The first time we explored stories of sexuality on our channel was in Girls Girls Girls - of a 15 year old school girl who is “not even sure if she likes men”. 

Messages of feeling seen, represented and affirmed flooded in. 

We were encouraged -  more than a want, there was a need for such stories. 

So we continued to tell those stories. 

This is a compilation of the stories we have discovered so far as well as artists and resources that have and will continue to inspire us. 

This is a page dedicated to you, for creating that space in the first place. 

And, this is a promise, that no matter who you are, or where you are in your journey right now - you are not alone. 

At NSFTV, the medium of moving visuals has allowed us to create resonating and thought-provoking videos of stories that we encounter in everyday life. However, the still image - trapped in a moment, frozen in time, is not only the predecessor to the filmic medium, but also a powerful tool of self-expression and reflection. Love comes in all colours, and here are some of the artists that have and will continue to inspire us.

Thai artist Pissanu Thongmee’s ‘Adam and Afa’ is a surreal, idyllic interpretation of its biblical source. Adam and Adam has been the focus of many LGBTQ+ artists, and Thongmee’s artistic rendition of two men separated by temptation sheds light on not only the long-standing discourse between homosexuality and religion, but in its finer details, also reveals little flecks of Thailand in the green scape of paradise.

While Thongmee builds upon an artistic rendering of desire and restraint, Regine David’s portraiture achieves the same effect with the tension of the human body, and the stark interplay of light and shadow. Born in Philippines, Regine David’s approach to queer visibility comes through achingly in tender shots that explore vulnerability and intimacy. David showcases the boldness to love loudly through quiet, private moments that often only include the subject matters in close, tight framing.

In Singapore, intimate moments are often lost to the roar of our city. Juxtaposing the deep and hollow echoes of our city’s architecture with small, almost indiscernible portrayals of affection, Charmaine Poh’s ‘The Two’ likens our island to an estranged home. With a focus on stern lines and hard textures, Poh reveals a city-state that is harsh and impatient. Yet, upon repeated viewings of her work, an undeniable yearning of intimacy and belonging starts to seep in.

Finally, visual artist Bhavani Bala’s digital art is perhaps most representative of the revelry and support that has been growing amidst the LGBTQ+ community. Between tightly knit flats, a flag. Bala’s work represents the optimism and fighting spirit of the burgeoning community of the young and socially active. Constantly on their phones, constantly pushing conversations forward that pride and the right to love is in the palms of our hands.

Art from Southeast Asia continues to be a reminder that while mainstream media from our Western counterparts are often leading the larger global conversation of the pride movement, one need not look further than our homes for unique and thought provoking content. More often than not, the familiarity of a shared home provides us with the propensity to relate and emote deeply with topics discussed and portrayed through the language of visual arts.

On 28 November 2019, we debuted our first gay character in Cassie from Girls Girls Girls. The logical head of the rambunctious quartet, Cassie falls in love but finds out that heartache exists in the quietest of moments, and in between the lines of the things we should say, and the things we want to say.

12 March 2020, Timothy finds himself caught in the middle. An exploration of the murky and intangible, ‘Whats’s The Point Of Matching’ follows Timothy as he struggles to navigate the terrains of love and desire between his passionate nights with Anthony and his budding relationship with Emily.

This year, in the pilot episode of ‘What Schools Don’t Teach’, we sat down with Chris, Carissa, and Jae as they spoke about being transgender in Singapore. What transpired was a candid conversation in an inclusive and safe space about a shared experience between three people.