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1)          House of Male

Chiang Mai’s popular gay sauna and a great place to meet local guys. The traditional Thai Lanna-styled House of Male features a gym, steam room, a large pool and sun terrace with loungers.
The onsite bar & lounge on the ground floor serves light meals. Upstairs is a darkened cruising area with private cabins. Located near the Central Department Store in downtown. Busy on Thursday nights and the weekends.

清邁受歡迎的同性戀桑拿浴室，是與當地人見面的好地方。 傳統的泰式蘭納風格的馬累房屋設有健身房，蒸汽浴室，大型游泳池和帶躺椅的陽光露台。
酒店一樓的酒吧和休息室供應便餐。 樓上是一個黑暗的私人小木屋巡航區。 位於市中心的百貨大樓附近。 星期四晚上和周末忙碌。

ADDRESS:19 Sirimangklajarn Road Soi 3 (last house on the left), Chiang Mai
NUMBER:+66 53 894 133
OPEN HOUR: 12:00 - 00:00









2)  Club One Seven Sauna

ChiangMai’s popular gay sauna located to the south of city centre on the bank side of the Ping River
Facilities include a swimming pool, fully equipped gym, sauna, the largest herbal steam room in Northern Thailand and relaxation cabins. Massage service available.
Club One Seven Sauna belongs to Club One Seven Hotel. The sauna, bar and riverside café is open to non-residents, noon to midnight, 7 days a week.

清邁受歡迎的同性戀桑拿位於平河岸邊市中心以南
酒店的設施包括游泳池，設備齊全的健身房，桑拿浴室，泰國北部最大的草藥蒸汽浴室以及休閒小木屋。 提供按摩服務。
Club One Seven桑拿俱樂部屬於Club One Seven俱樂部。 桑拿浴室，酒吧和河畔咖啡廳每週7天每天中午至午夜開放。

ADDRESS:385/2 Charoen Prathet Road, Chiang Mai
NUMBER:+66 53 274 317
OPEN HOUR: 12:00 - 00:00

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1)         Hokuoukan

Large gay sauna in the heart of Osaka that has been around for 30 years. Facilities include locker room, bathrooms, sauna, steam room, cabins with TV, video room, and dark zones.
Private rooms are on the top floors where you can stay overnight. Admission is based on age – the younger, the lower the fee (see Hokuokan’s website). A valid photo ID is required to at reception desk.
Attract men of all ages. Foreigners are welcome. Open 24 hours. Busiest at the weekend before 9pm.

大阪市中心的大型同性戀桑拿已經有30年的歷史了。 設施包括更衣室，浴室，桑拿浴室，蒸汽浴室，帶電視的小屋，視頻室和黑暗區域。
私人客房位於頂層，您可以過夜。 入場是基於年齡 - 年齡越小，收費越低（見Hokuokan的網站）。 前台需要有效的帶照片的身份證件。
吸引所有年齡段的男士。 歡迎外國人。 24小時營業。 晚上9點前，週末最忙。

ADDRESS:14-10 Doyama, Kita, Osaka
NUMBER:+81 6 6361 2288
OPEN HOUR: 24



2)       Daikichi Sauna

Large, 24-hour gay sauna that welcomes guys in their 20’s-40’s. There are two types of admission: Rest (¥2000/4am-midnight), or Stay (¥2500/7pm-3pm).
Private rooms with or without bath are available. Located in Doyama gay district.

大型的24小時同性戀桑拿，歡迎20至40歲的男士。 入場有兩種類型：休息（¥2000 /上午4點 - 午夜）或住宿（¥2500/7點 - 下午3點）。
私人房間有或沒有浴缸可用。 位於Doyama同性戀區。

ADDRESS:12-12 Doyama, Kita, Osaka
NUMBER:+81 6 6361 3270
OPEN HOUR: 24



3)       Business Inn Royal Sauna

A foreigner-friendly gay sauna in Osaka. Business Inn Royal Sauna operates the same system as Hokuoukan. Besides the usual facilities, there is also a jacuzzi and solarium. Private rooms available, both in Japanese and Western style.
Open 24 hours. Tends to attract a more mature guys (late 30’s upwards). Check the website for admission fees.

在大阪的外國人友好的同性戀桑拿。 Business Inn Royal Sauna的運營方式與Hokuoukan相同。 除了平時的設施，還有一個按摩浴缸和日光浴室。 日式和西式風格的私人客房。
24小時營業。 趨於吸引更成熟的傢伙（30年代後期）。 檢查網站的入場費。

ADDRESS:1-2-4 Ebisu-higashi, Naniwa, Osaka
NUMBER:+81 6 6643 0001
OPEN HOUR: 24



4)              RANGER

Gay  club in Osaka, targeting short-haired, bearded, athletic and muscular guys in their 20’s and 30’s. Private cabins available.
Management tell us that men with “long hair, slim or chubby figure and unmanly manner” will not be admitted. Open 4pm-5am.
Take the subway (Midosuji Line) to Senri-Chuo, get off at Nakatsu Station (Exit 2) and walk south toward the traffic light, turn right on the alley before 7-Eleven. Make the first left and it is the second townhouse on your left. There’s no sign or house number. Open the sliding door in the front to the reception area.

在大阪的同性戀俱樂部，針對20和30年代的短髮，鬍子，運動和肌肉男。 私人小屋可用。
管理層告訴我們，“長發，苗條，胖乎乎”的男人不會被接納。 下午4點 - 凌晨5點開放。
乘地鐵（禦堂筋線）到千里中央，在中津站下車（2號出口），向南走向紅綠燈，在7-11之前在SAUNA/桑拿/三溫暖右轉。 做第一個左邊，這是你左邊的第二個聯排別墅。 沒有標誌或門牌號碼。 打開前面的滑動門到接待區。

ADDRESS:1 Chome-11-28 Nakatsu, Kita-ku, Osaka
NUMBER: +81 6 6720 8986
OPEN HOUR: 1600-0500




5)  Otoko Banduke

Small, local gay club in the heart of Doyama gay district. The space is very limited but quite clean with one shower facility. Gets busy after 10pm with younger crowd.
Walk into the small alley next to building where K’s Hills is located [Nakadori Bldg, 16-12 Doyama]; at the end, walk up the staircase to the top floor.

Doyama同志區中心的小型當地同性戀俱樂部。 空間是非常有限，但相當乾淨的淋浴設施。 晚上10點以後，和年輕人一起忙碌。
步行到K's Hills所在的建築物旁邊的小SAUNA/桑拿/三溫暖[Nakadori Bldg，16-12 Doyama]; 最後，走樓梯到頂樓。

ADDRESS:16-12 Doyama, Kita, Osaka
NUMBER: +81 6 6720 8986
OPEN HOUR: 16:00 - 05:00



6)    GEOFRONT

GEOFRONT is a cruising space for gay men, with a library of gay magazines, comic books and internet café. Attracts mostly local Japanese guys. Free WiFi available.
∂Cover charge with a free drink is 1500¥, 1000¥ after 10pm, 500¥ after 11pm.

GEOFRONT是同性戀男子巡遊的地方，擁有同性戀雜誌，漫畫和網吧圖書館。 主要吸引本地日本人。 提供免費WiFi。
∂覆蓋免費飲料1500日元，晚上10點後1000日元，晚上11點後500日元。

ADDRESS:B1 Kirishima Leisure Bldg 8-18, Kita, Osaka
NUMBER:/
OPEN HOUR: 13:00 - 00:00

#豆花哥
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1)              H42 Sauna






Two-storey gay sauna H42 attracts men of all ages. It features modern, well-maintained facilities including lockers, dry sauna, steam room, shower room, private cabins, cruising area, free use of electric massage chairs, free coffee/tea and snacks. Towels and condoms are provided.

Located in the Changning District, next door to Happiness 42 gay bar and just a block from the LGBT-popular lucca 390 nightclub.


兩層同性戀桑拿H42吸引所有年齡段的男士。 它有現代，維護良好的設施，包括儲物櫃，幹桑拿，蒸汽浴室，淋浴室，私人小屋，巡航區，免費使用電動按摩椅，免費咖啡/茶和小吃。 提供毛巾和避孕套。

位於長寧區隔壁的幸福42同性戀酒吧，距離LGBT流行的Lucca 390夜總會僅有一個街區。








ADDRESS:2F, 42 Xingfu Rd, Changning, Shanghai

NUMBER:+86 21 5230 9095

OPEN HOUR:14:00 - 22:00








2)           Ding Lin Men’s Club

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The largest gay sauna in Shanghai, Ding Lin Men’s Club 鼎臨 is a private members’ club, so you will be required to apply for membership on arrival.

Ding Lin features dry sauna, steam room, lockers, TV lounge area, gym. Private cabins are available at extra charge.

The club attracts a men of all ages, both locals and tourists. Particularly busy at the weekend. Open 24 hours, but foreigners may have restricted access.



鼎臨鼎人俱樂部是上海最大的同性戀桑拿俱樂部，是一個私人會員俱樂部，您需要在抵達時申請會員資格。

丁林設有乾桑拿，蒸氣室，儲物櫃，電視休息區，健身房。 私人小木屋額外收費。

俱樂部吸引了所有年齡層的男士，當地居民和遊客。 週末特別忙。 24小時營業，但外國人可能限制進入。






ADDRESS:50 Huiwen Road, Zhabei District 会文路50号, Shanghai

NUMBER:+86 21 6356 4358

OPEN HOUR:24 hours






3) Huli



Local gay sauna and massage spa. Facilities include a steam room and dark room. Male massage therapists available to provide full body massages and body scrubs.

Located in the north of the city. Nearest metro station – Dongbaoxing Road (Line 3).

features steam room, massage, dark room



本地同性戀桑拿和按摩水療。 設施包括蒸汽浴室和黑暗的房間。 男性按摩治療師可提供全身按摩和身體磨砂。

位於城市的北部。 最近的地鐵站 - 東寶興路（3號線）。

設有蒸汽浴室，按摩室和黑暗的房間







ADDRESS:415 Baotong Road, Shanghai, China

NUMBER:/

OPEN HOUR:/





4)    Lian Bang




Open 24 hours. This local gay sauna is located on the right hand side of the entrance to the Lian Bang Hotel. There is another sauna on the left (closer to the entrance) that is straight.

Facilities include a sauna, steam room and private relaxation cabins. Lian Bang attracts a wide range of locals, foreigners and plenty of commercial guys.



24小時營業。 這間當地的同性戀桑拿浴室位於Lian Bang Hotel酒店入口的右側。 左邊（靠近入口）的另一間桑拿房是直的。

設施包括桑拿浴室，蒸汽浴室和私人休閒小屋。 連邦吸引了廣泛的當地人，外國人和大量的商業人士。





ADDRESS:228 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai

NUMBER:/

OPEN HOUR:24 hours






 

港聞香港奪2022年世界同志奧運主辦權　競技項目擬設中國書法、舞獅
  

• 世界同性戀運動會聯盟（Federation of Gay Games，簡稱FGG）宣布，香港於17個申辦城市中突圍而出，並擊敗瓜達拉哈拉（墨西哥）及華盛頓特區（美國）其餘2個入圍決賽的城市，成功奪得四年一度、有「同志奧運」之稱的第11屆世界同性戀運動會主辦權。
  
• 負責主辦的民間組織認為，本港成功申辦在於社會一直致力推動多元共融，且態度日趨開放包容，獲國際認同。組織又擬將運動會本土化，為競技項目及活動增添扒龍舟、設舞獅和中國書法等港式元素。
  

世界同性戀運動會除了運動競技，還有文化藝術項目，歡迎所有人士參與，不論國籍、性別、性傾向和年齡等，現已成為世界上由LGBT運動員、藝術家和音樂家領導的最大型體育和文化活動。

1)    Babylon Sauna


Bangkok’s best-known gay sauna and one of the longest-running gay venues. Babylon’s extensive facilities include a large swimming pool, steam room, dry sauna, jacuzzi, dark room, maze and private cabins.
You can top up your tan on the sun terrace, swim in the pool, workout at the gym, enjoy a meal at the surprisingly good restaurant, sip a beer in the chill-out areas, or simply unwind in the hands of a male masseur.
Monogamous gay couples can enjoy Babylon’s relaxed 100% environment just as much as anyone else. We recommend bringing your own flip-flops (and gym gear if you want to work out).
Lockers, free condoms and lube are provided. Bring cash but leave valuables at your hotel or put them in one of the security boxes, located next to the reception.
Sunday afternoons are busiest. During SongKran Festival in April, Babylon fills up very quickly, and admission is on a ‘one in one out’ basis.

曼谷最著名的同性戀桑拿和最長的同性戀場所之一。 巴比倫廣泛的設施包括一個大型游泳池，蒸汽浴室，幹桑拿浴室，按摩浴缸，黑屋子，迷宮和私人小屋。
您可以在陽光露台上充足曬黑，在游泳池游泳，在健身房鍛煉，在令人驚喜的餐廳享用美食，在放鬆的地方品嚐啤酒，或者乾脆放鬆在男性按摩師的手中。
一夫一妻制的同性戀夫婦可以像任何人一樣享受巴比倫輕鬆的100％的環境。 我們建議帶上你自己的人字拖鞋（如果你想解決的話，還可以帶上運動裝）。
提供儲物櫃，免費避孕套和潤滑油。 帶上現金，但將貴重物品留在您的酒店，或放在接待台旁邊的保險箱中。
星期天下午是最繁忙的。 四月的宋柯節期間，巴比倫很快就填滿了，入場是“一進一出”的。


ADDRESS:34 Nantha Rd, off Sathorn Soi 1, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 679 7984
OPEN HOUR:10:30 - 22:30




2)     R3 Sauna

Bangkok’s popular gay sauna (under the same management as Sauna Mania). R3 features very modern facilities on 6 floors, including a large locker room, showers, dry sauna, steam room, dark room, private cabins, gym, internet access, rooftop terrace.
R3 hosts weekly themed nights (Underwear, Naked, etc) and monthly special events like Big O-Party – check the website for agenda. Foreigner-friendly, but pricing policy discriminates against men over 50. Open 24 hours.
From Phra Ram 9 station, walk towards Fortune Town mall until you reach end of Tesco Lotus. Follow the side alley, turn left at the end of the gate and make another left turn. R3 is 100 metres down to your right  black building with rainbow stripes).
alternate route: From the Phra Ram 9 metro station walk to Ratchada Soi 3. At the first intersection (7Eleven at the corer), take a left and continue for about 300 metres.

曼谷的受歡迎的同性戀桑拿浴室（與桑拿瘋狂相同的管理下）。 R3擁有6層的現代化設施，包括大型更衣室，淋浴，幹桑拿，蒸汽浴室，黑屋子，私人小屋，健身房，網絡連接，屋頂露台。
R3主持每週的主題之夜（內衣，裸體等）和每月的特別活動，如大型O黨 - 檢查網站的議程。 外國人友好，但價格政策歧視男性超過50歲。24小時開放。
從Phra Ram 9站，朝Fortune Town購物中心走，直到Tesco Lotus結束。 沿著小巷，在大門的盡頭向左轉，再向左轉。 R3是100米，右邊是黑色的彩虹條紋建築）。
備用路線：從Phra Ram 9地鐵站步行到Ratchada Soi 3.在第一個路口（7Eleven在corer），左轉並繼續約300米。


ADDRESS:  502/373 Ratchada Soi 3, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 642 0265 
OPEN HOUR:24 hours





3)    God Place Sauna

The sauna of choice for bears, mature men and admirers looking for a place to chill out and relax in Bangkok.
The friendly God Place Sauna welcomes everyone without an attitude. Facilities include a rooftop garden with an open-air jacuzzi and shower. There is karaoke downstairs.
To get to ‘God Place’, take the elevator to the 4th floor behind the furniture shop.

熊的選擇桑拿，成熟的男人和仰慕者尋找一個地方放鬆和放鬆在曼谷。
友善的天堂桑拿歡迎大家的態度。 設施包括一個帶露天按摩浴缸和淋浴的屋頂花園。 樓下有卡拉OK。
要到達“天堂”，乘電梯到家具店後面的四樓。。

ADDRESS:  4F Warner Bldg, 119 Soi Mahesak, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 266 9092
OPEN HOUR:13:00 - 23:30






4)    Sauna Mania


The nearest gay sauna to the Silom gay bars. Sauna Mania has 5 levels with facilities including a small gym and a rooftop terrace. Some areas are very dimly lit, and the stairs are steep, so be careful!
Gets very busy after 5pm on weekdays, late afternoons and late-night hours on the weekends. More frequented by Thais but foreigners are welcome.

Silom同性戀酒吧最近的同性戀桑拿。 Sauna Mania設有5個水平的設施，包括一個小型健身房和一個屋頂露台。 有些地方燈光很暗，樓梯很陡，所以要小心！
平日下午5點以後，週末深夜和深夜，非常繁忙。 泰國人經常光顧，但外國人歡迎。

ADDRESS:  35/2 Soi Phipat 2, Convent Rd, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 636 8129
OPEN HOUR:1500-0600






5)The Beach Sauna


Relatively new gay sauna in Bangkok with complete facilities – a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, lockers, lounge area, gym, bar, karaoke room.
Cheap admission. Open 7 days a week from 3pm.

曼谷比較新的同性戀桑拿設施齊全 - 游泳池，桑拿房，蒸汽房，儲物櫃，休息區，健身房，酒吧，卡拉OK房。
入場費便宜。 從下午3點開始，每週7天營業。


ADDRESS:  316 Soi Sukhumvit 71, Phanit Anan Alley, Bangkok 
NUMBER: +662 392 4783
OPEN HOUR:15:00 - 06:00






6)    Mind Sauna

Local gay sauna within two 6-story shop houses that can be reached by BTS skytrain (Phra Khanong).
Inexpensive and clean, Mind Sauna’s features include steam room, private rooms, karaoke and offers customers free beverages. Massage services available.
There is no air conditioning or elevator. Mostly Thai crowd. Open daily until midnight.

在BTS輕軌（Phra Khanong）可以到達的兩層6層商店內的當地同性戀桑拿。
心靈桑拿的價格便宜，乾淨，包括蒸汽房，私人房間，卡拉OK，並為顧客提供免費飲料。 提供按摩服務。
沒有空調或電梯。 主要是泰國人群。 每天營業至午夜。


ADDRESS:  Sukhumvit Soi 48, Phra Khanong, Bangkok 
NUMBER: +66 2 391 9317
OPEN HOUR:14:00 - 00:00





7)     Chakran Sauna


The multi-storey, upscale Chakran Sauna features a nice swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, steam room, dry sauna, dark room, private cabins, café bar and an restaurant that serves tasty Thai food.
Customers are mostly Thai customers and some foreigners. Gets busy most evenings after work and on Sunday afternoons. Themed events include Naked Zone and Foam Party.
Last year. Chakran merged with the next-door V Club spa, and launched a new brand called ‘VCK Cool Space’ offering massage services and a relaxing space for men.
From Ari station, walk towards Soi Ari (Phaholyothin 7), take that road and continue down on Ari for until you reach Ari Alley 4, make a left, and you’ll see Chakran shortly on your right.

多層，高檔Chakran桑拿設有一個漂亮的游泳池，按摩浴缸，健身房，蒸汽浴室，幹桑拿，黑暗的房間，私人小屋，咖啡吧和供應美味的泰國美食的餐廳。
客戶主要是泰國客戶和一些外國人。 下班後和星期天下午，大部分時間都是忙碌的。 主題活動包括裸體區和泡沫派對。
去年。 Chakran與隔壁的V Club水療中心合併，推出了一個名為“VCK Cool Space”的新品牌，為男性提供按摩服務和放鬆空間。
從Ari站往Ari（Phaholyothin 7）方向走，然後沿著Ari繼續下去，直到到達Ari Alley 4，左拐，你會在右側看到Chakran。


ADDRESS:  32 Ari Alley 4, Phaholyothin Soi 7, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 279 1359
OPEN HOUR:14:00 - 23:00






8)     39 Underground Sauna


Small gay sauna 39 Underground has 4 floors with rooftop. The first 3 floors (air-conditioned) feature lockers, steam room, sauna and small gym. Cruising area and cabins are on the 4th floor (no air conditioner).
The crowd is mostly local Thai guys. Underwear or Naked theme on a weekly basis. Cheap admission.

小同性戀桑拿39地下有4個樓層的屋頂。 前三層（空調）設有儲物櫃，蒸汽浴室，桑拿浴室和小型健身房。 巡航區和小屋在四樓（沒有空調）。
人群大多是本地的泰國人。 內衣或裸體主題每週的基礎上。 入場費便宜。


ADDRESS:  1511/39 Phaholyothin Rd, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 279 1511
OPEN HOUR:12:00 - 00:00





9)   Farose II Sauna


Gay sauna that claims to be the largest in Southeast Asia, though facilities are rather run-down. Farose II features a jacuzzi, dry sauna, swimming pool, gym, dark room, private cabins, karaoke, dancing room, restaurant, free beverages, etc.
Foreigners are welcome, the crowd is mostly Thai guys. Farose’s other branch in Saphan Kwai is also open until very late.

自稱是東南亞最大的同性桑拿，雖然設施相當破敗。 Farose II設有按摩浴缸，幹桑拿，游泳池，健身房，暗室，私人小屋，卡拉OK，舞廳，餐廳，免費飲料等。
外國人是受歡迎的，人群大多是泰國人。 Farose在Saphan Kwai的其他分部也開放至很晚。


ADDRESS:  Ramkhamhaeng 21, Soi 2, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 319 4054
OPEN HOUR:15:00 - 06:00







10)   Sauna MACHO


Large, well-maintained sauna located near the Pata Pinklao shopping mall in Thonburi district. Facilities at MACHO include sauna, steam room, gym, private cabins, bar and free WiFi.
Weekly themed events with Underwear or Naked dress code. Open until 6am on the weekends. Discounts for youngsters and off-peak hours.

位於Thonburi區的Pata Pinklao購物中心附近的大型維護良好的桑拿。 MACHO酒店的設施包括桑拿浴室，蒸汽浴室，健身房，私人小屋，酒吧和免費WiFi。
每週主題活動與內衣或裸妝著裝。 營業至週六上午6點。 青少年和非高峰時段的折扣。


ADDRESS:  43-45 Soi Somdej Phra Pinklao, Bangkok
NUMBER: +66 2 883 2015 
OPEN HOUR:14:00 - 01:00

               A court decision leaves a new family uncertain whether their ‘illegitimate’ child – conceived by a surrogate in the United States – can go to school, or even if he can stay in the Lion City





 Out of the three bedrooms in Noel’s home, two have been dedicated to the four-year-old — one for sleeping, the other for toys. There are a lot of toys, mostly gifts from family and friends. Noel is very much the apple of his parents’ eyes, and the extended family’s too. Both sides of the family gather every few weeks in Noel’s home, humouring him with endless games of hide and seek in the 1,450 sq ft apartment.His arrival into the world in November 2013 was wanted, and planned for meticulously. His parents had eagerly awaited appointments to the obstetrician-gynecologist and consumed books on infant care and their development milestones — “At six months he may get a bout of fever along with some spots, but the spots should disappear after three days,” recited his parents.
=1.0625remBut in the eyes of Singapore=1.0625rem law, Noel is an illegitimate child.While Papa James is his biological father, Daddy Shawn is not. Noel was conceived through assisted reproduction in the United States. Since James and the woman who birthed Noel are not married, Noel was born out of wedlock. He is also an American citizen.The family has been given pseudonyms to protect the identity of their son.James tried to remedy his son’s status, applying for a single-parent adoption that in Singapore would give James sole rights and responsibility to the child and remove the illegitimate label. James and Shawn were also hopeful that this would make it easier for Noel to get Singapore citizenship. The couple stressed that it was not about pushing any agendas for gay issues.

 After three years, the Family Justice Courts rejected the application a day after Christmas.In her judgement, District Judge Shobha Nair wrote: “The applicant and his partner knew that the laws of Singapore allow the use of assisted reproductive technologies by married couples only. There are no services which promote surrogacy in Singapore.“This application is in reality an attempt to obtain a desired result — that is, formalising the parent-child relationship in order to obtain certain benefits, by walking through the back door of the system when the front door was firmly shut.”She said it is her duty to consider unlocking the back door if the child’s welfare demands it, but it was clear to her that it does not.She wrote: “The child will continue to be given a roof over his head, food on his table, a good education and a support system — with or without an adoption order.”The couple submitted an appeal of the judgment on January 4.Dismayed, disappointed and worriedIn their first media interview, James told This Week in Asia his initial reaction was sadness. “The first feeling that I had when I got that was, ‘Wow, so my country is telling me that my partner and I, although we’ve contributed this much and can contribute more, if we moved it doesn’t make a difference to them at all’.”James is a doctor while Shawn works in the marketing industry. Both are 45 and of Chinese ethnicity.Then there is another worry: “Now we’re uncertain if he can stay here in the long-term,” said James.His parents brought Noel home before he was a month old under a three-month tourist visa available to American citizens. In December, they applied for citizenship and a long term visit pass — issued by the country’s Immigration and Checkpoint Authority at a validity of up to two years — for him.In August 2014, Noel was rejected for citizenship but given a long-term visit pass which lets him stay in Singapore for six months, whereupon the pass has to be renewed.They appealed for citizenship through a Member of Parliament but was unsuccessful.In December 2014, James applied for adoption. At that point, Noel was switched to a dependent’s pass that has since been renewed every six months.His parents worry about how none of these passes are a guarantee.If Noel is denied a renewal, the parents will either have to take him in and out of the country every three months — American citizens can get a three-month tourist visa in Singapore — or move.But migration is a last resort.Said James: “Our lives are here. Our family and social support. All of this, our son will lose if we were to move.”Why Japanese businesses are embracing the LGBT communityJudge Nair said that there is no evidence the family would have to move. But in the same breath she added: “Even if that became a reality, parents often take uncomfortable and even painful personal steps for their children.”A four-year-old, she wrote, will “thrive anywhere if in the hands of loving parents”.Noel just turned four two months ago, but in typical Singaporean fashion, his parents are already thinking of primary-school issues.Shawn said: “Now he’s in preschool and that’s fine because it isn’t a government-run preschool. We have no childcare grant but that’s also OK. But what happens when he needs to enrol for primary school?”Both fathers grew up in Singapore and attended local schools until Shawn headed to Australia for his degree. Both performed their National Service. They want the same for their son.But without Singapore citizenship — they had applied after they returned to Singapore when the baby was a month old and got rejected eight months later — it may be hard for Noel to get into a primary school, since foreigners can only register in the last phase, after six other rounds. Often, popular schools would have run out of space and resorted to balloting way by the third or fourth registration round.“Getting placed in a local school is uncertain, and he could also end up in a school far from where we live,” said James.. The family home is in Central Singapore.Noel will also pay higher school fees throughout his life here as a foreigner. As an illegitimate child with only James’ name on his documents, inheritance of James’ estate may also prove to be a problem. Shawn and James will have to circumvent that with a will.

 Why have a childTo love a child of one’s own and to be loved by that child is a basic human need, wrote Judge Nair in her grounds of decision.And when James and Shawn hit middle age, the urge to have children grew strong.

 The couple — who have been dating since 1998 and have lived together for 13 years — spent a lot of time with Shawn’s nephew when the now teenager was young,Said Shawn: “We were very involved in his childhood. He stayed over, we took him out, coached him through primary school.”When the boy grew up and did not want to spend as much time with his uncle and godfather, “It was like an empty nest syndrome,” said Shawn.He thought: “There are so many unwanted kids around. If we can love our nephew so much to the point that I think of him every day even though he is not biologically mine, I think we can have enough love and affection for other children who may not be ours biologically.”Hence they looked into adoption. They found out that single men can adopt boys, spoke to a few adoption agencies but heard that the adoption would not go through if the authorities knew they were gay.“You would have to hide a lot of things from the adoption officer,” said James. The couple did not want to lie.At the same time, they had met single men who had children through surrogacy and the children were living with them. One even got naturalised as a Singapore citizen.

 They did their research, realised there were no laws prohibiting surrogacy, so they went ahead.They found a centre in the United States, picked an anonymous Caucasian egg donor from her profile, wrote up their profile — a photo, dreams, aspirations, why they want a child — for the centre to show potential surrogate mums.Their surrogate mother, who is married with three children, picked them because she wanted to help gay parents. They met over a video call, again in person at the lady’s home, and that was it. “It is not that transactional, she has to choose us,” said Shawn.Both families bonded and throughout the pregnancy, the surrogate mother kept in touch with the men over WhatsApp, updating them on the doctor’s visits and how she was feeling. In November 2013, James and Shawn were with her and her husband in the labour suite. After a six-hour labour, Shawn, with tears in his eyes, cut the umbilical cord.“I was very emotional,” said Shawn.“I was just overjoyed. Suddenly my life felt so much more hopeful, so much more promising,” said James.




 The grey area in surrogacyIn her ruling, Judge Nair said the fact that the couple paid for this surrogacy “reflects the very thing the Adoption Act seeks to prevent — the use of money to encourage the movement of life from one hand to another”.She said it was not about the parents being in a same-sex relationship, that was “no place of the Court to dictate”.The couple’s lawyer, Ivan Cheong agreed: “The focus should not be on the adopting parent’s sexuality but the potential impact that if a child is conceived through surrogacy, the adopting parent {or parents if a heterosexual couple in a lawful marriage} may not be able to adopt their own child.”But despite the red tape, surrogacy is not new in the Lion City.
 The growth of non-traditional familiesDespite Singapore’s official stance, parenthood does exist outside of marriage in the Lion City, and sometimes, like in the case of James and Shawn, deliberately.Lesbian mums, the Chiongs, have for years blogged about their experiences raising their daughter Zoey.And then there is Emma — not her real name — who at 33 and after a divorce, decided she wanted a child. She did not want to wait to meet a man, have him propose and then have a child years later. Instead, she decided to go to Copenhagen where, while she was ovulating, vials of sperm from a donor bank were delivered to her hotel room. She inseminated herself, got pregnant and gave birth in Singapore. Emma’s family and friends support her decision to have and raise her son alone.Meanwhile, James and Shawn have not run into discrimination at doctors’ visits, while out in public, or while enrolling in preschool.James recounted how an elderly neighbour of his mother, whom the family is not close to, once told Noel: “You’re so lucky — you have a papa and a daddy.”
=1.0625remSaid James: “In all aspects of our life, we’ve never been made to feel different, or been discriminated against, except when dealing with the authorities.”=1.0625remStill, public opinion on such families are split.