r y e

Safe Spaces: Wine Mouth

wine mouth

Wine Mouth is Singapore's first wine shop dedicated to natural wine, featuring organic, biodynamic, and fine wines from trusted producers across the globe.

what inspired you to actively create a safe and accepting space for the lgbtqia+ community in singapore?

S: As an out and proud queer person, I've always sought spaces where I don't need to worry about my outward expression. In fact, it's in those spaces where the best ideas, experiences, and sense of community arise.

why is it important to have safe spaces for the lgbtqia+ community like wine mouth in singapore?

S: If we take a moment to reflect on the places and spaces we each choose to spend our time, we find that they all contribute to a feeling of safety in some way. Someone knows our name, they offer something nostalgic, or it's simply a place where we are not judged.

Queer people especially tend to flock to places where they can hold hands, dress however they like, and be loud and proud. This is because in other spaces, we often feel pressured to suppress our identities, mute our voices, and conform to uncomfortable expectations.

"Queer people especially tend to flock to places where they can hold hands, dress however they like, and be loud and proud. This is because in other spaces, we often feel pressured to suppress our identities, mute our voices, and conform to uncomfortable expectations."

what are some important steps everyone can take to help extend safe spaces and ensure the safety and acceptance of the lgbtqia+ community throughout singapore?

S: We must create genuinely welcoming spaces, without just paying lip service. We need to find each other and work together to support one another's success.

Wine Mouth is always looking for ways to partner with other queer-owned brands and companies to show our support. We have participated in events at Proud Spaces, with Q Chamber, and with Huddle, to name a few. We have also donated proceeds to support drag queens who lost revenue during the pandemic. Additionally, we collaborated with Shop377a to hold an event celebrating the first anniversary of the repeal of Article 377a. We must take these actions to cross-promote and demonstrate our support for queer spaces; otherwise, we risk being drowned out.

what are your future goals and aspirations for continuing to support and enhance the safety and acceptance of the lgbtqia+ community?

S: I've been working hard to create safe spaces for queer people in Singapore for as long as I have been here. I do whatever I can to support any business, organization, effort, mentee—anyone. As a foreigner, my channels for support are limited to my time and money, but I do my best to use both productively.

For example, in creating Wine Mouth, we prioritized hiring queer designers, sourcing from queer suppliers, and supporting queer winemakers. We have even cut ties with some suppliers due to homophobic behavior and worse. We have zero tolerance for such behavior, and I believe that by standing up and speaking out for those who cannot, I am supporting the community in a meaningful way.

over the years, what challenges or obstacles have you faced in establishing and maintaining this space to be safe for the lgbtqia+ community?

S: If we look specifically at Wine Mouth, aside from one instance, we haven't faced any overt issues regarding being a safe space. We were never in the closet and aren't shy about speaking up and out. Part of that may be because, as a foreigner, I don't need to shy away from or hide from family members or long-term friends and acquaintances. My chosen family consists of people I've met here. However, I am aware that many are not as fortunate and do come to Wine Mouth as their safe haven, and we welcome them openly.

r y e's pride campaign this year is titled 'people like us,' a term that has gained widespread use as slang for being queer among singapore's queer community. what does 'people like us' mean to you?

S: To me, 'People Like Us' shines a light on our shared intersectionality, seeking common ground beyond being ostracised for minor aspects of our existence. Ultimately, we all laugh, cry, feel pain, joy, love, loss – the list goes on. Yet, because of who we love or who we are, we are often "othered."People Like Us deserve to be loved and celebrated – whether it's for being great tennis players, landing our dream jobs, or helping strangers in need – regardless of whether my boyfriend is cheering in the audience, I use they/them pronouns, or I'm on my way to a performance in drag.

"Ultimately, we all laugh, cry, feel pain, joy, love, loss – the list goes on. Yet, because of who we love or who we are, we are often "othered."

People Like Us deserve to be loved and celebrated - regardless of whether my boyfriend is cheering in the audience, I use they/them pronouns, or I'm on my way to a performance dressed in drag."

Our ‘Love+’ scarves are available in a spectrum of colours to symbolise love, unity, and interconnections.

All profits from the sale of the scarves go directly to The T Project, that proudly supports the transgender community in Singapore. Read more about their work here.

Illustrations Sarah Kelly Ng

Interviewed by Shenali Wijesinghe

Featuring Wine Mouth

Special Thanks Bessie Ye

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