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30 Jun 2013

Record turnout for Singapore's LGBT Pink Dot rally

With an estimated record turn out of 21,000, Singapore's Pink Dot rally to support the acceptance of LGBTs has become the second largest gay-affirmative event in Asia in five years, behind the annual Taiwan Pride Parade in Taipei. Watch the official video here.

It was a record turnout for Singapore's Pink Dot rally on Saturday night as an estimated 21,000 people turned Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park – the only venue in Singapore where demonstrations of any kind are allowed in Singapore – into a glowing sea of pink.

The three-hour event featured a concert by Singaporean artists, speeches by the three Pink Dot ambassadors – popular TV host and actress Michelle Chia, well-known sports commentator Mark Richmond, and acclaimed theatre director and Wild Rice Artistic Director Ivan Heng – and culminated in a giant pink dot formation after dusk with the crowd holding pink LED lights. During the dot formation, prominent Singaporean pop icon and singer-songwriter Dick Lee made a surprise appearance to lead the crowd in singing Home, a song he wrote and familiar to many Singaporeans as a National Day song and also the theme of the event this year.


From left: Ivan Heng, Dick Lee, Michelle Chia and Mark Richmond.
All photos courtesy of Pink Dot. For more visit their Facebook page.

The Pink Dot Community Tent featured stalls by some 20 community groups and partners including groups such as Pelangi Pride Centre, OogaChaga, Singapore Transgender Alliance and Young Out Here, as well as food and drink contributors Nando's and ShareTea.

Held for the fifth consecutive year since 2009, the event was attended by members of the LGBT community as well as family members, friends and other allies to show their support for the "Freedom to Love" regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Ironically the rally was held across the street from the office of the Attorney-General's Chambers which is currently defending the constitutionality of Section 377A, Singapore's colonial era anti-gay law, which is being challenged in court by three gay men in two separate cases.

In April, the High Court rejected a petition to repeal the law in the first of the two cases that was heard. While the government said that it would not actively enforce the law, officials maintain that the law must be retained because most Singaporeans are still conservative and do not accept homosexuality.

Pink Dot's exponential growth from 2,500 people in its first year to its record numbers yesterday must surely attest to the increasing social acceptance of LGBT people in the city-state. 

Ivan Heng said, “The growing numbers at Pink Dot every year sends a strong signal that Singaporeans want a kinder and more inclusive society, a Singapore we can truly call home.”

Pink Dot spokesperson Paerin Choa said in a statement: “Every year, we are left humbled by the turn-out of participants, which has always surpassed expectations. This is a strong indication of the increasingly widespread support of Singapore’s LGBT community, and a growing realisation among all Singaporeans, straight or LGBT, that everyone has a place and a part to play in this place called ‘Home’.

Efforts by the organisers to hold the event outside of Hong Lim Park was unsuccessful as the Urban Redevelopment Authority rejected their application to use the Marina Bay Promontory citing the Speaker's Corner as being a more appropriate space for the event. The Singapore Police had also rejected the organisers' application for partial road closure at the North Canal Road, citing potential traffic disruption as the reason.

Pink Dot 2013 is support by six corporate contributors – the highest number as yet, with prior contributors Google and Barclays now joined by global financial firm J.P. Morgan, local hotel Park Royal on Pickering, contact lens company CooperVision and audio branding agency The Gunnery.

Pink Dot's post event statement noted, "This is the strongest indication yet of Corporate Singapore’s growing understanding of the importance of being inclusive."

Ambassador Mark Richmond said: “As a parent, I want my son to grow up learning to accept and appreciate this unique and brilliant diversity we often take for granted here in Singapore”. “Children do not look at this world with prejudice and discrimination. Why do we as parents choose to colour their world with the discrimination we are exposed to? I believe that love is universal and nobody should be denied that right, which is why I wholeheartedly support Pink Dot and what it stands for,” he added.

Fridae is proud to be a Founding Supporter of Pink Dot since 2009.




Singapore

读者回应

1. 2013-07-01 04:44  
Sadly, e event seem more like a national rehearsal then an LGBT event... was depressing, no wonder my friends told me it was a waste of time.
回应#2於於2013-07-01 04:47被作者删除。
回应#3於於2013-07-01 04:47被作者删除。
回应#4於於2013-07-01 04:47被作者删除。
5. 2013-07-01 09:03  
I think tatakan has made a valid point - all that glitter and "celebrity" support seemed to be nothing more than a government orchestrated poof party that missed the mark on what adversely affects gay men in Singapore generally, i.e. s377A of the Penal Code and the de-criminalization of sex between consenting adult males. The May Day rally against the White Paper sent a resounding message to the government that it could not ignore. This Pink Party delivered nothing but candy floss and propaganda specifically ordered by the government's spin doctors. Numbers alone do not prove anything if the message is effete and limp-wristed. Disappointing to say the least and an absolute waste of time.
6. 2013-07-06 22:35  
I'm going to disagree with the 2 previous comments. While I understand their positions, there is still something to be said for simple exposure - to saying "Here we are and more of us are coming out every year!". I have been to gay events worldwide and each event has its pluses and minuses. Every event does not have to make a bold political statement (yet I would argue that this one did). Some events can simply be celebrations. This is conservative Singapore, after all. A tip of the hat and an effete limp-wristed wave to all who attended. ;)
修改於2013-07-06 22:37:42
7. 2013-07-07 02:29  
This park can no longer contain the numbers and enthusiasm of the LGBT community in Singapore...it's time for the gov't to grow up, enter the 21st century, stop living in fear, and allow them to march on the streets as they do in most other "pride" events around the world. Much love and support to my brothers and sisters in Singapore, from Canada!
修改於2013-07-07 02:32:07

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