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17 Jul 2014

Singapore Literature Prize judges resign over LGBT books ban

 

Three judges of this year’s Singapore Literature Prize have resigned saying they cannot in good conscience continue after the National Library Board chose to withdraw LGBT themed books for children.

“We cannot in good conscience continue as judges for the Singapore Literature Prize (Non-fiction Category) 2014 given the close links and associations that exist between the National Book Development Council Singapore and the National Library Board,” the judges said in a July 16 statement that appeared inchannelnewsasia.com.

T Sasitharan, head of the Intercultural Theatre Institute, author Romen Bose and Yale-National University of Singapore professor Robin Hemley “condemned in the strongest terms” the decision to remove and destroy the books.

“The fact that the board has not even considered restricting access to the publications but has moved directly to pulping them is very disconcerting,” they said. What the National Library Board did was “censorship,… bigoted  (and) unbecoming of an institution entrusted to protect and preserve learning and literature,” they added.

The National Book Development Council Singapore in response issued a statement saying it regrets the decision of the three judges and added that while the library board is a member of the council, it is not involved in its day-to-day decision making. It said it will replace the three out of 36 judges who have resigned.

The council’s  Singapore Literature Prize is a biennial award that awards 12 writers with  up to S$10,000 (US$8,000) for their work.

The National Library Board recently banned from libraries two children’s books featuring same-sex couples. One of children’s books And Tango Makes Three depicts the story of a couple of male penguins in a New York zoo who adopt a young penguin chick while the other The White Swan Express looks at adoption including those of a lesbian couple.

Media quoted the library board’s chief executive Elaine Ng as saying that the board chose to keep these titles off its shelves as they were unsuitable for children.

Singapore retains a British colonial-era “Section 377A” law that criminalizes same-sex relations with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.

Reader's Comments

1. 2014-07-17 10:18  
I applaud the principled stand taken by these three individuals. Could their decision be the "butterfly effect" that will one day result in the legal and social recognition of LGBT communities in Singapore?
2. 2014-07-17 17:11  
So many places automatically want to "burn the books" they do not agree with.
3. 2014-07-19 04:39  
Why are straights so obsessed with gays? Why are they so afraid of gays? I am waiting for a hetero to turn me straight. Not a chance in hell. Singapore is nearly as bad as Malaysia in terms of gay rights.
4. 2014-07-19 08:47  
I bow to the 3 judges for their actions.
Comment #5 was deleted by its author on 2014-07-19 08:49
Comment #6 was deleted by its author on 2014-07-19 19:41
7. 2014-07-19 19:54  
5. Does talking the truth to children regarded as Unsuitable?
6. We should not blame British but we should thankful to British that had helped Us on How to Make Law at first at the time that we were unable to make Law.
British had thought Us that Law was not content one section only but many sections that should be considerations. That is capability on How to make Resultant of Laws.
7. Telling Lie to Children are Terrorism, so The Library Board’s chief executive should be charged /catched by Terrorism action and become crew of Lie/defamation/Hate distribution agency.
8. If She think that only The first law should be retain and The next law should be criminalized, Then we should criminalized the last prophet and criminalized the last Hollybook Authors and criminalized the last Religion and only the first religion/ the oldest that should be retained.
Comment #8 was deleted by its author on 2014-07-20 21:06
Comment #9 was deleted by its author on 2014-07-20 14:41
10. 2014-07-20 21:06  
9. can you see clear? section 377A, why it is not section 0001 ?
10. it mean that law section made by period of time.
The period can be one week, months, years.

11. so, The first law is not marriage law or sex relation
for example: year 1500 : created Law X
year 1700 : created marriage or sex relation law

Law made by situation.
Situation can be war, peace, low population, low resources, etc.

12. At period that population rate too low, low habitat but big natural resources,
People should marriage and breed many children.
so, section 377A is valid.

13, now days, we are facing ultimate situation. too many population, low productivity, economic crisis, war/riots at everywhere, libel, terrorism, murder, discrimination, Hate.
This situation will increase by additional birth/ population.
at this time : section 377A should be invalid.



sex and marriage between man and woman become harmful.
This should be replaced by gay marriage and same-sex relation.

and marriage for people who do terrorism, Libel, Lie, murder is invalid.
this tell us that one section having correlation with another section.

-how if few religion made own rule for marriage?
they must be put in jail and fine.
because it is coup d'etat of Law.
what ever reason they made should not be acceptable.


14. so, we should not blame British for making previous Law but should thankful to British, had taught Us on how to make wisdom Law.

15. How if The Law maker want to marry with opposite gender or having children that want to marry with opposite gender?

There must be law for that , The Law makers should not allowed to make Law for their selves.

Mean that we are facing Law maker, The law maker can be trouble maker. It is problem of law maker recruitment /election.
and this election can be canceled.

16. But if Law making based on power, not by love and wisdom.
The next war or World War 3 Should be begin.
with no excuse and no more reasons should be acceptable.
No deception should be acceptable.

Heterosexual afraid of Going to beautiful Heaven quickly by God decision and hate effort should not be acceptable. gay do not make terrorism or murder.
The effort should be effort to Beautiful Heaven.

17. why some people spreading Religions, talking about God in Heaven and Beautiful Heaven after death? But they do not want to go to such Heaven first quickly?

Men that their body/mind/mouth and spirits are not working properly or not in synergy. that elements disturbed by Evil deception.
They need intensive Therapy.

18. Gay should watch on How Religion Leader preaching
that all contain fear of life although their mouth talk contradictive.
It show darkness.
When They Said : God is Truth, Almighty God, The Greatest God
That language that indicate worry of life, fear, etc.

People who worry about their life say: I am not worry.
And you must know this culture from where?
that is evil character, and the people in lost of consciousness/ awareness or evil inside them
11. 2014-07-20 21:07  
9. can you see clear? section 377A, why it is not section 0001 ?
10. it mean that law section made by period of time.
The period can be one week, months, years.

11. so, The first law is not marriage law or sex relation
for example: year 1500 : created Law X
year 1700 : created marriage or sex relation law

Law made by situation.
Situation can be war, peace, low population, low resources, etc.

12. At period that population rate too low, low habitat but big natural resources,
People should marriage and breed many children.
so, section 377A is valid.

13, now days, we are facing ultimate situation. too many population, low productivity, economic crisis, war/riots at everywhere, libel, terrorism, murder, discrimination, Hate.
This situation will increase by additional birth/ population.
at this time : section 377A should be invalid.



sex and marriage between man and woman become harmful.
This should be replaced by gay marriage and same-sex relation.

and marriage for people who do terrorism, Libel, Lie, murder is invalid.
this tell us that one section having correlation with another section.

-how if few religion made own rule for marriage?
they must be put in jail and fine.
because it is coup d'etat of Law.
what ever reason they made should not be acceptable.


14. so, we should not blame British for making previous Law but should thankful to British, had taught Us on how to make wisdom Law.

15. How if The Law maker want to marry with opposite gender or having children that want to marry with opposite gender?

There must be law for that , The Law makers should not allowed to make Law for their selves.

Mean that we are facing Law maker, The law maker can be trouble maker. It is problem of law maker recruitment /election.
and this election can be canceled.

16. But if Law making based on power, not by love and wisdom.
The next war or World War 3 Should be begin.
with no excuse and no more reasons should be acceptable.
No deception should be acceptable.

Heterosexual afraid of Going to beautiful Heaven quickly by God decision and hate effort should not be acceptable. gay do not make terrorism or murder.
The effort should be effort to Beautiful Heaven.

17. why some people spreading Religions, talking about God in Heaven and Beautiful Heaven after death? But they do not want to go to such Heaven first quickly?

Men that their body/mind/mouth and spirits are not working properly or not in synergy. that elements disturbed by Evil deception.
They need intensive Therapy.

18. Gay should watch on How Religion Leader preaching
that all contain fear of life although their mouth talk contradictive.
It show darkness.
When They Said : God is Truth, Almighty God, The Greatest God
That language that indicate worry of life, fear, etc.

People who worry about their life say: I am not worry.
And you must know this culture from where?
that is evil character, and the people in lost of consciousness/ awareness or evil inside them
12. 2014-07-21 15:18  
as long as we live, there is no the last prophet
But there only some people claiming of last prophet ( for those who stubborn)

you gay, may also claim that you are the last gay while other gay regarded not gay or invalid gay
Comment edited on 2014-07-21 19:47:04
13. 2014-07-21 15:28  
addition for section 377A, at the time the rule made,
gay were not so visible.

why there is legislation body?
It is to make law that do not exist before and to find the truth in recent day.
If you think that Law is enough, then there should be no legislation body.

There is not Train before, so, there is no rule about train, it only written as horse, camel, etc.
but there possible rule that unclear.

So, today is to make clear that gay is the truth
Here you gay must accept yourself.
Because you are The Messenger of yourself.

Gay are The Messengers

Comment edited on 2014-07-21 19:45:38
Comment #14 was deleted by its author on 2014-07-21 19:42
15. 2014-07-24 02:03  
Kudos to these brave judges and locals. The higher office leaders can learn a thing or two about courage and responsibility lesson here.

Biggest joke is that fact that everyone outside can see the issue here is actually the so-called local leaders who are not suitable to do their jobs. Hope the nation and the confusing Ministries in charge quickly do some of their 'well known campaigns' to educate and nurture next generation of world class leaders soon or risk being governed by foreign talented leaders in no time.
Comment edited on 2014-07-24 02:08:00
16. 2014-07-25 19:54  
gay should not always give excuse and permit to that stuborn.
If gay always give excuse, then they will laugh at you.

And Therapist will regard you as sick.
so, it is very important to arrest Library board crew and chief executive
send them to jail to punish for minimum 15 years old and fine for minimum US$ 69000000. no reason should be acceptable.

Once gay very weak, they will be immun from Law and they will laugh at you at behind.
then by running time, they will not only discriminate and hate gay, but also they will make discrimination and hate to other straight.

So, you gay should not let them to Insult you because they will laugh at you at behind. they will recognize your weakness and will use that to play you. this is betrayal .
They have no thankful.

so, you gay should not give them excuse by any reasons or deal, because they will not give you excuse as well. you should know about their trick of deception. you should learn on history of other countries.

Just put back to children room all gay books and just pulp all religion books because Religion books are harmful for children and adult.
There should be no place for all religion books. This is the deal.

Gay/ LGBT should be Immun from Law by any reasons to avoid deceptions.

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