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23 Nov 2011

Elton John, husband and baby make public appearance in Singapore

British singer-songwriter Elton John appeared with husband David Furnish and baby Zachary at the 20th World Orchid Conference in Singapore last weekend where he had an orchid named after him.

It wouldn’t go unnoticed, though whether the (Singapore) Straits Times editors fully realised the significance of what they were doing is an open question. Channel NewsAsia’s report, by contrast, didn’t have a photo showing David Furnish though he was mentioned in the text. It’s entirely in keeping with the general observation that Channel NewsAsia is more politically timid. Facebook had several postings by gay men pointing out the printed photograph of singer Elton John with his husband David Furnish and baby Zachary, among which was this posting by Alan Seah:

In brief, what the hubbub was about was this: At the 20th World Orchid Conference organised by the National Parks Board and the Orchid Society of South East Asia, Elton John got a hybrid created at the Singapore Botanic Gardens named after him. He joins a long line of visiting state dignitaries and celebrities, but he’s perhaps the first openly gay person to be given the honour. The Straits Times mentioned that Ricky Martin also had an orchid named after him some years back but it is not clear if that was before or after he came out as gay.

Apparently, Marina Bay Sands had initiated the idea of naming an orchid after Elton John, probably because they are hosting John’s concert, but whether this is a correct sequence of events is not clear to me.

Adding to the significance, John, whom we can expect to be aware of the situation in Singapore with respect to gay rights, very shrewdly invited his partner David Furnish and his son Zachary on stage to share in the honour. This was in front of all the media, cameras, video, etc. Furnish and Zachary had been placed right at the back initially and had not been invited to take part.

“It might very well be the first time a same sex family unit has been on stage in an official function in Singapore ever!” said an eye-witness to the occasion.

The picture above might have been the stage moment, but the Straits Times chose another photo, this time of the family arriving, that was just as … erm … obvious.

One thing we should not do is to read in the editors’ decision any grand scheme to shift the debate on gay equality. It’s not as if it’s part of a larger plan preparing the ground for and heralding a forthcoming government decision. Nor is it even a trial balloon to see how Singaporeans react.

On the gay issue, the government has given up governing. They don’t know what to do, they are paralysed and they are just hoping the issue will go away. Ask them what their responsibility is towards basic principles of justice and equality, and they will try to look away and pretend not to have heard your question. Thus, to imagine that media editors are the advance guard to test or prepare for future moves by the government is to give the government too much credit.

Editors at the Straits Times are no Neanderthals. They know where the world has gone on the gay issue; and most of them — though there are some remarkably antediluvian exceptions — know that Singapore is embarrassingly behind the curve. They also have a sense that saying it like it is and publishing the photo is going to get little more than a shrug among their readers. Thus, all we can read from this media decision is that, yes, the Straits Times too has come to believe that it’s largely a non-issue. Singaporeans, by and large, are not going to reel in shock that there is homosexuality in the world, there is same-sex marriage and that there are gay-coupled families. Now with children.

Of course, that recognition itself is an significant milestone, so it’s not as if this news story has no importance.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron is accelerating the process towards gay marriage from the current law that only permits civil unions between same-sex couples. Next March, a public consultation will begin on allowing same-sex couples to call themselves married and Cameron has said he hopes the historic change will become law before the election planned for 2015.

In the US, California’s Proposition 8 case is slowly winding its way through the courts. The day before Elton John got his orchid, the Calfiornia Supreme Court ruled that proponents of Proposition 8 (which amended the California constitution to ban same-sex marriage) should have the right to defend the measure in court. This decision will now revive the federal case currently resting at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but is not decisive. It’s all very technical at this moment with no clear outcome in sight.

In contrast to the relatively principled arguments being considered in the UK and the US, in Australia, Prime Minister Julia Gillard is playing politics with the issue. She has proposed a conscience vote on gay marriage at the upcoming Labour Party national conference, where there is a good chance that a majority of delegates will vote in favour. She herself is likely to vote against, not because she is against gay marriage, but because she does not want to upset conservative voters. Allowing the conscience vote is designed to appease liberal voters, and that way she hopes to have her cake and eat it.

But all this is just at the party level. The issue is still far from reaching the federal parliament.

 * * * * * 

Malaysia provided the most recent example of bad news. Seksualiti Merdeka, a festival of talks, films and exhibitions modelled on Singapore’s LGBT festival Indignation, was banned by the police earlier this month. Even as the ban was being announced by deputy-inspector general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, saying that “the programme could create disharmony, enmity and disturb public order”, the matter was debated in parliament with Malaysian legislator Bung Mokhtar saying “Your Honour, I am asking for this activity to be blocked. It involves wild relationships that will damage the country and nation. It is planting the seeds for the emergence of wilder relationships.” (Free Malaysia Today, 3 Nov 2011. Link). 

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was reported to have called Seksualiti Merdeka “immoral.” 

“Any activity that does not benefit the majority of Malaysians should not be carried out. It’s a waste of time, although they can say it’s their own right and freedom,” he said. “That’s why to me, it (the festival) is totally unsuitable and I don’t know its benefits. I don’t understand why they carry out such promotions. Is there any political agenda behind it?” (Channel NewsAsia, 3 Nov 2011, Malaysian police ban gay rights festival. Link

Elton John’s concert in Genting Highlands, Malaysia’s gambling resort, scheduled for 22 Nov 2011, was also the target of anti-gay criticism. Calling for a ban, Shahril Azman Abdul Halim Al-Hafiz, an official with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), said the concert would corrupt young Muslims because of John’s homosexuality. “It’s not good. In Islam homosexuality is forbidden,” he told AFP. “What he is doing is hedonism. Hedonism is not good in Islam.”

However, this time there were defenders. 

Recording Industry Association Of Malaysia chairman Norman Halim called it a “few narrow-minded people trying to impose their values on everybody.” 

“You don’t go to an Elton John concert and suddenly become gay!” he said adding that such protests should not happen if Malaysia wants to achieve developed country status. 

Sisters In Islam communications member Akmal Zulkifli said: “In Islam, we cannot judge someone immediately, we have to go deep into the issue. Elton John will go on stage to play the piano and perform, not kiss another guy.” 

– The Star, 25 Oct 2011, Pahang PAS’ anti-Elton John concert draws flak, Link

Oh dear, I wonder whether the John-Furnish family plans to go on stage together, while there.

Editor's note: At the concert in Singapore on Nov 20, Sir Elton John told the 7,000 strong crowd to that he had enjoyed his trip to the island state and it should "sort out your gay rights".

Alex Au has been a gay activist and social commentator for over 15 years and is the co-founder of People Like Us, Singapore. Alex is the author of the well-known Yawning Bread website.

讀者回應

1. 2011-11-23 21:56  
Well, people especially moslem conservative only think about gay or homosexual is forbidden by Qur'an. If you or government dosnt like gay or homosexual, why you invited Elton John who really open for being gay while he brought his husband John and his kid?

The government has to think about human right not just make judgment that being gay is bad. why is Bad? does the government have a reason to say gay is identically with bad thing? As we know, gay is more friendly and sweet for others. Gay people are more creative than straight.

We are same a human, we have same right to live in the world, not because of country than you banned. Country such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are not built by religion who only knows homosexual is forbidden, but country is built by all of citizen who have different in the view of life and different sex orientation. Look at Massachusets and european country who accepted for same sex marriage. whats different with our country?
2. 2011-11-23 21:56  
Well, people especially moslem conservative only think about gay or homosexual is forbidden by Qur'an. If you or government dosnt like gay or homosexual, why you invited Elton John who really open for being gay while he brought his husband John and his kid?

The government has to think about human right not just make judgment that being gay is bad. why is Bad? does the government have a reason to say gay is identically with bad thing? As we know, gay is more friendly and sweet for others. Gay people are more creative than straight.

We are same a human, we have same right to live in the world, not because of country than you banned. Country such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are not built by religion who only knows homosexual is forbidden, but country is built by all of citizen who have different in the view of life and different sex orientation. Look at Massachusets and european country who accepted for same sex marriage. whats different with our country?
3. 2011-11-23 23:39  
What's the point of this ceremony when 377a is still enacted ? What's the point of censoring shows of glbt content when this article looks like a gimmick ???
4. 2011-11-23 23:39  
What's the point of this ceremony when 377a is still enacted ? What's the point of censoring shows of glbt content when this article looks like a gimmick ???
5. 2011-11-24 04:15  
All that money, and Elton Still can't afford a good hairdresser. Or a hat. Dear oh dear.

Still, although at first thought I thought he shouldn't have gone to Singapore,, on the usual grounds of it being hypocritical to in any way endorse a country that would discriminate against you, on second thoughts, it's fair enough, as he very mmuch shoved his partner and kid in front of everybody.

Nobody tells Reg what to do, anyway - it would be fair enough to assume that it was his way of suggesting to Singaporeans that nobody was going to treat him, and hubby, like he/they were in any way inferior. Fair enough...
6. 2011-11-24 07:43  
I was quite disappointed to hear this news as Elton has been a long time supporter of gay rights in every sense of the word and has raised or contributed large sums of money for the LGBT cause globally.However by him showing up to accept this gesture is all about maintaining record sales and reeks of hypocrisy.
7. 2011-11-24 08:18  
Why must it be written " Elton John, husband and baby make public appearance in Singapore ? "

Why are we so sure that he is the husband and John is the wife or they are both versatile ???

They are partners ( civil marriage that recognize them as live in partners.

I hope the child will grow up not feeling confused for having two male parents. You know children can be so innocent yet cruel with their unintended remarks.
8. 2011-11-24 09:29  
That makes no sense whatsoever.

'Partner' is such a wishy-washy term with little meaning - whether applied to Gay OR Straight couples - so, how else should Elton refer to his... err, other half?

I suspect that their kid will grow up just fine. Society seems able to cope with legions of single mothers raising children by themselves - and I say that with one of my closest friends in mind, whose heterosexual father abandoned him, and his family, when he was 2 or 3 years old, and ran away to start a new life with a new family - so, why shouldn't it cope with a kid that - shock, horror - actually has Two parents, rather than one?

There's not much that's confusing about growing up and knowing that you're loved. What IS confusing are the ways that various anti-homosexuals manage to set up profiles here and than subtly go gay-bashing on these threads from time to time.

Just sayin'...
9. 2011-11-24 10:36  
Re comment #7, nowhere in the article suggested that Elton is the 'wife'. Is husband and husband that far out a concept for you?
10. 2011-11-24 10:36  
What's the big fuss anyway..."double standards" exist everywhere, everyday, in any society, gay or straight, etc.

He is a iconic figure...any capitalistic country would love to have him endorse a thing or another...especially if its free and the whole world watching.. Its not about being gay or what here...its pure shameless cheap publicity by the artist, organizer and the country "kiasuness"...!! Never mind with 377a for the time being lah...
回應#11於於2011-11-26 10:04被作者刪除。
12. 2011-11-25 16:18  
nice gesture, naming an orchid after Elton John, so it will be something like Bulbomantits eltonis?
修改於2011-11-25 16:19:39
13. 2011-11-25 16:21  
Good shrewd media savvy move by Sir Elton. Each small blow help, each time the Govt is ridiculed the better. He should now pop up to Malaysia where his family hotel room could be busted by self appointed 'religious police'. Not the kind of room service he is used to ;)
14. 2011-11-25 16:21  
Good shrewd media savvy move by Sir Elton. Each small blow help, each time the Govt is ridiculed the better. He should now pop up to Malaysia where his family hotel room could be busted by self appointed 'religious police'. Not the kind of room service he is used to ;)
回應#15於於2011-11-26 03:22被作者刪除。
16. 2011-11-26 03:22  
Wow...had I relied on the Straits times alone I wouldn't even know he & his husband were in Singapore! If anything that just confirmed my decision to NOT buy another single copy of printed media in Sg.
17. 2011-11-26 10:53  
GO GAY !!
18. 2011-11-26 22:43  
And here I was thinking that perhaps Sir Elton saw an opportunity to make a point that 2 married men with a child is no such a ridiculous concept. Silly me ;)
19. 2011-11-28 08:43  
Regarding comment no. 9, in Canada the marriage forms have been changed to be gender neutral. Instead of husband and wife, the term "spouse" is used. However, since my spouse and I were among the first gay couples to be married after the law was changed the forms had not yet been updated. Hence I was recorded as the wife which just sounds silly to me.
20. 2011-11-28 16:58  
I think it's GREAT that the print media isn't afraid to tell Singaporeans what the REAL world out there actually is. Yes, it's a half cup empty with the ridiculous 377A rule in existence, but I hope the community can be more hopeful and keep up with the opening and see it as half full glass or at least the start of a pouring.

We should be vigilant and do OUR part to educate as I bet there'll be ugly backlash from the homophobic camps following this.
21. 2011-11-28 21:41  
Elton and David are regarded as 'gay royalty' in the UK, even by the notoriously homophobic tabloid press. I like them, they stir things up and have the 'nerve' to be happy, which pisses some people off! Deal with it.....
22. 2011-11-29 13:43  
Aaaah yes, the 'Elton John Orchid'. Who wouldn't want one of those...;-)
23. 2011-12-02 19:23  
I wonder who is the biological father of the baby....?
the baby in the picture seems to have blond hair like Elton John
24. 2011-12-05 22:11  
Yikes! Orchid named after Elton. What's next? Malaysian Hibiscus named after Lady Gaga or the fallen Gaddafi?

Very corny and eerie. Leave the plants alone. And they'll never grow old, put on weight or have a bad hair-day...LOL!


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