungee jump off the Macau Tower only just a few weeks ago, taken as a birthday gift from some of his friends.

But when I sat down three weeks ago to record our latest interview, the main topic we discussed was his trip to the U.S. in June in order to act as a "roadie" for the annual "Aids Life Cycle Ride to end Aids". (http://www.aidslifecycle.org/) It's a bike ride undertaken over 6 days by a huge number of participants, riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles over an interesting and picturesque route. Chung Yiu tells me about the background to this annual ride, why he decided to go over and become a "roadie", what the roadie activities involve, the number of people involved (including all the various support teams...), and what he got out of the experience. He was so impressed that he intends to go back for the 2010 ride, but not as a roadie next time, but as a rider.

This interesting recorded chat will be coming up on Orange Ribbon this coming Wednesday evening on JOY 94.9 at 7:00pm. So please join me this coming Wednesday evening to hear the latest from this energetic, enthusiastic, and committed Hong Kong chinese guy.

Allan Smales

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 26 August

On Orange Ribbon this week we have a young guy from America who is here in Melbourne to study education.

He will talk about his early life in a dangerous black suburb of LA with his twin brother and mother, how his mother decided to move the family to a safer area but eventually had to move back.

He has a love of Radio and TV work and will takes us on a journey of what he got involved in and how his religion helped him along the way.

To hear Eric's story, tune into Orange Ribbon on Wednesday at 7.00pm on Joy 94.9.

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 12 August 2009

This week on Orange Ribbon we will be speaking to Ravi Lulla who originally comes from Mumbai in India and is from a Sindhi Hindu background.

Ravi will talk about growing up in Mumbai and being confused with regards to his sexuality. we will also hear about moving to Hong Kong, working with UNHCR, meeting his partner and having to go back to studying so he could stay in Hong Kong.

Ravi now works in Melbourne as a counsellor and is involved in running workshops consultancy and community development. He is also interested in intercultural communication, same sex relationships and supporting individuals and groups who need support coming out or questioning their sexuality and mental health.

He wrote two articles for MCV, one on Same Sex Relationships and recently one on the historic milestone for the LGBT community in India when the High Court repealed Section 377.

To hear the full story or ask Ravi a question, listen to Orange Ribbon on Joy 94.9 on Wednesday 12 August at 7.00pm.