PLUG Magazine - The Sacred Issue

The Sacred Issue S u m m e r 2 014

C O M M U N I T Y & C U LT U R E

COMMUNITY 08 Blurred Lines: Religion in HK 15 Well, Bless My Soul!

17 Love, Sex, Buddha 20 Happy ‘Wednesgay’?

23 Sacred Service 25 HK Helpers Campaign 26 Pink Dot Recap 27 Wide, Open Fields 28 PLUG x Bamboa Artwork by Marc Standing

CULTURE 36 Stage Devotion to Motion 42 Film Top 5 Spiritual Films 46 Style Fruits of One’s Labor 50 Art None of Our Business 52 Food Rites & Bites 56 Photo Dear to My Heart 62 Travel The Cambodia Game 66 Fashion Tom Selmon 72 Sex Sexy Summer Playlist

Cover Photo Liz Moskowitz

MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL DIRECTORS Liam Greenall Timothy Loo

Dear artists, designers writers photographers models interns patrons sponsors advertisers distributors gangsters with boats party people lovers and tequila,

BUSINESS DIRECTOR Guishe Munoz

Let’s collaborate.

COMMUNITY EDITOR Josie Mitchell

We are always looking for fresh talent and new partnerships. If you are interested in contributing, collaborating, or being featured in PLUG Magazine, we like you already. Even if it’s just to say hello, get in touch with us at editor@plug-magazine.com

CULTURE EDITOR Sean Broadhurst ASSISTANT EDITOR Jason Kwan WEB EDITOR Lap Capistrano

Stay Connected Find us online to stay in touch and up to date with content, events, and what we have in store for our faithful PLUG followers.

MARKETING John Gil

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PHOTO EDITOR Phoebe Yeung DESIGN TEEM Jeremy Loo

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© A Publication of PLUG Magazine Sacred Issue Printed by Invoice PLUG is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be printed wholly or in part without permission.

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Contributors

“What do you believe in?”

Jeremy Loo GRAPHIC DESIGN I believe in life after love. And I believe in the power of aesthetics, beauty and design.

A Letter from the Editors

Michael Morrill COLUMNIST Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer and Doreen Virtue.

Phoebe Song WRITER “One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do what you’ve always wanted. Do it now.” Paulo Coelho

Stephen Smyth WRITER I believe that what goes around comes around, and if it’s for you it won’t pass you. Also, be true to your teeth and they’ll never be false to you.

Ivan Louey ILLUSTRATOR I believe that when speculated at a granular level, everybody is distinctly different in their knowledge of life and beliefs even amongst things they claim to share identical ideas and sentiments towards. That, and toilet paper is absolutely meant to roll out and over, away from the wall.

Liz Moskowitz PHOTOGRAPHER I believe in the small things that provide great understanding and/ or hilarity. I believe in the senses.

Also, fried food, because it’s honest, timeless, and damn tasty.

Tom Selmon DESIGNER I guess I essentially believe in looking past everything we think we know and always trying to take moments to reevaluate what we actually think about something.

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We’ve done it- a full year’s cycle of PLUG Magazine! The seasons have changed as we’ve given you Sweat, Secrets, Shock and now, the Sacred Issue. We’re very proud of our fourth issue and everything we’ve learned to get to this point with both feet on the ground and our heads held high. Thank-you for dedicating your time and energy to support the growth of this magazine!

The theme of being dedicated to something or someone runs throughout the Sacred Issue. We speak with an imam, Mr Gay Hong Kong, a domestic helper, dancers, engravers, and designers, just to name a few. Whether it’s their dedication to family, their craft or a good cause, this issue pays homage to those who believe in something and have the conviction to stand behind it.

To have unwavering faith in what you believe can be a struggle.

We feel blessed to live in a time that’s already benefited from so many people before us who fervently believe the freedom to love is sacred. Their devotion to this cause has brought about radical progress on the road to equality. In just a year since launching PLUG, we’ve already witnessed a great amount of positive exposure and support for the LGBT community in Hong Kong. Let’s not lose this momentum!

Summer has arrived and we’re commanding everyone to go out and enjoy it as much as possible. Be kind and curious of the people you‘ll meet, the stories you’ll hear, and the places you’ll go. Be good examples of the change we all want to see. Spread the love, and what the hell, share the good news about PLUG Magazine as well. We’ve got exciting new adventures planned for the year ahead and we want everyone along for the ride.

Thanks again for your support over the year. Have a smashing summer and see you soon for another pluggin’ good year.

- Tim and Liam

Community 08 Blurred Lines A look at religion in Hong Kong reveals it is anything but black and white.

15 Well, Bless My Soul!

Josie Mitchell finds out what sets Blessed Christian Minority Fellowship apart from the rest of the flock.

17 Love, Sex, Buddha Two friends share an awkward, accidental journey to find peace in Buddhism.

Photo Credit Liz Moskowitz

20 Happy Wednesgay?

PLUG asked the community for opinions on free vodka ‘Wednesgay’ nights. The submissions are far from unaninmous.

23 Sacred Service An intimate portrait of an unsung hero- a foreign domestic helper working in Hong Kong.

25 HK Helpers Campaign Read about their three simple, winnable campaign points and how to best support the movement for equality.

26 Pink Dot! A special congratulations to the organizers and supporters of this year’s pink-tastic event.

27 Wide, Open Fields Michael Morrill gives us an honest update on his year so far as Mr Gay Hong Kong.

28 Bamboa PLUG teams up with a new ecoconscious brand to promote the magical power of bamboo.

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The Major Religions in Hong Kong

100 People

49% - Chinese Folk Religions

5% - Roman Catholics

This is the breakdown of the major religions in Hong Kong. Each circle represents one person.

21% - Buddhists

3% - Muslims

14% - Taoists

0.5% - Hindus

7% - Protestants

0.1% - Sikhs

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Blurred Lines: Religion in Hong Kong

by John Gil, Josie Mitchell and Timothy Loo

Since religion and homosexuality are a typically controversial pairing, we explored the major religions in Hong Kong to see if the two can co-exist and thrive. To complement the hard facts and interesting bits of history, we reached out to religious leaders for a personal perspective on what they believe and why.

We don’t agree with everything they had to say, but we do agree that no matter what you believe, you should treat others with the love and respect they deserve.

Chinese Folk Religions

Taoism

There are approximately 3.5 million followers of Chinese folk religions in Hong Kong.

There are approximately 1 million Taoists in Hong Kong.

Chinese folk religion is the collection of grassroots ethnic religious traditions of the Han Chinese, or the indigenous religion of China. It is primarily the worship of the energies that generate things and make them thrive. Holy narratives regarding some of these gods are codified into the body of Chinese mythology.

Taoism is a religious philosophy and ritual tradition that emphasizes living in harmony and union with the Tao, the principle of nature. Notable Taoist temples in Hong Kong include the Wong Tai Sin Temple located in the Wong Tai Sin District in Kowloon.

This popular temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin.

religion noun.

• the belief in a god or in a group of gods

Buddhism There are approximately 1.5 million Buddhists in Hong Kong.

Built in the Tang Dynasty’s architectural style, the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill is one of Hong Kong’s most prominent Buddhist temples. The Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, famous for the outdoor bronze statue, Tian Tan Buddha, attracts a large number of visitors.

Buddhist organizations and temples in Hong Kong have long been involved in social welfare and education. The Buddhist Association of Hong Kong, founded in 1945, operates a dozen primary and secondary schools and welfare services to the public, such as medical and general care to the young and the elderly.

High-ranking Buddhist Association's executives have openly endorsed the re-election of the city's Chief Executive Donald Tsang and several of the association's members were on the Drafting Committee of the Basic Law.

• an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods • an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group

Protestantism There are approximately 480,000 Protestants in Hong Kong.

The presence of the Protestant community dates back to 1841.

Numbers

Catholicism There are approximately 353,000 Roman Catholics in Hong Kong.

The diocese runs around 320 Catholic schools and kindergartens which have about 286.000 pupils.

Medical and social services include about hospitals, clinics, social centers, hostels, homes for the aged, rehabilitation service centers and many self-help clubs and associations.

Caritas- which runs youth and social organizations and a hospital- is the official social welfare arm of the Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong.

The Protestant community operates approximately: 144 secondary schools 192 primary schools 273 kindergartens 116 nurseries 16 theological seminaries 16 publishing houses 57 bookshops 7 hospitals 18 clinics 59 social service organizations 74 day care centers 17 children's homes 35 homes for the elderly 106 elderly centers 2 schools for the blind and deaf 15 camp sites

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Islam There are approximately 220,000 Muslims in Hong Kong.

Four main mosques and seven madrasas are used daily for prayers.The oldest mosque in the city is the Shelley Street Mosque, which was built in the 1840s and rebuilt in 1915. The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre on Nathan Road opened in 1984.

Charitable work is carried out by the Muslim community, including financial aid to the needy, medical care, educational assistance, the provision of an Islamic kindergarten and assistance for the aged. There has been a sharp increase in the number of Indonesian migrant domestic workers, who numbered 123,000 at the end of 2008.

Photo Liz Moskowitz

Imam Muhammed Arshad Imam, Kowloon Mosque

Originally from Pakistan, he moved to Hong Kong in January 2001 to serve as an Imam at the Kowloon Masjid, or mosque. A Muslim by birth, his father, grandfather, and forefathers were all Muslim. “I don’t remember any person in my family that was not Muslim.” His father was also a religious leader and Imam. He chose to further his studies by getting a Masters Degree in Islamic Studies and a specialization in the field of Islamic jurisprudence. “My whole growth is in a religious society and community.”

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Why is religion so important to you?

I feel religion gives a man peace of mind and satisfaction. Sometimes things happen against your will, and sometimes this may damage you, disturb you, shake you. That’s when a person who believes in God can say “everything, whether it is happiness or it is sadness, everything is from God”. Maybe you won’t like the result, but God knows better and you feel satisfied when you accept this fate. So in this way, Islam gives you peace.

I like the idea of balance. But my next question will test the balance. What is Islam’s position on homosexuality?

Homosexuality is considered by Islam as unnatural, unproductive and not long-lasting.

Same-sex relationships are not long term. They are unproductive. Let’s suppose that the whole population becomes homosexual, how do you get to the next generation? I’m the result of a natural relationship, like everyone. This is why that God gave us guidelines on marriage.

Why Islam and not other religions?

First, I don’t say that I don’t find peace in other religions. The second thing is Islam is the latest of all other religions. Judaism is the senior, Christianity is in the middle, and Islam came at the end. But Islam has other qualities that the older ones don’t have.

Is there anything specific in the scriptures in the Quran that specifically says “homosexuality is wrong”?

Yes, although there are not clear verses about it.

God has described a group of people who are punished for acts of homosexuality. It’s in the book of Quran and the story is given in the Bible also.

What else do you feel like Islam offers you?

I feel, know and believe that Islam is a religion of a balanced life between the materialistic and the spiritual. You have to keep your relationship with God and you have to maintain your relationship with God’s creations, with your family, with your children, with your parents, and with your society.

Do imams always believe the position that homosexuality is wrong?

As far as it concerns religious instruction, you will not find any Imam that supports gay marriage. Religiously, no mosque can accept this type of marriage. In other religions you may find that some worship places have accepted it, but so far it’s not in my knowledge that even here in an

COMMUNITY

open society, no single Muslim has come up with this idea of having a same-sex marriage.

As the imam, would you allow gay Muslims to pray at this mosque?

Yes, they’re welcomed because, the religion says “You don’t hate the man, you hate the act of the man”. So maybe when he comes to the mosque he will correct himself.

What advice would you give him? What would you teach him as a religious leader?

As I’m telling you I can tell him or her, I can advise and I can guide, that homosexuality is not the way of our religion, it is not the way of our ancestors, it is not the way of our prophets.

We must follow them and come to the normal, historical and natural way of life. I don’t think anyone will approach the Imam, but we welcome them to the mosque.

Do you know of any organizations in Hong Kong that seeks tto help Muslims that are gay?

First, I haven’t found any gays among Muslims.

To my knowledge, I haven’t seen anything or anybody that has informed me that there’s a Muslim who is gay.

What can you offer to people who are exploring to find the truth?

We can give them the example of our Prophet Mohamed, how he was kind, how he was sincere, how he was devoted to the service of humanity, how he has a good heart and how he spent the days and nights in the service of God. If someone is attracted to that and wants to be Muslim we welcome them to come.

Islam is often misrepresented in a negative light, what would you like people to understand about Islam?

That’s a very important question. Islam should be understood through its teachings and not through actions. We have been in Hong Kong since 1840 without a single incident that would give a bad image to Muslims. What you see and hear about in other parts of the world, there could be different reasons but religion is not the reason.

A religion cannot survive without a message of peace and love. If I cannot love human beings then how can I be at the service of mankind? You must teach love.

Hinduism There are approximately 40,000 Hindus in Hong Kong.

Established in 1949, the Hindu Association took the lead in securing land and constructing the Hindu Temple at Happy Valley, an important community center for meditation and worship (puja).

The temple serves about 100,000 Hindus and followers of Hindu religion from South Asia to Far East Asia. It is open for all religious faiths.

Other temples are run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Sai Baba and Chinmaya Mission groups.

Pictured Ohel Leah Synagogue, Mid-Levels

Does Judaism teach that homosexuality is wrong?

I want to say, that like most religious traditions, Judaism is diverse. It therefore includes a wide spectrum of ideas from fundamental to orthodox to progressive and liberal. While the views I will share today represent progressive and liberal perspectives, I will share teachings that are common to Jews, even if they are interpreted differently by various denominations.

Judaism There are approximately 6,000 Jews in Hong Kong.

Jews first arrived in Hong Kong when the territory was ceded to Great Britain by China in 1842.

The Hong Kong Jewish Community was first established in 1857. The first synagogue was set up in a rental house on Hollywood Street in 1870.

Initially, the Jewish community did not grow quickly because most Jewish merchants were attracted to Shanghai. However, the Japanese occupation of mainland China in the late 1930s caused many Jews to leave Shanghai, Tianjin, and Harbin for Hong Kong. The outbreak of World War II and the consequent Japanese occupation of Hong Kong temporarily suspended all Jewish activities here.

Jordan Potash, PhD

Artist, Licensed and Certified Art Therapist Jordan Potash was raised in a conservative, but progressive Jewish family. In the synagogues that he has belonged to, he has been a religious school teacher, ritual leader and member of the executive committee. He is currently a member of the United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong, the only progressive Jewish community in Hong Kong and one of the largest in Asia.

What do you consider to be the most important tenet of your religion?

One of the most important tenets of Judaism is the belief in one God, which implies that all of the world and all people are part of this oneness.

Although we perceive us as separate, in truth, we are all interconnected and part of larger whole.

The Torah (referred to non-Jews as the Bible or Old Testament) contains a verse, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22). Although this verse only pertains to men, later commentators extended the ban to women. There is no reason given, so, it is unclear why homosexuality is wrong. Rabbi Steve Greenberg, an Orthodox and openly gay scholar, describes that homosexuality may have been considered wrong to the ancient world because it was perceived as disrupting power dynamics or seen as a form of violence.

There may not have been an idea of consensual and loving same-sex relationships.

What is your response/advice to LGBT people?

From a Jewish perspective, we should keep in mind that Jews see religion as evolving. In fact, Jews are inspired by Torah, but actually practice according to thousands of years of interpretation.

Generally those interpretations are what allow 11

ancient teachings to survive and maintain relevance in the modern day. LGBT people should know that many of these interpretations were also made to include modifications so that the community could be more inclusive.

Some examples include permitting a forbidden marriage between a Jew and Moabite, which allowed for the marriage of Boaz to the Moabite Ruth who become the ancestors to the great King David. Another example is the prophet Isaiah’s inclusion of men who serve the temple, but do not fulfill the commandment “to be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1.22).

Additionally, one of the most powerful teachings in Judaism comes from the book of Genesis. In chapter 1, verse 27 we read that that human beings are b’tzelem Elohim – that is created “in the Image of God.” This idea reminds us that we are all reflections of the Divine, which includes our innate drives for love and relationships. If sexual orientation comes from God and God is perfect, then our sexuality must mirror an aspect of God. What is your stance on same-sex marriage?

Does this reflect the official Jewish stance?

I am a full supporter of marriage equality. This stance is consistent with the official positions of the progressive and liberal wings of Judaism. www.jordanpotash.com

Sikhism There are approximately 10,000 Sikhs in Hong Kong.

Sikhs originally came to Hong Kong from Punjab, in northern India, as part of the British Armed Forces in the 19th century.

In the 1930's the number of Sikhs continued to grow and the Gurudwara, or place of worship, needed to be rebuilt for a larger Sikh community.

In the early 1940's during the Pacific war, the Gurudwara was bombed twice, sustaining extensive damage. In one of the attacks, the then priest, Bhai Nand Singh, sitting in the main hall reading the the Sikh holy scripture, was fatally injured.

Sikh temples in Hong Kong provide free meals and short-term accommodation to visitors.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2 Missionaries PLUG staff surreptitiously met 2 young members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the MTR heading towards Kowloon Tong. They were in Hong Kong on their mission, a 2-year period of evangelism and training usually spent abroad. Both of them grew up in the United States, and were appointed as members of the Church to spread a positive message.

What do you feel is your primary responsibility while you’re here on your mission?

Our primary invitation is to help people come closer to Christ, not necessarily convert them but to build a relationship with God. We invite people to see if it’s true, it’s an invitation we offer everyone: to read the Book of Mormon and ponder about it.

And sincerely pray and ask God about it and everyone will receive their answer if this is true or false.

What does your religion say about homosexuality?

We believe that homosexuality is against God’s law. We believe in a traditional family. A man and wife are ordained of God and that is how a family should be. But that doesn’t mean we push away or object anyone with those tendencies because we believe we are all children of our Heavenly Father and deserve the same love and respect. We treat it as someone maybe struggling with something else.

How do you know that what it says is right?

It’s something that feels right to me as well, it goes back to revelation and inspiration of what our church puts out. We have the choice to believe it or not. And how we test that is we take it personally to God and ask him. I know it says in the Bible that a man and a woman shall be joined together and become one flesh. And I believe in the Book of Mormon which supports the testimony of that.

What advice do you have for someone who is gay?

We are all the children of our Heavenly Father. We respect you. But you can change as well.

Pictured Mormon Temple in Kowloon Tong

There are approximately 23,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Hong Kong.

By late 1852 three brethren, Hosea Stout, James Lewis, and Chapman Duncan, had accepted calls to serve China. They sailed from San Francisco on 9 March 1853 and arrived in Hong Kong on 28 April. A civil war, the Tai-ping Rebellion, was then underway, making it unsafe for the elders to labor beyond Hong Kong. They also struggled to learn the language. The trio could barely afford to sustain themselves and could not afford language tutors. Negative articles in the press and a chilly reception from the small Englishspeaking population also impeded their efforts.

The missionaries sailed from Hong Kong on 22 June 1853, less than two months after their arrival. The Church made no further efforts to do missionary work in China during the 19th Century.

75%

According to a 2014 Gallup Poll, approximately three-quarters of Hong Kong people surveyed listed religion as unimportant. This ranks our city 5th out of 143 participating countries, in a tie with the Netherlands. Sweden tops the list, followed by Denmark, Norway, and Estonia.

Well, Bless My Soul!

by Josie Mitchell

In Hong Kong, conservative Christian groups such as The Society for Truth and Light and The Baptist Convention of Hong Kong put up some of the biggest opposition to the advancement of LGBTQ rights. They are outspoken about their condemnation of homosexuality and use their religion as an excuse for their homophobia. However, more and more Christians are standing up to these religious groups and showing their acceptance and support for the LGBTQ community.

Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship (BMCF) was set up in 1992 by a group of gay Christians who simply wanted to practice their religion without being judged or made to feel guilty about who they love.

Since then, they have evolved from being one of the first LGBT organisations in HK to being an officially-recognised church, holding weekly sermons for a 100-person strong congregation. In the two decades that they have been operational, they have helped many Christians, young and old, to establish a positive relationship between their sexuality and their spirituality.

Jason Ho, a fellowship leader at BMCF, previously attended a church which taught him that homosexuality was something to be ashamed of: a church that told him to pray to God to ‘turn him straight’. Not surprisingly, no such ‘miracle’ availed. After falling in love with his first boyfriend, he struggled to see how he could be true to his faith while being true to himself. Although he still believed in God, he couldn’t face attending this church any longer. So, when he was first invited to attend BMCF, he was sceptical of their teachings, “I thought they were sinners. I thought they were just making excuses to support themselves”.

But then he realised that many of BMCF’s residential and visiting pastors were in fact straight and he started to consider that there may be more to it. He attended BMCF’s bible classes which examined the scripture relating to homosexuality in a different light and he discovered that there were contextual and cultural factors that he was previously unaware of. Through the support of these pastors and a new understanding of what it means to be a Christian, Jason found how to

accept his true identity as a gay Christian man.

So how does BMCF justify homosexuality in the eyes of Christianity? First and foremost, they believe that Jesus' grace is all-inclusive.

“We believe that Jesus Christ speaks out for the marginalized and oppressed, and His love is open to everyone of any sexual and gender orientations”. They respond to the often referred to lines in The Old Testament's Leviticus, which damn the act of a man lying with another man, as being irrelevant as they are based on an ancient culture, “We believe the Bible doesn't condemn homosexuality.

Out of the over 31,000 verses in the Bible, perhaps 6 or 7 places have been (mis)used by some anti-gay Christians to condemn homosexuality. But all of those verses were written in specific political, cultural, and temporal contexts and are NOT related to the same-gender loving relationships that are based on love and commitment”.

BMCF are not only concerned with religion, they are also passionately active in the pursuit of LGBTQ rights. But in Hong Kong where the biggest opposition to these rights comes from fellow, albeit more powerful, Christian organisations, how do they feel about the way their religion is used to discriminate against LGBTQ people? “I believe they are NOT our enemy. Our common enemy is ignorance and fear. I really hope that such anti-gay people and organisations could try to listen to people's stories and exercise empathy in understanding the queer people.”

In Hong Kong, Christianity is the third most widely practiced religion with over 840,000 followers. Many of these followers are undoubtedly young LGBTQ people struggling with a conflict between their sexuality and their religion, what might they be going through? “We struggle on three levels: self-acceptance, social alienation and religious rejection. When young queer folk first realize they are 'unique', they often feel they are the only people who feel 'weird'

Jason Ho with visiting pastor Reverend Cheng.

about who they are and whom they are attracted to. They may be afraid of getting too close to others for fear that their peers may know 'too much' about themselves. In the church, they know they are condemned by the church authority. So, they are facing alienation from all three sides.”

Thankfully, there are a few organisations in Hong Kong that offer help and advice.

The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong runs a program called Project Touch which provides a support program for LGBTQ youth, including a hotline and workshops that advise parents on how to understand their children and to improve communication within their family. In addition to BMCF, gay Christians are free to worship without discrimination at a small collection of churches. Kowloon Union Church is openly LGBTQ affirming and has previously held sermons and lectures specifically for gay Christians, and the congregation of One Body in Christ is led by openly gay pastor Grace Bok. USEFUL CONTACTS Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship www.bmcf.org.hk Kowloon Union Church www.kuc.hk (852) 2367 2585 One Body In Christ Contact: Rev. Grace Bok shalunbok@hotmail.com (852) 6153 0764 15

LOVE SEX BUDDHA

Love, Sex, Buddha

by Phoebe Song

Amy* is one of my oldest friends. We were kids when we first met.

was a model daughter – good grades, caring, helpful, sweet and polite.

As long as she stayed that way and didn’t publically break the mold, their “face” was intact. They isolated her with a knowing silence.

She had long, silky black hair with natural curls at the end and peachy cheeks that made adults coo. I was her lanky, less adorable companion.

Watching Amy hide in broad daylight for loving the “wrong” people jaded me. Everyone around us, regardless of what religion they were, had no room for anything other than conventional righteousness.

They preached, they judged, they discriminated and then went home to sleep in their smug little beds, fantasizing about that golden plaque with their names on it, reserved in a Heaven of clouds and dove wings.

The hypocrisy was blinding; the idiocy was comical.

We were both somewhat the tomboys of the class; neither of us had any patience with dresses or ribbons – we preferred climbing trees, catching frogs and scaring the koi in the neighbors’ fish pond.

When her parents bought us both Barbie dolls, she was crazy about them. I wasn’t so interested – my plastic blonde fairy spent most of its time with Amy’s ice princess.

No one thought anything of it.

Years later, when Amy dragged me to a Buddhist temple on a trip to the mountains, I was reluctant, though I understood why she wanted to go. Like so many others, Amy desperately sought solace from the pain that came from being “different”. She wanted to be at peace with her spirituality, but wondered if her “unnatural” sexuality allowed it.

By this time, I was a hardcore science and social economics fan, so took up any opportunity to question any religious institutions about their preached concepts.

Ten years later, Amy kissed a real girl. Her name was Jessica and she looked a lot like the doll that Amy had when we were kids.

When a nun passed by us in the temple grounds, I knew she wanted to ask, but was afraid. I had enough.

I was alarmed; in our conservative Asian neighborhood, people never discussed sexuality. In our culture, sex and sexuality were politely avoided; so taboo that parents wouldn’t talk about it to their kids. But even then, we knew girls usually kissed boys.

“Excuse me,” I reached out.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” Amy whispered one day, after putting the princess in a blue frock. “She’s so pretty, I just want to kiss her.”

My aunt saw her kissing the Barbie on the lips and thought it was a cute, 7 year old thing to do.

The nun stopped and smiled. “Yes?” She was a chubby middle aged lady with rosy cheeks and shaved head.

A few months later, Jessica’s mother found her diary and quickly figured that Amy and her weren’t just best friends. As Christians, Jessica’s family explained to their daughter that what she was feeling and doing were very, very wrong. It was a crime, a sin against God and against nature. They said she was sick and needed help.

“I’m gay,” I said bluntly, as Amy’s mouth fell open. “I want to know if this makes me a bad person.”

The nun looked a little surprised but then her eyes crinkled up in amusement.

Jessica agreed with her family, so I held Amy’s hand as she cried through her first heartbreak. It could have been the rejection from another faith that made her question her own as a Buddhist. If Jessica believed God would be angry at her for loving another girl, what about Buddha?

“Do you love someone?” she asked me.

“Yes.” “Does that person love you too?”

Suddenly, Amy became very aware of her triangle-in-a-square-hole misfit amongst the rest of society’s heterosexual normalcy. I watched her painfully slug through years of murky confusion, guilt and awkwardness. Being a teen was hard enough, being a teen who loved in secret was worse.

“Yes.” “Are you both happy? Do you treat each other with respect and genuine care?”

I’m sure Amy’s parents noticed, but they never said a word. Her mother brushed over the fact that she showed no interest in boys as “shyness” and her father pretended that nothing was out of the ordinary, though rumors began to swirl around their household. Amy

“Yep.” “Then you are both fortunate. Buddha smiles upon the two of you.”

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me – in the end, it doesn’t matter. I loved the best I could – with good intentions, so why regret?

I was surprised, almost a little disappointed at the lack of drama.

The nun peeked at Amy, who was turning red in the face.

“Love comes in many forms,” the nun smiled to us both. “Love yourself, love your parents, love your friends, love your neighbors, love the creatures of this earth. Love them well and good Karma will flow. I hope you have found what you are looking for.”

She looked back at me and began to speak.

“Love is a beautiful thing. Our world certainly needs more of it. It doesn’t matter who you love, as long as you love without exploitation.

Love should be genuine and pure. It should nurture and nourish. If the love you give and receive naturally adapts these good traits and hurts no one, it is good. Good love creates good Karma. The world does not suffer from love.”

At this, Amy burst into a sob. I bowed respectfully to the nun.

We left the temple with a knot untied.

This was how I found my peace with religion. Amy led us both to answers in one awkward, accidental journey. This is my interpretation of Buddhism. It helps me understand and shape myself, my environment and my actions towards others but it does not own me. It is a spiritual philosophy that focuses on the deeper aspects of emotional bonds, not just the physical. There is a warm solace in one’s spiritual acceptance that genuine, quality Love is not wrong. If it does not exploit, if it does not hurt anyone in the process, it is true love and it is good Karma. The world needs more good Karma. There is no guilt here.

Amy’s eyes were welling up.

“What about sex?” I pushed.

The nun thought for a moment.

“Before I came here, I was a hairdresser in the city. I have two children,” she said gently. “I felt my calling much later in life than most.”

We stayed silent.

Buddhist ideology focuses beyond most physical aspects of this world; it looks at the quality and consequences of our actions, our inner conscience and the purpose of our short, strange existence. It is a deep, complicated philosophical, metaphysical, mental study and constant search to understand the Universe. In this retrospect, homosexuality is a relatively miniscule issue. Long story short - we are all equally responsible for exercising compassion, love, forgiveness and all the beautiful things that Religion is supposed to help us nurture. What color we are, what God we pray to, how we look, who we love, our taste in partners – none of it really matters if it embodies all the above.

It’s what we do, who we affect and how.

“Sex in the name of love is also a beautiful thing. Like love, it is meant to nourish a relationship. Unfortunately, our world is complicated… sex and relationships are easily exploited. As individuals we are responsible to love in a karmically healthy way, so as long as we can uphold that quality, it is good, whether we have sex or not,” the nun continued.

“The Buddha teaches that we are all bound equally under the same laws of Karma. It does not matter who we are. I am bound to the same karmic laws as you are, even if I have given up a normal societal existence to live here. We monks forgo sexual relationships entirely to focus on a different existence – therefore who we loved sexually beforehand does not matter to us now. If you and your partner love each other well, who am I to tell you that you are a bad person?”

I finish this with a great example of true Buddhist mentality. This echoes across the many different schools of Buddhist teachings, but the core remains the same.

Amy’s tears trickled down her face – years of conflict and guilt gushing out of her soul like little rivers. I felt a flood of relief. All those relationships I had before, the pain, the love, the passion – they weren’t perfect but I know in my heart, that I loved without cruel intent. Like most people, I secretly harbored dark little regrets that haunted me from one relationship to the next. Part of me felt guilty for the failures and the mess of heart break we all know so well, but this confirmed to

“Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much.

Whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life.” Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama.

Last time I saw Amy, she was enjoying her good life.

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ARTWORK BY DANIEL ARZOLA (nosoytuchiste.tumblr.com)

COMMUNITY

HAPPY ‘WEDNESGAY’?

The tradition of bars offering free vodka mixers to lure customers out on a Wednesday night has become an institution on the weekly gay calendar.

Originally created by Volume, the gay-bar stalwart, the trend has been adopted by several other bars that are not exclusively for LGBT clientele.

There are devout followers who fervently support the weekly ritual and attend it religiously, and there are those who think it’s foolish debauchery.

We opened the floor for you to share your own opinion.

I think free Vodka on Wednesdays is a great idea! It’s great for our community and encourages people to get to know each other better. And there’s no better way to get to know someone than with a drink in your hand!

I’ve had my worst free vodka nights at PLAY. Worst.

It’s a great incentive to catch up with friends and to meet new people. Plus as they say, alcohol serves as a social lubricant ;) I don’t like alcohol! >:( I don’t drink but I still like go out on Wednesdays because it’s usually less crowded than weekends and I’m less likely to stay out late. Sucks when I have to pay for my virgin crantini though...

It’s not that fun anymore.

Free drinks... Who cares?

It’s fine, I don’t see the big deal in giving out free drinks to whoever. You have ladies nights everywhere. So what if it’s labeled Wednesgay? It was a market that hadn’t been tapped and now it’s a thing.

First, free vodka is an amazing concept, because it is free and everybody loves it free.

The second point is; why is alcohol a reason for us to meet? Why do we like it? Would free cake work ?

This is the point of the gay community; the ability to gather and meet each other easily.

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Cheap (not so clean) fun.

Too many young people who not only look under-age, but are neither gay / lesbian and only there for the free drinks, and usually behave badly / obnoxiously. Most venues do not perform ID card checks. There is poor signage at the normally non-gay venues which do ‘gay’ happy hours which means straight people who are homophobic also infiltrate the venues, and cause discomfort to the gay patrons.

Great if you want to meet guys who don’t have any money to spend....

Cool!

Should be Whiskey Wednesday, just my choice of poison.

Everyone loves a free drink. What I don’t love are bars that only give free drinks on wednesdays to men or women but have dress codes for men only. That’s total bullshit. If anyone should treat us equal it’s a bar.

I have noooo idea how they make any money.

Then again, there’s not really not that much vodka in the drinks, haha.

You pay for it on Thursday.

Great! But they make it tricky to make the last ferry back to Lamma Island! ;) I think the gay community deserves better.

I’d hardly call karaoke a ‘new’ concept.

Beat’s Wednesday revamp is outdated and out-of-touch.

It’s a dangerous amount of fun, and it’s a part of being gay in Hong Kong.

Wish it wasn’t wednesday... Would love for FriGAY to happen instead so I can get hammered without trying to be responsible for work the next day.

Initially it’s a good concept... but as usual, it ends up being a platform for a bunch of people to keep being dicks to others.

Great way to get people together but I would like to see other events like this that are not just alcohol centered. For example beach parties or picnics. Also a venue where people smoke outside only so we don’t all get cancer!

The novelty of it wears off quickly.

Makes me feel more included in the night scene- girls have ladies night, we have gay night.

Good to have a gay social night before the weekend dancing madness. But really missing Bisous!

Want to hear from the people in charge of running Free Vodka Wednesgays at some of your favourite venues? Go to our website to read more submissions and exclusive online content.

WednesGAY is my favourite day of the week.

www.plug-magazine.com

Special thanks to Liz Moskowitz for additional photography she shot while living in Hong Kong. See more of her work in the Photography Feature on page 56 in the Culture Section.

More photos on her blog:

COMMUNITY

The second most important thing to me is family.

In the Philippines where I come from, this is what is taught us from a very young age: first God, then family. Everything else is just an extension of those two. If we value those two above all things, we will be fine, and we can live righteously.

Sacred Service: For God & Family

by Lap Capistrano

They’re everywhere in Hong Kong: they do your dishes, clean your homes, and take care of your children and pets while you’re away. But there’s so much more to these hometown heroes: underneath the service they offer without asking much in return, you’ll discover stories of sacrifice – for faith and family, tales of freedom from work celebrated if only on weekends, and narratives of compassion among the migrant domestic helper community which transcends race and nationality.

My family is also the reason why I am here. I work to be able to provide them a better life. Because of my work here in Hong Kong, I am able to help my husband put our children through school, buy a small motorized scooter for the family, and purchase an extension of land for our small farm.

My sacrifices (for not being there with them every day) are justified with knowing that they will live better lives now and in the future.

What do you think HK worships? What’s important to this city?

I think Hong Kong worships money. It’s understandable: Hong Kong is a place where there is such a high standard of living; if you don’t work in this country, you don’t get paid, and if you don’t get paid, everything suffers. You cannot live without working in Hong Kong, with the exception of a very lucky few, everyone needs to work to live.

This goes not just for domestic helpers, but even for our employers. So even if Hong Kong has many different religions (there are many Muslims here, Catholics, Christians, Buddhists), we are all somehow united in ‘worshipping’ money, because it’s the one thing we cannot do without.

What is most important to you? What is sacred?

Above all else, there is my religion. Working without faith or guidance is pointless, or at least that is my belief. All the hardships and successes which I have gone through in my life, I can attribute to the grace of God. And I am made happy by my faith because I know that all my hard work will be rewarded by God’s blessings to me, to my family, and to others. I enjoy knowing that I am guided by my faith in God. I remember when I was still staying with my first employer here in Hong Kong. I used to be a caregiver for an old man who was staying with his son and his son’s wife here. Although I was treated very well by the old man and his son, the wife was always very rude to me – she was always scolding me for small things which she would require to be done ‘perfectly’ and I had found her demands quite unreasonable at times. I prayed hard to God then that I would find a different employment opportunity so that I could improve my circumstances. And sure enough, within a month, I had received an offer which was much better than my current employment at that time.

I take this as a sign of my faith rewarded, and that God is looking out for me.

Do you go to mass?

Yes – I go to church each Sunday, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. I hear mass at St. George’s in North Point where there are also a lot of Ilocanas – Filipinos who speak the Ilocano dialect and who come from the northern part of the Philippines - like me.

What do you like to do for fun?

Each Sunday, it is stipulated in our employment contracts that we get at least 24 hours as a “dayoff.” This is why you see so many domestic helpers milling about the city during Sunday.

I usually go out and visit one of our relatives’ or friends’ dormitory and have a small party there.

My aunts cook Filipino food, and everyone brings in something to contribute to the party, be it a snack, some drinks or some games that we can play.

Sometimes, one of us would have complimentary tickets to go bike riding in Shatin (because his employer gives him the bike tickets for free) and we would have ten people go around biking for a couple of hours on a Sunday.

There are also the many extra-curricular groups which convene after each mass in different churches – there are dance groups, drama groups, singing clubs, and every kind of club you can think of, so depending on the amount of free time you have and your interest, you can easily just join in for a bit of fun.

What’s the most difficult thing about living in Hong Kong?

I think that generally Hong Kong is a great city to live in, but there are definitely some aspects of life here that do not make it easy to assimilate. One such aspect is the language barrier: I think I speak for everyone when I say that if you do not speak Cantonese, you may find it sometimes difficult to communicate effectively with the Chinese locals.

I am fortunate enough to know how to express myself in English, but if I had to talk to some locals who do not even speak English, the 23

COMMUNITY

Ronela and her friends enjoy spending their Sundays together over a large, homecooked meal.

language barrier will be a major hurdle for me to overcome. This is one of the reasons (apart from religion) why we sometimes tend to hang out with people from our own country during our free time – because it’s comfortable for us to communicate in our native language.

our families and friends on our day off from work, and there are roads which get closed and covered with cardboard mats so we can have our picnics. But there are still a lot of things which Hong Kong can do by way of helping domestic helpers who need to report cases of abuse.

Secondly, I find discrimination to be a major issue. As I have mentioned before, the woman in the family who previously employed me never saw me as an equal, and I did feel that a few of my rights as a human were being denied me, simply because I was Filipina and “just a domestic helper.” I accept that as domestic helpers, we are here to help and serve our employers, but I think that it shouldn’t be too much to ask to be treated like a human being. Employing a domestic helper does not give anyone the right to treat another human like dirt.

There are many domestic helpers in HK, what is the biggest divide in groups?

I think that we are mostly divided by religion.

Although for Filipinos, we are largely Catholic, there are so many denominations which divide us: Iglesia Ni Kristo (Church of Christ), JIL (Jesus is Lord), Mormons, and Born Again Christians to name a few.

Do you think Hong Kong is a racist city?

Yes, unfortunately. Although Hong Kong is a very multicultural and multiracial city, racism is still a prevalent issue here.

Are all your friends Filipino?

I have quite a few Indonesian friends. I met some of them outside church, or some of them in the public places where we hang out. We use English to communicate with each other. The Indonesians here who are fluent in English are usually the ones who used to be employed in Singapore where they were taught English.

Do you think HK respects domestic helpers?

Generally yes – Hong Kong lends us the streets once a week so that we can spend time with

How did you meet your friends in Hong Kong?

My first friends here in Hong Kong were my relatives. I have quite a few relatives who have

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“I think that generally Hong Kong is a great city to live in, but there are definitely some aspects of life here that do not make it easy to assimilate.“

been working here for years before me, so it was easy to assimilate into the group. From there, I have met new friends from church, extracurricular activities and common friends.

Do you know any organizations in Hong Kong that fight for the rights of domestic helpers?

I know about Gabriela (Gabriela Women’s Partylist) and that they are very visible here in Hong Kong, along with the FMWU (Filipino Migrant Worker’s Union). I used to be a unionista back when I was sewing for a garment factory back home, and I have had contact with Gabriela before. They are very active when it comes to women’s rights and very anti violence against women and their children.

How would you describe your time in Hong Kong?

I think Hong Kong is a great country to live in.

If you work hard here, you will earn your keep (sometimes more so), and help your family back home. But that’s not to say I don’t miss my family, that’s actually the reason why I fly back home every so often – my children are growing way too fast!

PLUG HIGHLIGHT

HK HELPERS CAMPAIGN HK Helpers Campaign is a small, diverse group of volunteer campaigners committed to promoting the rights of local Foreign Domestic Workers in the public sphere and through the Hong Kong courts.

Instead of ‘repeating roles’ by creating a new NGO, they aim to strengthen existing voices in Hong Kong and abroad. Their objective is to amplify the voices of helpers by linking them, and relevant NGOs, with those in the media, law, politics and academia.

The ultimate aim is to apply pressure to successfully achieve our three basic campaign points.

1 scrap the ‘two-week’ law 2 enforce maximum working hours 3 end illegal agency fees The live-in law and two-week rule discourage helpers from escaping abusive situations, whilst illegal agency fees can leave newly arrived maids indebted for months on end.

“People can best support the campaign by visiting our Action Centre online. Readers can help spread the word, donate their time/money to local NGOs, sign petitions, take direct action on the streets, volunteer their time, share their skills, contact key players and also donate to us!”

CONTACT Website hkhelperscampaign.com

“Helpers are arguably the backbone of Hong Kong’s middle class and the engine of its economy. They leave their own loved ones to care for our children, the elderly and run our homes – allowing Hong Kong families to earn double incomes.”

More than half of Hong Kong’s 300,000+ helpers are abused verbally, physically or sexually. They are the only workers who, by law, must live with their employer. They can never gain permanent residency, are not allowed to drive and many are trafficked from their home countries into debt bondage.

Many helpers are ‘on-call‘ 24/7, some are not given a rest day and they are exempt from the Hong Kong minimum wage.

Helpers earn just HK$4,100 (US$528) per month – a salary that has barely changed in a decade. These issues rarely elicit public sympathy and are often reported on poorly by the media, who often reinforce stereotypes.

Email info@hkhelperscampaign.com Facebook facebook.com/helpershk Twitter twitter.com/hkhelpers

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PINK DOT 2014

A huge congratulations to the organizers and supporters of Pink Dot 2014. It was a fun and crowded event that brought the community together in support of the freedom to love.

More great photos on their Facebook page.

Photo Credit Pink Dot Facebook page.

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An Update from Mr Gay HK

Wide , Open Fields

by Michael Morrill

According to my friends and the Chinese zodiac, this is meant to be a troubling and exhausting year for those of us born in the year of the horse.

My own dose of trouble and exhaustion began when my ex-boyfriend of nine years confessed that he may have been the one to infect me with HIV nearly a decade ago. As I struggled to handle this news, I lost my business partner even though I tried my best to carry on like the news hadn’t affected me. The last few months have definitely been physically, mentally, and emotionally difficult. Thankfully, the zodiac also provides hope with the prediction that the hardship will eventually land us in wide, open fields of endless opportunity and good fortune.

PLUG x MGHK A WORD from the Organizers of Mr Gay HK The finale for Year 6 of the Mr Gay Hong Kong competition will be held at 8pm on Saturday, October 18. Floatilla will take place the next morning, as is tradition.

The qualities we look for: Passion for HK’s LGBT community • Patience for the work that needs to be done • Charm to command an audience regardless of size and stature • Confidence to ably represent himself, the title, our brand partners, and the LGBT community • Conviction to do it all, and do it well • Cheek, this is fun!

Apply simply by sending a Private Message to us via facebook.com/mrgayhongkong The competition is open to all self-professed gay men aged 18 and above, ordinarily a resident in Hong Kong and holding a valid HKID card.

The winner of 2014 MGHK will fly Hong Kong’s colours at the 2015 Mr Gay World Finals, in the savannahs of Cape Town, South Africa.

It’s your platform, your voice, your show.

It’s MGHK.

When I competed for Mr. Gay HK, I really believed I had a story worth sharing, one that would help reduce the stigma surrounding people living with HIV. Even though it’s likely many of us know someone with HIV who goes through the same thing I do on a day-to-day basis, I felt personally compelled to take a stand and tell my own story. I thought that by doing this I could make their lives a little easier because I know how hard it is to keep a secret that despite what we tell ourselves to cope only makes life hell.

I thought I was ready to reveal the secret of my HIV status. But something unexpected happened when I did. It was like I became schizophrenic and a whole new cast of characters auditioned for the role of Mr. Gay Michael. There was the Critic, telling me that everything I did or said could and would be used against me in a court of law. There was the Voice of Reckless Abandon screaming, “SAY IT! DO IT! WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK?!” In opposition, was the Voice of Reason encouraging me not to put myself or anyone else in harm’s way. And finally, the Voice of Hope, whispering in my ear that no matter what I do everything will work out and there’s no need to worry.

One thing I’ve learned this year is that life is too short to waste time always letting the voices in your head control you. Instead, spend time finding your calling- that special something that sends shivers down your spine and invigorates you. We all have it in us; it’s just a matter of making the choice to bring it to life. I made that choice this year and I know that the seeds planted will bear delicious fruit in the future. I will find myself running wild in wide, open fields!

You don’t have to be openly HIV+ to take on the role of Mr. Gay HK, but you should have a driving passion, the desire to share it with others, and the conviction to do whatever it takes to empower the LGBT community.

If you’d like to compete for the title of Mr. Gay HK, be prepared for a ride of self-realization!

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PLUG x BAMBOA

It’s a Miracle!

Living in Hong Kong, it’s easy to find monumental examples of the strength of bamboo as it is used to shroud entire buildings and build cavernous Cantonese opera halls. We didn’t have to look much harder to find a brand that also brings bamboo inside the home. In this PLUG x Bamboa collaboration, we pay homage to the miraculous powers of bamboo and highlight some summery products that are the perfect addiction to a rooftop barbecue or picnic at the beach.

Launched in 2008 by Julia Washbourne, Bamboa's goal is to provide beautiful contemporary bamboo products that help rural communities, support local artisans and encourage the use of a sustainable resource. All of their products come from locally harvested bamboo, and a part of the proceeds from purchases goes towards environmental projects which help protect our earth’s biodiversity and nature.

With experience in the manufacturing process, Julia also designs many of Bamboa’s collection, which ranges from tableware and lifestyle products to flooring and bamboo fabrics. The pieces are slick and contemporary, easy to match and a quick way to lighten up any table spread or beachfront picnic. Their retail store customers include Lane Crawford, G.O.D., The Mandarin Oriental Spa Group, and The Good Earth. They also have their own buzzing new shop at PMQ in Central.

Bamboa S304, Tower A, 35 Aberdeen St. PMQ, Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2291 0285 Fax: (852) 2291 0286 hello@bamboahome.com 28

“It is our goal to help rediscover bamboo's beauty and qualities and replace other less environmentally beneficial materials.”

DID YOU KNOW? Bamboo is often mistaken for a tree. It’s actually a grass.

There are over 1000 different species that are native to every continent, except Europe and the poles.

It is the fastest growing plant on the earth. Some species can grow up to one meter within 24 hours!

Bamboo releases 30% more oxygen than trees and is considered a critical element in the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Bamboo contains a substance called bamboo-kun which is an anti bacterial agent that automatically kills bacterias and makes it hypo allergenic.

All Bamboa homeware products are biodegradable.

Even the durable Fibra series completely biodegrades within three months.

“As we head into a future of scarcer resources and limited energy, we believe that beautiful and durable household products should not come at the environment’s expense.”

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Discovery Bay

WanChai

Soho

justgreen.com.hk

Lamma Island

Culture Photo Credit Tom Selmon 36 Stage The Devotion to Motion 42 Film Top 5 Spiritual Films 46 Style The Fruit of One’s Labor 50 Art None of Our Business 52 Food Rites & Bites 56 Photo Dear to My Heart 62 Travel Cambodia 66 Fashion Tom Selmon 72 Sex Sexy Summer Playlist

The Devotion To MotionInterviews by Liam Greenall Photography by Phoebe Yeung

PLUG got stretched and sweaty with a bunch of colourful and creative dance professionals based in Hong Kong. We got the low down on what it’s like to sustain a living in the hustle and bustle of the city and what they’ve had to sacrifice along the way.

ROSE How long have you been in Hong Kong?

Officially since February, but I’ve been in and out of the city for a while.

What did you wish you knew about the city before you got here?

I wish somebody told me that there would be no regular ballet classes! It’s really crucial at the moment for me to do classes. I’ve found one, but there needs to be more. I moved here because there’s work here. The company that I currently work for took me under their wing about three years ago and it feels like a little family.

Do you feel that you’re learning and developing?

Very much so. The work is creative and I am learning so much because they allow me to manage and choreograph shows with million dollar budgets and I just wouldn’t be given those opportunities back home in Australia.

This city does provide creative people with opportunities, you just have to be pro-active and seek them out.

Yeah, I’ve not really lived in Australia for a long time. Asia is pretty new for me, but I left school at 13 and trained in ballet in Paris and another part of France called Toulouse and then moved on the Basel Theatre Ballet School in Switzerland.

Where do you see ballet developing in the arts world?

Ballet companies, in general, are trying to move forward. The likes of Wayne McGregor and William Forsythe, they’re making ballet more modern. They’re using techniques that ballet dancers have and using it their own advantage. You need fresh blood to move forward. Traditional ballet has restrictions, a contemporary approach to work allows your work to move forward and that’s really important if we’re considering the next generation of audiences.

Forsythe’s work always makes me question the role of choreography and its function in terms of space and ideas. When you’re working on your own choreography where do your ideas come from?

Music is such a massive factor in it. I did a

competition in Germany last year and I started with just the body and movement, but that didn’t bring me much joy as starting with music.

Music makes you feel, it just comes.

It just comes doesn’t it? You know it’s an authentic development in a creative process when the ideas, and processes and questions are bubbling over. You know it feels right.

There’s something very sacred in the application of idea and sticking with it.

This may sound strange but being able just to hear is such a sacred thing. Music, sound, the voice affects me. I feel I’m an emotional sponge when it comes to sound.

performing and that’s why dancers dance, it’s the performing that drives you.

The dance world is forever evolving and changing. What shifts have you seen over the years?

I read recently about dance being linked to sports and that made think and question dance as a discipline. Dance for me is an art and will always be about expression.

Has dance always been part of your life?

I started dancing when I was seven at a dance school in the Philippines. I started my training in classical ballet and then moved on to working with a professional dance company.

I understand the relationship between dance and sport in terms of the sportsmanship, the training and the technical aspects of the craft, but I agree, dance is an art and hopefully will stay like that. I can’t imagine the Olympics 2026: Jazz Dance! Music is such an important element in dance too, if you could choreograph a dance today, what song would you choose?

Ohhhh, that’s a tough one. A slow jam, probably a pop song. I’m really into Adele at the moment.

I really feel her music and lyrics. So emotional.

Do you think going straight into a company helped you develop as a dancer?

Definitely! You get a lot more experience in

I remember at university having a conversation with a professor and she discussed that art needs to have an emotional

JOANNE

connection with its audience and that’s always stuck with me. That connection can either be negative or positive, but it’s about making them feel and question. What are some of the responses you’ve had as a dancer in Hong Kong?

Well I’ve been here two and a half years, and each day is different. You’re faced with different challenges, different people. I just want to evolve and grow. I sacrificed my studies for my passion. I was studying another profession in the Philippines and I had the burning passion to carry on dancing. I just follow the passion that’s inside and hopefully that will keep driving me to dance and perform.

Did you family support your decisions to move to Hong Kong to follow your passion?

They have been totally supportive and encouraging. I still get to go home and tell them stories and I’m always in contact with my family. Will I stay in Hong Kong? I don’t know.

I have no plans to leave yet.

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opposite page: Joanne, Jethro, Rose, Hei Hei, Natalia, and Jimmy.

JETHRO I first got introduced to your choreography work at The RAW Project last year. What is The RAW Project and how do you see it evolving?

The Raw Project started from an itch to do a contemporary dance work which is far from my regular commercial dance job. Me and two of my friends who share the same interest for this artform decided to do a series of attempts to build a performance in lieu of the usual choreographic process we're accustomed to.

Which is usually the end result, the final dance work. RAW for me was like witnessing a process, a work in progress, which gave it such a quixotic edge.

It started as an exploration of our own personal ideas and how to translate it into something at least ‘watchable’ but without the pressure of being the end product of the work but rather part of its evolution.

Evolution, for me, is about a gradual development and I always feel living and

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working in a city away from your hometown challenges the evolution of yourself. That can be both a positive or negative challenge. How have you evolved living in HK? In the Philippines it's sort of an unwritten rule that you stay with your family as long as you are not married and me being gay means living with them for the time being, unless same sex marriage is legalised in my country. I decided that I had to leave home for good and make Hong Kong my base. The consequence of my departure was giving up the contemporary dance scene in Manila which has been a great factor in my growth as a creative and as a gay boy trying to make it big in this marginalized world of contemporary dance. The exposure to commercial dance in Hong Kong made me realise that I've kind of lived in my own bubble for years and that there is so much more to this craft. Also my chopstick skills became extraordinary!

I remember us having a conversation once about the underground, and HK's lack of it.

What's the difference, for a dancer, between making work commercially and more edgy underground choreography?

In commercial work you are made to support a star or a commodity. As a result it becomes a spectacle. There’s nothing wrong with that especially if you’re given a huge pay check.

A more underground approach to dance is challenging one’s process of creation or physicality. For myself it's finding a way to communicate an idea through a moving body. I don't aim to please but rather trigger questions, evoke emotions and critical thinking. It sounds scary, but I think as an audience it is just about having an open mind.

Final question, what have you had to sacrifice in your life to get where you are now?

Love, can it be more clichéd than that? I've had my share of failed relationships because of my dedication to this art form. I missed special occasions because of rehearsals and tours and I am most busy when everyone else is on a holiday.

This is how my world works and hopefully someday I'll find someone who can listen to my weird playlist, sleep in the movie house with me and share 1 AM dinners.

Check out Jethro’s latest online platform work on Facebook: DanceOuthk

HEI HEI What made you get into dance?

When I was younger my mum got my brother and me into gymnastics. She was a professional gymnast instructor and I was always jumping and moving around as a kid. She was never interested in us being professionals or doing competitions, it was about us learning something from her, a personal connection.

When I was younger, dance wasn’t popular as it is now in Hong Kong. A jazz dance class started at my secondary school and I thought, ‘let’s give this a try.’

What did you identify as similar between gymnastics and dance?

The performing element. I liked to show off and perform, like most typical gay teenagers. I also enjoyed the attention and excitement you get from performing. That’s why I fell in love with dance. Gymnastics was too restricting, too technical.

Another major similarity is the training you have to do to your body…

Gymnastics was like boot-camp, like the army.

Dance, I learned, was more about the freedom and expression. But still tough.

So what’s a typical workout week in Hei Hei’s world?

I work as a dancer for a big company, so we have warm-up classes every day. I also do a little bit of weight training, but not too much because I don’t want the big muscles! The body

is important in dance, each dance you play a different role and your body needs to be able to adapt to the emotion and mood of the work.

Do you think you’ll dance forever?

I hope so, but I’m also interested in marketing and promoting so that’s an option for when I get older. Teaching dance takes too much responsibility, but I will always dance in some way. I can’t stop that.

What’s the most sacred thing in your life?

There are too many things, but now it’s my family. Getting older makes me realise they’re getting older too, and in the past I didn’t spend time with them. When my brother moved out I moved back home to be with them.

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STAGE

JIMMY Tell me about a typical day in Jimmy’s world...

In the morning I like to take a class. There are small dance companies in HK where you can take classes in contemporary, ballet, even tumbling. There’s still a lack of professional classes in the city. There are bigger companies but there’s still bureaucracy. Sometimes I train with Natalia doing pole and aerial work. If there are no classes, I’ll head to the gym. On an intense day, it’s rehearsals, classes, shows, more classes.

Do you work freelance?

Yes, which has its instabilities. The pressure comes each month when you don’t know what’s coming in. The choreographers that I work for are great because there’s a lot of travel.

Traveling has many benefits, but it also means I can’t commit to teach classes because I don’t know if I’ll be in Hong Kong or not. I call it the gypsy life. My profession has a lot of effect on my character, which can get in the way of potential relationships.

Do you think it’s hard for non-creative men to get you, to understand you?

They say they understand, but I doubt they ever understand fully.

Is teaching something you’re interested in?

Not yet, I want to make myself more

NATALIA Natalia, you’ve been in Hong Kong for nearly 7 years. How’ve you survived?

I came from the Ukraine all those years ago to visit my sister for her wedding. I planned on staying for 2 weeks and ended up staying and making Hong Kong my home. I was back in a company in the Ukraine and once I decided to stay here I thought studying at Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts would be a good move.

And was it?

I really liked it! I had two amazing teachers.

They were a couple in life and have been dancing together forever. I used to look at them in awe, just stunning! In my third year I got a really bad fracture and I would feel so much pain in class. I pushed it so hard that I had to eventually walk with a cane.

That must have been brutal.

I was in tears all the time, but I trained in the Ukraine, and that means I push through it. I had to handle it. I had to keep pushing.

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knowledgeable. I want to work on myself, gain the experience. There are so many dancers out there teaching dance. Some are great and inspiring and others who still don’t have it, which can be annoying.

What about the role of the choreographer?

Do you think you can be a not so good dancer, but be amazing at choreography?

Choreography is all in the head, dance is about the body. A good performance comes from a good team. A choreographer needs a vision and it’s something I am interested in doing.

It’s a rewarding experience working on an art piece. The journey itself is tough, but seeing your vision come to life is inspiring.

London is the performing arts capital of Europe and when I got home and just stared into the computer screen I thought, ‘is this what I want to do with the rest of my life?’ The talent I work with and the creativity is what keeps me moving. I couldn’t do the mundane.

One thing that I struggle with working in the creative field is how we measure success...

It’s about striking a balance. That mundane, corporate ideology was, and still is, not for me, but what’s ironic is that I do many corporate events. They pay well!

When a regular audience watches a performance they have no idea how much work has gone into putting it together from all teams involved. It’s such a lengthy process...

They have no idea! They look and think ‘that’s easy’, and if it looks easy that means that the dancer is mother fucking good! A lot of people find ballet boring, and when you start doing it, you start appreciating it more. That’s what happened to me.

What keeps you moving?

I started a degree in linguistics at CityU. The first year was typical and then I got the opportunity to study in London for a year.

When I got there a lot of mindsets changed.

Tell me about how you got into dance back in the Ukraine.

I was addicted to Bollywood movies! My mum eventually found a class so I could learn the Bollywood style but it was in a far away village.

So my mum used to drive from the village she worked in, picked me up from my village and then take me to the Bollywood class and that’s where my passion for dance started.

How did you progress?

I then started traditional Russian ballet training. The Russian way is tough and brutal, but you learn about yourself, your body and how far you can push it. Training and being in a company allows you to learn the profession, but going through the university route of training is also beneficial, so it’s been good to have both experiences.

How have you sustained living as a dancer in Hong Kong?

After my injury I got more complications, so carrying on with professional ballet was going to be tough. I then discovered aerial arts and

pole dancing. I won the Hong Kong and China Pole Art Championship in 2011, and then defended my title again in 2012. Since then I have been running my own studio in Central. I now run aerial, pole, ballet and contemporary classes for all different levels and ages. It’s very rewarding to teach what you’re passionate about and to see your students grow and develop too.

Check out Natalia’s classes at: www.nataliadancestudio.com

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PLUG’S TOP FIVE

SPIRITUAL FILMS

by S e an Bro ad hur st Art has always been an important part of religion. When you think back to many of the important paintings, temples, iconography or carvings of our past, most of them deal with religious content. From Angkor Wat to Caravaggio, religion has always been closely tied to art.

But what about film? When you think about religious film, what’s the first thing that pops into your head?

Jesus Christ Superstar? The Passion of the Christ? Yentl? That’s what I thought. So, for this issue of PLUG Magazine, we take a look at some spiritual and religious movies from around the world. Roger Ebert be with you. (And also with you)

ONE

Black Narcissus Alright, well, let's kick this off with a movie that's a bit contradictory for this list and maybe even a bit subversive as well. Though this gorgeously filmed Powell and Pressburger epic was released in 1947, Martin Scorsese has described it as one of the earliest erotic films ever made. And I know, I know, what is it doing on this list? Well, it was 1947! The eroticism is just heavily suggested! Calm down! But, it's true; this is a very stunning and sensual movie. Black Narcissus tells the story of a group of Anglican nuns in a monastery high up in the Himalayas. Ostensibly there to convert the locals (though awkwardly enough, the main Indian characters are played by white actors), tensions begin to rise as some of the women find their faith tested by the surroundings as well as by a handsome, but somewhat vulgar, British agent who begins to visit the convent. Though some have claimed that it is mildly critical of Catholicism, the beguiling mix of melodrama, noir thriller, and spirituality make this technicolor epic a must-see.

TWO

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives This art house flick from 2010, and the only Thai film that has ever won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, explores Buddhism and native folklore from Northern Thailand. The titular character, Boonmee, is dying from kidney failure, and much of the movie focuses on his relatives that come to visit him; living, dead and otherwise (his deceased son appears as an ape-like creature with glowing red eyes). All of the conversations include small elements of Buddhism and Isan Folklore, including the explanation of how his son became a ghost-monkey. These scenes are intercut with flashbacks from Boonmee's past lives that deliver buddhist parables, including one bizarre scene in which a magic catfish seduces a disfigured princess. Though the film is relatively light on plot, the beautiful photography of the Northern Thai landscape, including one spectacular scene inside a cave, will be sure to keep you spiritually invested.

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THREE

Onibaba

This next film is a black and white Japanese horror movie based on a Shin-buddhist parable called niku-zuki-no-men which lovingly translates to "mask with flesh attached." Don't expect this movie to have any of the beautiful, Buddhist poetry of Boonmee; this is a violent and vicious movie. What you can expect, however, is an awesome soundtrack of taiko drumming mixed with jazz and a demonic mask. Onibaba tells the story of a woman and her daughterin-law struggling to survive in 14th century Japan while they await the return of Kichi, the woman’s son and the other’s husband. While they wait, they murder anyone who comes their way and sell whatever they can scavenge from the corpses. One day a man shows up and tells them that Kichi was killed in battle. After that, the three characters develop a tense, psychosexual triangle with each other. And what tense, psychosexual triangle is complete without a terrifying demon mask? Oh, sorry, "Mask with flesh attached." How does the flesh get attached, you ask? Well, I wouldn't want to give away any spoilers.

FOUR

Sans Soleil

Probably the least overtly religious movie on the list, but perhaps the most philosophical, Chris Marker's 1982 fictional documentary features footage that he shot while traveling through Japan, GuineaBissau, and Iceland. Equal parts travelogue and essay, Sans Soleil is simply a woman reading letters from a fictional cameraman ruminating on his travels and accompanied by Marker’s non-fictional footage, if that makes any sense. As the camera shows us scenes from the mundane aspects of life, the narration, combined with Marker’s keen eye for framing, allows these images to take on a somewhat mythic and spiritual quality. This movie is not for everyone, however.

Some will find it startlingly profound, while others will find it overbearingly pretentious; I suppose it all depends on how much wine you drink before you start the movie.

FIVE

Sister Act Obviously, the number one religious movie of all time is Sister Act. I mean, come on, there’s even an appearance by a man pretending to be the Pope at the end! If you’re not already familiar with this spiritual gem, the plot concerns a Las Vegas lounge singer (played by Whoopi Goldberg), who witnesses her mobster ex-boyfriend kill somebody. In order to stay safe, the witness protection program places her undercover as a nun in a church. As Goldberg struggles to adjust to life as a nun, she decides to help revamp the rundown church and injects some life into their gospel choir. From there, comic hijinks unfold as the conservative nuns have their lives forever changed by the wild Goldberg.

Though the movie features only 3 musical numbers, THEY ARE HANDS DOWN THE BEST EVER. And that’s completely professional film criticism.

Obviously, there are a lot of religions and a lot of religious films out there that we didn't feature on this list. (Sorry everyone that’s not Christian or Buddhist).

Do you think we left something out? Let us know!

E-mail sean@plug-magazine.com.

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STYLE

Fruits Of One’s Labour Editorial and Text Liam Greenall Styling Lappy Capistrano

New Jersey native and style connoisseur, Stephany Gabriel, is a Hong Kong-based hand engraver for one of the world’s most luxurious jewelry brands. Jewelry has a long history in many cultures and considering that Asia will share 13% of the market by 2015, up from its current 9%, it’s big business. From rings and necklaces to brooches and buckles, jewelry has many functions. A watch tells us the time, but that engraved message on the back of it, ‘Michael, I love you’, gives the watch a whole other meaning. A hand-engraving creates a personal touch, a hidden agenda, a display of exclusiveness or an encrypted code for its receiver to unravel. Stephany sat down with PLUG, to give us the low-down on her actionpacked, artistic and thrill-seeking life here in Hong Kong and what it’s like to work in one of the most exclusive jobs on the planet. She definitely has some stories to tell…

Stephany, thanks for taking time to sit down with us on this warm Sunday afternoon. What’s a typical weekend like for you?

One filled with as much excitement as possible. I spend so much time working back and forth between Mainland China and Hong Kong, that my weekdays are usually pretty quiet. So when the weekend comes I just absorb myself in friends, food, dance, and laughter.

You’re the only hand engraver I’ve ever met.

It’s such a rare job. How did you get into it?

Haha. It’s a long story that I will shorten and simplify. My mother worked for Tiffany’s for almost 20 years. So, I basically bleed Tiffany blue. During the summer of 2007, I was debating whether or not I should continue my education in history and attend law school. Young, broke, and confused, did not make my mother very happy. Typical mother syndrome? Oh yes! She had me apply for a summer job within the company. At first, I was just packing large orders of customer 46

merchandise. Then a couple of months later an apprentice position in the Hand Engraving department was posted and it all started from there.

Tell me more about the program.

The apprenticeship program is a 2-4 year program offered by the company. You are also sponsored by the company for those years of learning, something that most companies would probably never invest in.

So I knew it would be as long as a university education. What appealed to me, however, was the fact that it would be an education in art and in metallurgy. So, I updated my art portfolio, had two sit down interviews and two bench tests. Finally, around December they informed me that I was awarded the apprenticeship. Which was great because in terms of my art I’ve definitely found my medium. The concept of metallurgy is interesting because it predominantly falls into the material sciences, but many artists who work with metal, and especially those who

experiment with the physical and chemical behaviour of metal create such beautiful art.

I love what you can do with metal. Jewelry is both powerful and delicate. It has a lasting power that can be passed down from generation to generation, exactly like hand engraving. But if you’re careless, you lose a story that would normally last a lifetime.

The idea that jewelry forms narratives is an interesting concept, and I imagine that the personal touch of an engraved piece just adds to the storytelling. I bet you’ve had some stimulating projects?

Back home we get a great deal of special projects. In Hong Kong I don’t get so many, but I receive some really fun interesting jobs in China. People will send pictures of their children, their girlfriends, their spouses, homes, pets...you name it. So far my favorite projects have been a thumbprint I recently did for a Chinese customer, an amazing silver box I did for the Augusta National Golf tournament back home and also every ring

ONE OF A KIND Stephany Gabriel is a Hong Kong-based hand engraver for Tiffany’s.

that I engrave. Rings are wonderful because they possess secrets. Each ring is special to me because you allow me a glimpse into your heart. You’re telling me where you proposed, when you were married, the pet names you have for one another, and inside jokes that leave me restless and curious. It really is such a wonderful feeling to be a part of my customers’ lives, even though I’m in the shadows.

Talking of shadows, we needed to to find a little shade. Today was one of those hot, summery days, where the humidity was down and everyone strolls around Central looking ever so hipster or gangster or a hybrid of the two.

Stephany had just gotten back from a weekend away, so while she was spilling the beans on her shenanigans in Shanghai, I ordered us two coolers and expressed, ‘isn’t this the HK life?’

We need more days like this! It reminds me of New Jersey summer.

What was it like growing up there?

I love NJ! It has its good parts and its rough parts but that’s what gives it such character.

You have to know how to survive. The best part is NYC was not far from where I grew up, so I was exposed to a lot of different people, food, arts, and cultures as a child.

Were you allowed to be you? Were you able to express yourself?

I was always going to be myself. I learned early on that I was happiest being who I am and accepting it. People will always try to bully you or force you to change but being false or dishonest is pointless. I’m not going to beg for anyone’s approval. I love being me, simple as that. Thanks mom!

And then you moved to Hong Kong! Which we’re very thankful for. What keeps you attracted to the city?

Hahaha! I’m thankful for that as well Liam!

The best part of living in Hong Kong is the

deep emotional connections you form with friends. Most people come here alone. For me, with so few other Americans living in Hong Kong, it makes it more interesting. I love learning about different people. We all have a story to tell. Hong Kong pushes you to be more social than you would normally be. You learn to communicate on so many different levels, both internally and externally. I feel I’ve developed a wider span of emotions living in this city, which developed through all different types of personalities you engage with on a daily basis. You meet a lot of people but you also lose a lot of people, which is sad. Though, I must say, it is always great to watch people you’ve come to love, grow and be inspired to move forward in life. Not to mention, this city is super safe. Which is very important to me as a young American woman.

What’s the most sacred thing in your life?

This is going to sound lame but I find living sacred. Not life. Because you can have a life

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yet never live. I’ve met many people who have experienced this feeling. You can have a work life, you can have a social life, you can have a home life, you can have a sex life, hell, you can have an Internet life. Having a life doesn’t mean anything, if you gain nothing from it. What inspires living? Seeing it progress. Watching how I shape the world into something more beautiful for me and/ or watching it collapse around me. Understanding and respecting that living is a selfish desire that you should never feel guilty about.

Everything you do in life, good, bad, shameful, and honorable, should bring you closer to living and understanding who you are.

Living is what gives you a life based on truth. Living is what everyone wants, what everyone believes they are achieving, but they know at the end of the day, there’s nothing that brings them joy. If you can’t stand in awe of yourself as a living, breathing human being...what’s the point of that life you work so hard for, when you’re not allowing yourself to live it?

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“I was always going to be myself.

I learned early on that I was happiest being who I am and accepting it.

People will always try to bully you or force you to change but being false or dishonest is pointless.”

“EVERYTHING you do in life, good, bad, shameful, and honorable, should bring you closer to living and understanding who you are.”

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

A B R I E F H I S T O RY 1837

Tiffany opens its doors on September 14 at 259 Broadway in New York.

The first day’s sales is $4.98.

1940s Thanks to successful marketing, the use of wedding rings for both partners becomes the norm for American weddings.

2007

Stephany is awarded an apprenticeship at Tiffany & Co. and starts training in mettalurgy.

2013

Stephany moves to Hong Kong to begin work as an in-house engraver.

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ART

None of Our Business

by Stephen Smyth

Most people with tattoos think long and hard about exactly what print to get and where to display, or hide, their ink; with those drunken or spur-of-the-moment tats being an exception.

Most tattoos serve as a testament to the individual; an artwork of memory, a mark of what a person has been through, and sometimes a creative reminder of one’s personal motto. We would be lying if we said we’ve never thought about getting a tattoo ourselves.

Yet, ignoring the patriotic symbolism, the fairies, the ‘I love you mum’, the acts of rebellion, the questionable quotations and the drunken timepieces, it’s interesting to wonder why some people would go under the needle for their religion, permanently branding themselves with a seal of devotion.

We have all seen that tourist bearing a Celtic Cross, the Buddhist monk with a Sak Yant tattoo, the Henna bride or the Hindu bindi.

We only have to turn on the television to see Angelina Jolie’s Yantra, or Rihanna’s image of the Egyptian Goddess Isis, not to mention Bieber’s portrait of Jesus Christ. Getting inked may be back in vogue, but displaying religious tattoos has been on trend throughout the ages, and we can accept them as just, or deem ourselves ignorant.

One might obliviously wonder why can’t people just print their beliefs on a T-shirt, pick up a bible or visit their temple more often, unknowing of the significance of one’s religious markings. Well, inking one’s body for religious reasons has been both a custom and a questionable debate within different religions for quite a while.

Whether they are marks of devoutness or means of protection, sacred tattoos have been discussed and presented within different faiths for nearly as old as the faiths themselves: from discussions surrounding the questionable, to the necessary in some creeds, and from the entirely forbidden in others.

A Buddhist view on tattoos varies from country to country.

Yantra tattooing is mainly associated with Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. People there are tattooed using long bamboo shoots by wicha practitioners known as the Ruesi. This dates back for nearly two thousand years when Khmer warriors were inked from head

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to toe in Khmer script writing. They believed the tattoos would bestow the bearer with mystical powers of good luck and serve as a source of protection from physical harm. Providing the bearer is devout, of course. This form of tattooing is still popular today and has become more recently used in parts of China.

However, whereas some Buddhists may view tattooing to be just and necessary, others such as Sri Lankan Buddhists do not.

Buddhism is the religion of the majority of Sri Lankans, where branding tattoos of Buddha is culturally insensitive to the country’s majority ethnic group, the Sinhalese. One recent example is of a British nurse named Naomi Coleman who was arrested and deported from Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of Buddha on her arm.

Christians, on the other hand, have a more moralistic approach when it comes to tattoos. Depending on which Christian denomination one belongs to and, of course, the interpretation of Leviticus 19:28 where God states, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord”.

The Leviticus quote is said to be directed at the pagan tribes of the time, not pointed at the ‘saved’ or recently converted Christians.

Taboos surrounding tattooing today provide no real clarity for the Christian community, Christians are simply reminded that just because pagans tattooed themselves with memories of their past does not mean that it was wrong. Today, it is left entirely up to the Christian individual to ask themselves of their reasoning behind deciding to get a tattoo; in terms of whether or not they are glorifying their God, or drawing attention to themselves.

Within the Catholic Church, which believes itself to be ‘The One True Church’, there is no prohibition on its members getting a tattoo, providing the tattoo is not a mark of direct opposition of the Church’s teachings, nor an inordinate amount of money was spent in the process. Sikhism embodies this same notion of tattoos.

They are not necessary and daren’t be blasphemous. Judaism on the other hand employs a complete ban on tattoos, the source of this law deriving from Leviticus.

Yet, the tattoo of a crucifix, was deemed praiseworthy, amongst the Catholic council of Calcuth in Northumberland in 786.

Catholic Croats of what is now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina tattooed their children as a form of protection against forced conversion during the Ottoman occupation in the fourteenth century.

Coptic Christians who live in Egypt also tattoo themselves with Coptic crosses on their right wrists today.

In Hinduism, the marking of the bindi is worn by women of many religious dispositions in South and Southeast Asia.

Although the traditional bindi is associated with Indian mythology, it is worn by Hindu women for many reasons, the predominant being a sign of concealed wisdom.

Others deem it to be a spiritual symbol, whereas the red bindi represents honor, love and prosperity.

However, other Hindu tattoos are used to distinguish between certain ethnic groups or clans. Some Hindu men might tattoo Aum on their hands and arms so as to ward off evil and bad karma.

The actual location of where the tattoo is on the body also differs from region to region, as Rajasthan and Gujarat favor tattoos on legs, arms and hands; Maharashtra considers only face and hands as tattoo-worthy.

Mehndi is an art form of tattooing using a non-permanent dye extracted from the henna plant. The henna plant embosses hennotannic acid which will bond with collagen in the skin cells to leave temporary red markings. It is actually one of the oldest forms of tattooing dating back to 1700 BC. Used by brides, mainly women who come from a Goddess worshiping background, henna tattooing is a means of identification for themselves and for their new roles as wives. The new bride might hide inked messages such as her initials for their husbands to find and decode on their

Illustration by Ivan Louey

wedding night, or tattoo their hands as reminder of who they are after taking up the role of a wife in new surroundings. Tough henna is used mainly in religious ceremonies such as weddings, it is said not to be sacred or religious in nature.

What is clear is that tattoos vary enormously from religion to religion, and within religious denominations. Where some might arrogantly dismiss someone’s religious marking, do the majority of us really care? Care or not, what’s important is that we shouldn’t begrudge someone for carrying a mark of their faith as for some it isn’t a matter of choice.

In a modern world, we are surrounded by atheists, agnostics, the devout who have fallen from grace, and those who have chosen to ignore their religion. Instead people are continuously finding their own religion, in how they live and what they love. Any tattoo can be a source of divine power, empowering a person to gather themselves if they should fall and set them back on the right path.

But whether or not another person’s tattoo is religious or not, is quite simply none of our business.

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Rites & Bites

by Sean Broadhurst Eating is a part of our daily ritual. In fact, we probably spend more time thinking about eating (where do you want to eat, what do you want to eat, should you eat out or cook something at home, can you be bothered to do the dishes?) than we do about anything else. Our daily food ritual is intrinsically linked to every part of our life, from social gatherings to instagramming #foodporn, to the fact that it provides us with basic sustenance.

Just as these food rituals are tied to our lives, so too are they tied to our religions.

Every religious celebration is usually accompanied by a certain feast or type of dish.

From cranberry sauce to goat shankbone, there's a meal for every festival. So we, the good people at PLUG, have compiled a small selection of religious recipes that you can whip out to impress all your non-secular friends.

ITALY

Fava Beans Fava beans are important to the Feast of St. Joseph, a Christian celebration that honors the legacy of St. Joseph. This feast is largely celebrated by Italians, especially Sicillians, because St. Joseph is said to have prevented a famine caused by a drought in Sicily. People make huge altars adorned with flowers, limes, candles, pastry and Fava beans. The Fava bean is an important part of the many different dishes prepared for the feast because the Fava bean is the only bean that survived the drought. Did you know that some people actually call Fava beans, "lucky beans?" Neither did I! Because I didn't know anyone actually talked about Fava beans. Anyway, we're talking about them now! So here's a recipe for some Lucky Bean casserole.

Ingredients

- 1 lb. dried fava beans - 1 bunch green onions - 1 medium onion - 4 cloves garlic - 3 bay leaves chopped parsley - 1/4 cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste

Steps 1 Cook dried Fava beans in boiling water until

tender. It'll take awhile. Add more water if you need to.

2 SautĂŠ seasonings in olive oil 'til tender, then add to beans.

3 Add salt and pepper to taste.

4 It's suggested you serve it in soup bowls. But, you can, like, serve it in whatever.

5 Marvel at the taste of them lucky, lucky beans!

SOUTH AMERICA

Dead Relative and Banana Soup The Yanomami tribes of South America practice their own peculiar food ritual which ties into their Shamanist beliefs. This particular ritual is known as endocannibalism, which is when you consume the flesh of someone from your community. Though the Yanomami don't technically eat flesh, just bones, the practice is still considered endocannibalism. The Yanomami believe that the soul needs to be protected after death and is only able to achieve full salvation if the body is burned and consumed by its relatives. This allows the spirit to enter the body of the living relatives and provide spiritual and physical strength to them. Don't worry, the ashes of the dead aren't just consumed raw, they're mixed with cooked plantains to make a pleasant soup! Bon appetit!

Ingredients

-1 dead relative - some leaves - plantains Steps 1 Wrap body in leaves and place away from village for

around 30-45 days, making sure that the bugs eat away all the remaining flesh.

2 Collect bones and cremate them, gather the ashes into a gourd for safekeeping.

3 Wait for a celebration.

4 Cook plantains until they are mushy and soft. Stir in ashes and serve immediately.

Pongal Pongal is a holiday celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern province in India. It happens on the 14th of January every year and is the only holiday on the Hindu calendar that follows the solar calendar. It is a harvest festival symbolizing the veneration of the first fruit. Only after this day are crops permitted to be cut. To celebrate Pongal, people eat a dish that, conveniently, is also called Pongal. Or well, they offer it to gods at temples. But it’s also just a mainstream breakfast staple in southern India. So, don’t worry, it’s not sacrilegious if you eat this before the harvest. Also worth noting, this celebration is accompanied by one of the most dangerous sports played in India, bull-fighting! Though, you can probably skip that and just make Pongal instead.

Ingredients

- 1½ cup rice - 1 cup yellow moong dal - 2 tablespoon of ghee - 1 tsp of cumin - ½ tsp of black peppercorn - 1 tsp of salt

- ½ cup of cashews - 7 cups of water - 2 cups of milk - Some coconut chutney (just buy it from the store, Martha)

Steps

1 Heat a teaspoon of ghee over medium heat. Add and roast moong dal until it is a golden color. Make sure to keep mixing!

You don’t want burnt dal. After it’s golden, put it in a bowl and leave it to the side. In the same saucepan, heat another teaspoon of ghee and roast the cashews.

2 In a big pot, heat a tablespoon of ghee. Add and toast cumin and black peppercorn for few minutes. Stir in the toasted moong dal and rice. Mix it all with the ghee for few minutes. Pour water and milk and stir in salt. Cover the pot with lid and cook on high heat. Within 10 to 15 minutes, you will see the water gurgling and making the pot lid jump up and down. That means it’s time to take the lid off. Give it a stir, and then replace the lid, but not all the way. Make sure there’s some room for steam to escape.

3 Check on it in five minutes. The volume should have doubled.

Stir in the cashews. Put the lid back on. Turn the heat off and let it sit for about ten minutes. Now taste it, and add as much salt and ghee as you feel necessary.

4 Put in a bowl and scoop on some of the store-bought chutney, you hack. Serve.

INDIA

HONG KONG Glutinous Rice Ball Soup This soup is given as an offering to Zao Jun, who is also known as the Kitchen God. In Hong Kong (and Taiwan and China) many people will have a paper effigy of the Kitchen God in their kitchen. On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, just before Lunar New Year, it is said that Zao Jun returns to the Jade Emperor and basically dishes the dirt on everything your family has done this year. Then you are either rewarded with riches or plagued by evils. He's like a culinary Santa Claus. However, you can bribe him with sweets (because if he has a sweet mouth, he can't speak of your unspeakable evils) or, as the story sometimes goes, prevent him from speaking to the Jade Emperor entirely by stuffing his mouth full of glutinous rice. You can also smear honey over his mouth on the paper effigy. After you've made the offering, you burn the effigy so he can travel back up to Heaven. Presumably, he will "sweet-talk" your family to the Emperor or have his mouth so full the Emperor won't know what awful things he's saying about you and your family. After Chinese New Year is over, you need to hang up a new photo so he can continue to document and criticize every little thing you do. So to make sure your house is all in order this year, here's a recipe for some Rice Ball Soup.

Ingredients - 1 cup glutinous rice flour - 1/2 cup warm water - 1 tbsp sugar black sesame paste sliced ginger (to taste) 1 1/2 bars sugar cane slabs Steps 1 Put the rice flour into a bowl and slowly add the warm water until you've formed a dough. Keep kneading the dough until it's smooth.

Once you've done that, take a small piece of dough and roll it flat.

Add a small amount of sesame paste and painstakingly try to seal the ball. Eventually just give up and decide to make it without the paste.

2 Bring 3 cups of water to a boil and add your sliced ginger. Cook until the water takes on the flavor of the ginger. Add the sugar slabs and turn the heat down to low. Keep stirring until all the sugar has dissolved.

3 Add your rice balls to the soup, making sure they don't stick to the sides and then cook a few minutes until they start to float. Serve immediately. And by serve, I mean place in front of Zao Jun's picture. What is he going to say to the Jade Emperor if you eat all his soup? DRAMA.

DEAR TO MY HEART Liz Moskowitz Small, white wooden chapels are scattered throughout the east side of Austin, a lowincome and rapidly gentrifying area of the city.

These humble structures stand in contrast to larger-than-life places of worship. Some of the chapels, with peeling paint and rotting wood, aren’t unfamiliar with the sight of empty pews during Sunday service. Others maintain a strong following despite a changing physical and cultural landscape. Historically, churches played a major role in shaping East Austin, and this project in progress aims to explore that history while preserving a piece of the present that, at times, feels like the past.

PHOTO

How would you describe your work?

My work is most often project-based and can be described as social documentary photography. I use film to capture environmental portraits of places and people who are connected by a similar cultural characteristic that I am interested in exploring.

What inspires you to create?

I'm often compelled to do a project when I discover a certain facet of life that is wholly different from what is most familiar to me. For example, in my project Chapel, the small churches in Texas first caught my eye because I had never seen anything like them, growing up in New York City. Marked differences from my own life is what sparks my curiosity. Photography then allows me to learn firsthand about the subject matter while providing me with the opportunity to creatively piece together a visual and written narrative.

How do you approach the people/subject matter you use in your work? Tell us about the process...

It took a lot of practice to be able to comfortably approach people, and even now, I can sometimes get shy about asking to photograph people for a project. However, I have found that genuine interest, respectfulness, and an open mind go a long way. It's also important to get to know your subjects beyond simply taking their photo— your images will be better because of it. For Chapel, I attend church services, interview congregation members, and go to Bible study to familiarize myself with different church communities and get to know the people I want to connect with and ultimately document.

What do you find exciting about the process?

I have always found it exciting to be in unfamiliar places. It heightens my senses, making me hyper aware of everything that is happening around me. There is a certain type of excitement, too, when I get to observe and interact with people whom I am documenting and would have never met otherwise. I am simultaneously in control and out of control in that I don't know how a certain experience will unfold in the present moment, but I have the ability to dictate how I want to photographically portray a person or backdrop.

Who inspires you?

I am inspired by people who are persistent in their craft and undeterred by what others may say or think. I am inspired by people who are able to capture something unlikely in a beautiful way, while ensuring their work has a purpose outside of just its beauty.

You live and work in Austin, what do you find special about this place?

Austin has a very welcoming, creative, and dynamic feel to it, and I have found it to be a kind and encouraging community for artists and non-artists alike. It also can be very lush and colorful, and since it's warm for most of the year, it is the perfect place for a photographer who likes to wander in search of stories and subjects to photograph.

What's the most sacred thing in your life?

The most sacred thing in my life is the ability to make my own choices, whether they be what image I wish to capture or what I want to eat for dinner. Independent thought, and the freedom to follow through, are near and dear to my heart.

Check out more of Liz’s work at: www.lizmoskowitz.com

Do You Want To Play The Cambodia Game?

Written by Jason Kwan Photography by Morgan Stephenson

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run straight for my arms, shouting, “Here, here!”, climbing up my waist and tugging at my open shirt. I hesitate with ambushed eyes but allow them to overcome my independence.

Petrified by the incoming love-seekers, I choose to embrace their unconditional affection and to ruminate later. The question guarding my reservation was simply: who are you?

On the main road from Phnom Penh to my teaching placement at the KaisKids Village in Kampong Speu, I passed commuting women who formed the backs of trucks, wearing shawls of every shade, packed together. Single carriages moving in the dusty air, following the redearth road to a single destination. Their faces were lost and scared, or maybe that was just a visual projection of my unsettled emotions… how much of what we assume of people are only our projections?

The boys of 9 and 10 rode past us on motorcycles, dangerously driving; they had no fears. Yet, dozing in the safety of my five-seater, I started with interrupting worries every so often, anxious about new destinations.

They were waiting, they were pointing, and they were whispering as I arrived at the orphanage. Who was I? All I thought about was the heat and my sweat, dripping off my face and onto my tank-top; people were of no significance to me at that moment. I didn’t know them. I discarded my luggage in my dorm room and proceeded to be introduced to the children. The orphans ran straight for my arms, shouting, “Here, here!” - I was embraced without questions; they were desperate for love. They hugged me like their lost friend found as their irresistible smiles exposed their blackened teeth. They jumped into my arms like I had returned home after a long day of work, but I was a stranger receiving unconditional affection from other strangers. Their skin and faces were etched with sordid ordeals, but they radiated a warmth that overruled all the shackles that previously held them down. They had no boundaries, just joy.

As the hype and excitement of new arrivals simmered down, I began to consider the nature of these children, and why their outbursts of

intimacy were so warranted. The children ranged from babies in cots to 21 year olds, most of them being kids from ages 3 to 10. They acted simply upon trust, receiving me warmly in belief that I was there to love and care for them. And in time, I realised that there was no need to uphold emotional walls, and that I could simply just love them without fear or reservation.

These kids are unlike other kids. They’ve had traumatic childhoods, been kicked out of or ran away from their homes. Abused, abandoned, but fearless. Their personalities override those who live in the care of typical nuclear families. These kids have vibrant, adjusted, and queer personalities, each knowing exactly what they like and how they like things to be. They grew up on their own terms and do not possess generic opinions or fulfill your typical teenager or kid stereotypes they are their own, and they trust those they want to, in the way they want to.

The same evening, we heard whispering and giggles from outside the wooden windows of the volunteer house, and we began to imagine what trap had been conjured up to welcome our arrival. Previously, an impish, yet playful 14 year old girl named Harri asked me, “Do you want to play the Cambodia Game?”. The tone of her voice was mischievous and misleading; my suspicions were enhanced by the seemingly malicious giggling. I was being set up to be embarrassed or conned, I knew for sure.

Cynical are our minds, being planted in a society where deception is always around the corner. Unfortunately, we are programmed to keep our emotional barricades up and question what is expected from us in return, when faced with acts of kindness. Trust is not a liberty. I had to consider the children with a different mindset: I realised how cynical, sceptical, and guarded my manner was in approaching these

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simple, joyous children. Harri’s simple act of kindness, wanting to help us to settle in by inviting us to join a traditional, harmless game of toss-the-towel-and-dance, was mistaken by us to be an attempt to fool and embarrass us. We are so sceptical of people and are so prone to deception and lies, that we challenge, question, and overlook every act of unrequited love, even in its purest form: a child’s welcoming act of kindness.

I danced and sang with the children for six weeks, which elongated in my memory into a single, never-ending day. I learnt their Cambodian dances, the pop songs, the language, their culture: making a fool of myself in complete serenity. To accept their trust, I had to return my trust fearlessly. This raw experience of compassion and honesty is unrivalled by any previous personal experience.

During the Khmer New Year in April, Pub Street in Siem Reap was overflowing with locals and tourists, dancing without care and integrating effortlessly through the infusion of baby powder and ice-cold water on the streets. I had never felt so liberated in dancing spirit. I met a group of locals on my first day and they showed me generosity which propelled our friendships past all scepticism. As Kim motorbiked me around Angkor Wat on New Year’s Eve, I noticed the ancient temple illuminated by bursts of colours. Neon disco lights: shades of red, green, blue, and everything in between were being projected onto this world wonder: Angkor Wat. For me, the lights represented the new-age spirit of the joy and liberation of the Khmer people (where dirty dancing was also being encouraged), while the majestic background which these radiant auroras were being projected onto reminded me of the struggles and labour that were experienced, but was required, to liberate the people from treacherous rule. I was taken where no tourists were allowed, and my new Khmer friends hushed me when I exclaimed my gratitude. This is how it is

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here, and this is how it should be. Trust is simple, and kindness is a gift. Their only request was for me to enjoy basking under the aura of the holiest nightclub in the world.

It was hence revealed to me that what Cambodians hold most sacred is their abundant trust. They choose to let you into their lives, knowing that their trust could easily be deceived or manipulated. In my experience with the children and with the locals I met, it is in their nature to be accommodating. Be it the 5 year old toddler, Pock, who checked up on me every morning during my first week, helping me settle in, or Kim and Mina, motoring me around the Angkor temples and treating me to all the local delicacies of Siem Reap, their mission is to please and to expel compassion, adopting me into their world and culture. I have never, as a stranger, been shown such ardent love in return for nothing. In no attempt to extenuate my emotional outburst, I wept when I left these locals and the children, not because I was sad, but because I was overjoyed by their proof of how simple love and kindness can be. Trust can be simple and deep, and in newage Cambodia, it is as sacred as Angkor Wat lit up by neon lights, reverberating a new found happiness upon a legacy of enduring culture.

If any PLUG readers are interested in volunteering, teaching opportunities, making donations, or want to find out more about the KaisKids Orphanage, please do not hesitate to contact me at jason@plug-magazine.com or visit www.kaiskids.org.

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A FRISKY HIT Liam Greenall chatted with Tom Selmon to discover the inspiration behind his recent fashion photography work. Tom is a fixture at Sink the Pink: London’s infamous performance party, where he photographs an array of colourful club kids and fashionistas.

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‘I occasionally do drag for the party’.

I laughed: ‘Don’t we all?’

The emerging fashion photographer grew up in North London’s Enfield. The city’s cultural landscape was the perfect playground for Tom’s wondering eyes and playful hands.

‘I went to a really religious Jewish high school.’

‘How was that?’

‘Really fascinating, an experience...’

At sixteen, he left school and started playing around with make up instead. It was this experimenting that lead to his interest and passion for the artistry of applying war paint to himself and his models.

After strolling through his work, I was curious about his blend of black and white prints mixed with coloured prints in the same series of photographs.

‘I love black and white photography,’ he expressed with an enthusiastic tone, ‘but I like to capture a raw beauty in people.’

I got that. Understood it and him.

One thing that I knew Tom totally admired was the concept of transversal fashion. His work just hints at the homoerotic, and then a frisky hit of gender blends caress smoothly off the pages and the enigmas swimming in your brain try to solve themselves. Whether it’s one model, three or thirty three the body in Tom’s work is just as important, if not more, than the clothes.

‘I like creating shapes with two or more people.’ said Tom, ‘When styling I love using the skin as part of the ensemble.’

‘Give me an example.’ I asked him.

‘An open jacket over a topless guy.’

‘The idea of being topless, even naked, is not a big deal for most gay men. Is there anything sacred left when it comes to the gendered body?’

‘I think it all depends on which context you put it in. If you are photographing a man topless in a certain way with a certain aesthetic then you can still make it look sacred. If, how ever, you’re at a gay club and there is a topless or even naked guy then nothing is sacred when it comes to the body, unless it is some sort of performance art then once again the body would become sacred to me.’

‘What’s the most sacred thing in your life, Tom?’ ‘Mmmm. I am struggling to answer this. It is hard to choose just one.

I know it is cliche but friends and family I guess would have to be the most important thing.’

Cliche or not, I agreed.

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Sexy Summer -

Sunday Playlists Sunday, Sunday, lovely Sunday. How do you spend yours? A brunch in Central? A morning at church? A spring clean of your apartment?

Or PLUG’s favourite… a morning, afternoon and night in bed with your other half? Sunday serenades are sacred rituals for many couples as that minimalist bedroom you designed last winter morphs into a loveshack of lust and kinkyness. One vital ingredient needed to add to the passion pit is a playlist of music to get him/her/them in the mood or moods (depending how long you have!)

FEED THE PONEY PLAYLIST

MACEO PLEX - VIBE YOUR LOVE

Take her upstairs and lure her into one last drink.

LO-FANG - YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT Pin her against the wall, hands tied up, start playing...

PACHANGA BOYS - TIME

As French girls would say, “Ne t’arrêtes pas s’il te plait!”

RAMPUE - LOVE YOU

Find your rhythm and keep riding that wave.

ANOTHER LEVEL - FREAK ME

She is not giving you any? Give her some pointers.

GRIMM - ELECTRIFY

THE PLUG CLUB PLAYLIST

KELIS | FRIDAY FISH FRY

Get the taste buds tingling on Friday and carry it on all over the weekend.

KASABIAN | EEZ EH

Got a feeling you’re gonna be up all night? Crank up the volume and vent freely.

SAM SMITH | STAY WITH ME

One night stand? How do you make him your new man?

WOMAN’S HOUR | CONVERSATIONS

Stop! Get your breath back… have a conversation. Start again.

KATE BUSH | SEXUAL HEALING

Drive your ghetto girl wild.

A perfect B-side for the perfect brunch boy. How do you like your eggs?

BANKS - BRAIN

KYLIE MINOGUE | SEXERCISE

Let’s take a break and cool things down.

MASSIVE ATTACK - TEARDROP

Press up, press hard and bounce, bounce, bounce!

FOSTER THE PEOPLE | BEST FRIEND

Time to whisper sweet nothings in her ear.

Smile in the dark with the one who’s been around… forever!

MMOTHS (feat. Superhumanoids) - SUMMER

YEAH YEAH YEAHS | DATE WITH THE NIGHT

You just can’t get enough.

POOLSIDE - KISS YOU FOREVER Let me put you on repeat...

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We’ve carefully compiled two playlists for your sonically sexified Sunday. The first playlist is by Feed the Poney, the dynamic DJ duo who play regularly for the PLUG Club and Les Peches Club Lounge.

The second playlist was whipped up by the creative vultures at PLUG Club HQ. On the opposite page, we’ve even included a blank mixtape template for you to make your own playlist to woo that summer fling you can’t stop thinking about. It’s time to turn the volume up!

Night owls take note… Stir your imagination with the croons of Karen O.

SKY FERREIRA | NIGHT TIME, MY TIME

Doing it alone this Sunday? Stick Sky on and fly away.

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RESOURCES

Here is a list of contact information for the organizations we’ve featured in the current and previous issues of the magazine.

Double Happiness doublehappiness.lgbt@gmail.com The first organisation in Hong Kong to actively campaign for the legal recognition of same-sex couples’ relationships and marriage equality.

Transgender Resource Center www.tgr.org.hk We hope to help society develop a deeper understanding of the transgender community and of transgender issues.

TGR Gender Care Hotline (+852) 8230 0838 Every Wednesday Night 8:00-11:00pm Except public holidays.

If you, a family member or friend has questions about gender orientation or identity, please call our hotline.

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Pink Dot www.pinkdot.hk info@pinkdot.hk press@pinkdot.hk BCMF www.bmcf.org.hk contact@bmcf.org.hk (852) 2834-6601 Mr Gay Hong Kong www.mrgayhongkong.com info@mrgayhongkong.com (852) 9660 5552 HK Helpers Campaign www.khelperscampaign.com info@hkhelperscampaign.com

CONTACT US Please write our marketing director if you have any events you’d like to plug or resources you’d like to share. Definitely let us know if you are interested in being a distribution partner for PLUG Magazine and we’ll collaborate on a great partnership.

We’d like to say a special thankyou to all the contributing artists, designers and illustrators that helped to make this issue extra creative.

1 Marc Standing A featured artist in the Shock Issue, Marc was kind enough to let us back into his studio to shoot inspiration and background shots for the Sacred Issue.

2 Daniel Arzola Daniel is a Venezuelan illustrator and designer whose work was recently spotted and retweeted

by Madonna and featured at the Amsterdam Gay Pride event.

3 Ivan Louey Raised primarily in Hong Kong, Ivan now works as a production artist in Vancouver, Canada. He lent his pen to the tattoo-inspired illustration for the Art article in the Culture Section.

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john@plug-magazine.com

TGR Counselling Service If you have anything you want to share or seek advice for, contact counselling@tgr.org.hk to arrange a meeting with a transgender-friendly counsellor. All conversations are confidential.

AIDS Concern 852 2394 6677 Yau Ma Tei Health Service Clinic Unit 602, 6/F King Centre 23-29 Dundas Street, Yau Ma Tei AIDS Concern offers free HIV and syphilis antibody rapid tests, alongside gonorrhea and chlamydia testing.

Les Peches www.facebook.com/groups/ lespeches Organisation founded by Abby and Betty. Hong Kong’s premier event organizers for lesbians, bi/queer women and their friends.

DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS Kapok bap@ka-pok.com 2520 0114 3 Sun Street, Wan Chai

Konzepp info@konzepp.com 2803 0339 G/F, 50 Tung Street Sheung Wan

Brunch Club info@brunch-club.org 2526 8861 G/F, 10 Peel Street, Central

Life Cafe info@lifecafe.com.hk 2810 9777 10 Shelley Street, Soho, Central

Culture Club info@cultureclub.com.hk 2127 7936 15 Lower Elgin Street, Soho Central

Just Green info@justgreen.com.hk 2810 9777 52 Graham, Soho, Central

Inbetween Shop info@inbetweenshop.com 9677 7815 6B Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan

Kubrick info@kubrick.com.hk 2384 8929 3 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!