Tucked in the heart of Singapore, a former police headquarters has been renovated into Medill second-year Ashley Wong’s “classic queer space.”

Used by law enforcement in the 1930’s, Pearl’s Hill Terrace has since become a haven for creatives to gather and host a variety of film and art studios, design firms and music events. Wong says she finds freedom to express her queer identity in third spaces — places outside of the work or home that allow LGBTQ+ people to express themselves.

“I always go there because it makes me feel welcomed, and it makes me feel free,” Wong says. “It makes me feel like I could not just only be myself in terms of being queer, but also be myself in terms of being a creative person.”

In Singapore, a country comparable in size to Chicago, Wong often finds third spaces like Pearl’s through word of mouth. Wong discovered the space when she heard of people using it to play mahjong, watch movies and hang out. She now frequents Pearl’s secluded central “party yard.”

Wong says it’s common to see queer-friendly spaces arise from abandoned and decommissioned places, such as Pearl’s. Since queer people began to gather there, Wong says businesses may avoid moving there despite its trendiness, low rent and downtown location. The “classic queer space cycle” continues, she says.

In Asia, only three countries currently recognize same-sex marriage in some capacity: Taiwan, Thailand and Nepal. As a result, third spaces play a vital role in empowering queer people to express their identities in a safe, inclusive setting. LGBTQ+ people in Asia also use social media to connect with one another in areas where discussion may still be seen as taboo.

In response to limited political recognition, community members congregate in “hot spots” where they feel safe, Wong says.

“It’s very much an uphill battle to be out in Asia because much of society is so codified to oppress us,” Wong says.

Content is highly regulated and restricted in Singapore, managed by the InfoComm Media Development Authority (IMDA). Laws limit information that implies homosexual activity and direct what type of media is circulated regarding queer people.

Labeled as “alternative sexualities,” LGBTQ+ subplots — “if discreet in treatment and not gratuitous” per the IMDA’s code — are rated “M18,” or for viewers 18 and older. Non-explicit representations of sexual activity earn an “R21” rating, for viewers 21 and up.

LGBTQ+ rights in China, where Medill second-year Alex Chen is from, are similarly limited. China also does not legally recognize same-sex marriage, protect queer people from workplace discrimination or allow them to adopt children.

In China, there’s a general conservatism about public displays of affection, even between heterosexual couples, Chen says. Certain cities in China are more open to public displays of queer expression. Chen says her experience growing up and expressing her queer identity, such as affection toward a partner, may be vastly different from those growing up in other parts of the country.

She cites larger cities like Beijing and Shanghai as examples of cities with greater international presence, and thereby, more LGBTQ+ acceptance.

Likewise, queer people’s experiences in India can also differ by region. A student from the University of Melbourne who requested to remain anonymous, highlights the differing experiences between residents of North and South India. Growing up in New Delhi and Mumbai, cities in North India, the student says she did not have in-person queer third spaces.

“I have a lot of friends from Chennai and Bangalore,” she says about the South Indian cities. “They seem to be a bit more open than I’ve seen people in the North be, especially compared to somewhere like Delhi.”

India’s Supreme Court declined to legalize same-sex marriage in 2023, but it established a panel to consider granting more rights to LGBTQ+ couples.

Bollywood movies have also shaped how people in India view queer identities, the student adds.

“It’s treated like a joke,” the University of Melbourne student says, citing the movie Student of the Year, which she describes as featuring a gay character portrayed in an overly flamboyant and caricature-like manner.

However, the student notes that recent movie releases such as Badhaai Do — a 2022 Hindi-language film about a marriage of convenience between a gay man and a lesbian woman — seem to be moving away from stereotypes.

Similarly, South Korea is experiencing an increase in queer representation in literature and media, with TV shows Semantic Error and Nevertheless depicting same-sex attraction.

Korean literature and culture Prof. Jeong Eun Annabel We says while media like literature may not create physical third spaces, it can encourage queer people to find community and places to gather.

“Literature and also cultural representations of queer kinship are important. I think it pushes people very gently,” We says. “When you see the representation, it allows people to feel that they can go find further spaces.”

While queer media is no longer censored in South Korea, the country has yet to legalize same-sex marriage. For the past few years, the city of Seoul has also banned the annual June pride parade from organizing at its usual location, Seoul Plaza. The Plaza has a central location in front of the South Korean capital’s City Hall. Despite the parade failing to get a permit in 2024, thousands still showed up to express their identities.

Wong says safe spaces in Singapore tend to be trendier or younger venues because younger generations are exposed to a diversity of voices. Before modern social media, she says the queer community has always found refuge in the internet through private messaging boards and interest forums.

For example, Communication third-year Jade Xia is in a WeChat circle that will post places to meet, such as apartments, bars and other social settings. Xia requested a pseudonym as she has not publicly come out to all her loved ones.

Queer-friendly locations in China are also recognized through symbols, such as rainbows or certain hairstyles, or homonyms of key characters. Social media further advertises these establishments where audiences can note which businesses are queer-friendly.

Xia has frequented lesbian bars in Hong Kong and China, often finding them through local social media apps like XiaoHongShu, a platform similar to Instagram whose name translates to “little red book.”

In one post, Xia saw the Route Whisky & Cocktail Bar advertised as a standard bar, but she knew the owners were lesbian. Xia subsequently marked the place as a queer-friendly location on the app.

“[Business owners] don’t put it on the front,” she says. “Anybody could go, but when we are aware that third spaces are started by lesbians and the owners support the community, [queer people] will go there.”

While Hong Kong does not recognize same-sex marriage, a 2023 court ruling affirmed that legal frameworks must be set within the next two years for same-sex couples, paving a potential future for civil unions.

Because the queer circle is largely driven by word-of-mouth, Wong says entrance can be an issue, especially for those who do not come from supportive environments. Apps like TikTok that host a younger demographic have been “un-gatekeeping” these hot spots, which were previously kept more private for “protection,” she says.

“I think social media is really huge in helping people find each other,” We says. “And also find out different ways of thinking about themselves and the communities that are actually out there that maybe you wouldn’t come across otherwise.”

Social media has made accepting queer identities and therefore accessing queer spaces less of a barrier for younger generations.

“Generationally speaking, young people are just way more open- minded than the previous generation,” Wong says. “The internet has made it so easy for us to meet any type of person, good or bad, and any type of opinion, good or bad. The internet, and generally the anonymization of people online, is very helpful.”

Certain social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are unavailable in China. Certain phrases like “queer” also remain censored. However, Chen says many download VPNs to bypass the restrictions and access foreign content. She adds that those who travel abroad, or foreigners on Chinese social media, also share international ideas.

“It’s the rise of the internet,” she says. “The more international China tries to present itself to be, the more international the social media contents will be, and the gayer it will be.”

Wong says community-building and maintaining third spaces remains important in the protection and solidarity of the queer population in Asia. She adds that the “protection system” contrasts with the U.S.’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, where the queer community is bonded through pride to “celebrate how awesome we are.”

“When the community is so oppressed against, it’s the only thing that we can use to build solidarity,” Wong says. “It’s the only place you can find people, because people just can’t say that they’re out.”