Pink Dot in Singapore Highlights Gay-Rights Debate (Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2012)

Pink Dot in Singapore Highlights Gay-Rights Debate

By Shibani Mahtani, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2012, 9:35 PM SGT

SINGAPORE–A record turnout for the weekend’s Pink Dot gathering promoting gay and lesbian rights in Singapore offers the latest evidence that social attitudes toward gay residents are easing in the city state, even though the government still criminalizes homo***uality.

In addition to attracting a record crowd of 15,000 people to Hong Lim Park – the only venue in the city-state where demonstrations are allowed – the fourth annual Pink Dot gathering also drew heavier local media coverage than in past years and more high-profile corporate sponsors, including Barclays bank, which was a sponsor for the first time this year.

Pink Dot – which is billed as a gathering to celebrate “freedom to love” irrespective of gender, rather than an overt political protest – has been growing in size and prominence in recent years. Attendance has swelled six-fold since the its inaugural installment in 2009, according to organizers, and it also boasts corporate sponsors such as Google Inc., which signed on last year as the first multi-national to sponsor the event.

“There has definitely been increased visibility” for the lesbian, gay, bi***ual and transgender community in Singapore, said Leow Yangfa, a social worker. “In the early days, coverage was very limited but now [the local press] cannot avoid covering an event with 15,000 people,” he added.

Mr. Leow, who is gay, has edited an anthology of “coming-out” stories. He notes that while initial Pink Dot gatherings were generally attended by the “same faces” – local activists who are well-known in the lesbian and gay community – he now sees people from more varied backgrounds, including many straight Singaporeans and their children, at the yearly gathering.

“It is an indication that as a community, we are finally empowered, and that what we are doing is getting noticed,” he said.

Some activists, however, have argued that the widening support should embolden lesbian and gay residents to begin pressing harder to alter institutional barriers against being gay in Singapore. That includes pushing to repeal Section 377A of the penal code – a holdover from British colonial rule that criminalizes ***ual relations between two men (and which was long ago repealed in the U.K.).

“Pink Dot is a sign in terms of shifting public opinion” as Singaporeans grow more open and accepting of the gay community, said George Hwang, a human rights lawyer. “The next step for Pink Dot would be to galvanize the support it has garnered to concrete action.”

Singaporean authorities considered repealing Section 377A in 2007 as part of a broad review of the country’s penal code, but stopped short, saying public opinion was still against such a move. Although *** between men is still criminalized in Singapore, the rule is not enforced.

“At this time, our society is not ready for us to say we will pass legislation which says homo***uality is no longer an offense,” said Minister of Law K. Shanmugam back in 2007, according to a report from the Straits Times.

The issue keeps su***cing, though, including recently in debates surrounding the establishment of a joint Yale-NUS college in Singapore. Critics of the new school, including some professors at Yale’s home campus in the U.S., have pointed to Singapore’s restrictive laws against homo***uals as a sign that the country should not play host to a world-class liberal arts college. Some large foreign investors in the country also have records of speaking out in favor of gay rights.

Activists, meanwhile, have argued that the existence of restrictions – even if they’re not enforced – has impeded HIV outreach.

“The health agencies in Singapore are caught in a double bind, where they cannot be seen as promoting an illegal ‘lifestyle’ while still realizing the importance of reaching out to a high risk population,” Mr. Hwang, also a community activist, said.

Surveys also show that significant discrimination against the gay, lesbian and transgender community still exists in Singapore. It is felt particularly among transgender females, 94.4% of whom have faced discrimination or abuse according to a survey released in May this year by Oogachaga, a non-governmental organization that provides counseling to gay and lesbian individuals. The survey showed that more than 60% of lesbian, gay, bi***ual and transgender individuals have faced some forms of discrimination in the city-state, the most common of which are homophobic jokes and derogatory labels.

Only 9% of respondents felt they could speak to their family members about such discrimination, meaning they often had to turn to community-based organizations or friends instead.

Though activists argue that gay and lesbian freedoms are more limited in some other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, countries like Thailand and the Philippines have long hosted boisterous gay pride parades and are generally viewed as more open to gay lifestyles. Similar gatherings thrive in Hong Kong and Taiwan, though even in these countries gay and lesbian individuals have complained of widespread discrimination in the workplace.

“I think if you look at places like Hong Kong and Taiwan you see that although they are both Asian cultures with similar political structures, they are way more advanced in terms of protecting minority rights,” said Mr. Hwang. “The excuse that we are Asian and conservative does not hold water any longer.”
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'Drag Queens' and 'showgirls' turn heads on Orchard Road

By Han Wei Chou | Channel News Asia, Posted: 02 July 2012 1507 hrs
SINGAPORE: A gaudy procession of 'drag queens' and 'showgirls' left pedestrians and shoppers on Orchard Road looking bewildered and amused on Saturday.

Curious tourists raised their cameras to snap pictures of the unusual sight, while swarms of teenagers whipped out their phones and got photos of themselves with the 'showgirls' and the towering 'drag queens' in glittery costumes.

At the head of the procession, dressed in full drag with loud pink costumes and feather boas were Singapore theatre company Wild Rice's Artistic Director Ivan Heng and Associate Artistic Director Glen Goei.

It turns out the procession was a publicity stunt to promote the company's upcoming adaptation of the French play "La Cage aux Folles" which will debut on July 20 – the 'drag queens' and 'showgirls' were actually the backup dancers who are working on the production.

"It's the first time I've done drag publicly.

"I am not really an actor, I'm a director. But you know, we love this show ("La Cage aux Folles") so much, it's about family, it's about love, we think it's got a very important message," said Goei.

"So it's important enough for me to do this, to put on drag so that I can promote and tell people about the show, because we think it's very important for Singaporeans to come and watch it."

"La Cage aux Folles" revolves around John, the son of a cabaret show host, who falls in love with the daughter of a politician that seeks to shut down the colourful local nightlife.

Things get messy when John's father and his male partner, finally meet the ultra-conservative parents of their son's lover, leading to strained ties both between and within the two families.

Following their walk down Orchard Road, the "La Cage aux Folles" group performed at the Pink Dot 2012 event held later that evening at Hong Lim Park.

"I think we both stand for, in some ways, the same thing. We stand for the idea of family values.

"I think this is what it's about... There is much to celebrate, living here in Singapore and loving in Singapore," said Heng of their participation in the event.

Pink Dot 2012, which aims to promote the understanding and acceptance of inclusiveness, diversity and a freedom to love among Singaporeans, attracted some 15,000 attendees, including celebrities like actor Lim Yu Beng, comedian Kumar, as well as former-actress Sharon Au.

-CNA/ha
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Pink Dot draws 15,000

Updated 06:06 AM Jul 01, 2012, Today Online

SINGAPORE - More than 15,000 Singaporeans turned Hong Lim Park into a sea of pink lights at the first-ever night Pink Dot since the event's debut in 2009.

The turnout was a 50 per cent increase over last year, and the celebration of inclusiveness and diversity was marked with the formation of a giant Pink Dot in Speakers' Corner.

Participants were treated to a line-up of celebrities at the Pink Dot 2012 Concert, and addresses were made by the event's ambassadors, actor Lim Yu Beng, comedian Kumar, and former TV personality Sharon Au.

The inaugural Pink Dot four years ago was attended by 2,500 people.