SINGAPORE: More than 20,000 gather to support the gay community at annual Pink Dot rally in Singapore

Record ID: 277913

  • Title: SINGAPORE: More than 20,000 gather to support the gay community at annual Pink Dot rally in Singapore
  • Date: 29th June 2013
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (JUNE 29, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERED FOR PINK DOT RALLY STAGE PEOPLE SETTING OUT FOR PICNIC AT EVENT MAN WEARING PADDED BRA OUTSIDE T-SHIRT DANCING TO MUSIC PEOPLE SITTING DOWN MAN SITTING BESIDE RAINBOW FLAG MAN'S FRIENDS CHATTING MAN SMILING
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: Entertainment,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVADGNOPQA32006ZD9ZU9UPSULON
  • Story Text: Record-breaking attendance for annual Pink Dot rally as 20,000 people show their support for the gay community.

    A record-breaking 21,000 people attended the annual Pink Dot rally in Singapore on Saturday (June 29) in support of the gay community in the city-state.
    Organisers used the event's slogan of "Freedom to Love" to raise awareness amongst people of the basic human need to love, regardless of their sexual orientation.
    They stressed the need to celebrate inclusiveness and diversity amongst the people in Singapore regardless of whether they were straight or LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender).
    Pink Dot has become one of the most visible events in Singapore as participants are given pink torches to form a bright pink dot together as they mark the end of the event at night.
    It is the fifth year the annual event is held and organisers said the attendance broke the record of the previous turnout of 15,000 people last year.
    Perrin Choa, 37, the spokesperson for Pink Dot, said the event has brought acceptance for the LGBT community in Singapore.
    "I think the main change is that being LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) is not as underground and not as taboo as it was five years ago," he said. "People are not so afraid to come out right now. Corporates are very happy to be associated with an LGBT cause."
    The event is usually celebrated in a festive style with participants encouraged to dress in pink and bring friends and family for a picnic at a park in downtown Singapore designated as the Speakers' Corner.
    This venue is the only one allowed by authorities where people can apply to gather legally to protest in Singapore.
    Desmond Han, 26, came to attend the event with his boyfriend.
    He said he came to the event to seek acceptance for the right to love without being discriminated against.
    "All of us, we're here for a reason. I believe it's just one reason, for love," he said. "Love is universal, it doesn't mean this is wrong and this is right. As long as it's love, I believe we should be open about it and we should accept. I think we're just asking for acceptance basically for every kind of love."
    Singapore has strict laws against homosexuality inherited from colonial times.
    Under Singapore law, homosexuality is illegal and a man who is found to have committed an act of "gross indecency" with another man can be jailed for up to two years, though prosecutions are rare.
    Legal challenges and appeals had been raised by gay activists to repeal this section of the law classified as Section 377A in the Singapore penal code but they have been rejected by the authorities.
    But 34-year-old Michelle Yeo, said at the rally that she believes the time will come when the Singaporean authorities will treat gay people equally under the law.
    "Definitely things are improving," she said. "Over the years, there have been great significant changes especially in the society. I think the time will come for everyone to be equal in law, in everything."
    The event held in the late afternoon was accompanied by speeches by Pink Dot ambassadors and a concert to rally the participants before the formation of the pink dot as night fell.
    Authorities have banned gay festivals and censored gay films in the past, saying homosexuality should not be advocated as a lifestyle.
    But, despite the official ban, Singapore has a thriving gay scene.
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