Appearing in this video are Pink Dot's ambassadors: Rosalyn Lee, Neo Swee Lin and Timothy Nga.
Title has a link.
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Dictatorships and Confusion VII
Just a video today folks.. was actually wondering what you guys thought about it.
Appearing in this video are Pink Dot's ambassadors: Rosalyn Lee, Neo Swee Lin and Timothy Nga.
Title has a link.
Appearing in this video are Pink Dot's ambassadors: Rosalyn Lee, Neo Swee Lin and Timothy Nga.
Title has a link.
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what a lovely idea.
ReplyDeletei don't know what the political motivations are behind the operation, if any, but it certainly shows Singapore as an openminded and welcoming nation! I hope it is a success!
I argeee a good interactive way for the 'average joe' to come and show their support for such a cause. I wonder how it goes.
ReplyDeleteThe video is great! Such legal but open and well-publicised attempts to help the acceptance of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Singaporeans is just what is needed to draw attention to Singaporean governments anti-homosexual laws etc. and to create these attempts to change this- so people can feel more free to openly express who they are. An example of such anti-homosexual tendency within Singapore politics includes that there are no statistics on how many gay people there are in Singapore or what percentage of the population they constitute. Also significant is that Section 377A of the Penal Code (Singapore) criminalizes "gross indecency" between men which includes consensual, private, adult homosexual acts. The penalty is up to two years' imprisonment.
ReplyDeleteThis video demonstrates many Singaporeans are open-minded and welcoming of "free love" but that Singapore's government still needs to make steps to become so otherwise such demonstrations would not be necessary.
I don't know anything about Singapore's government! but i'm guessing it would be quite conservative, especially in relation to gay rights? Anyway, it think it's a great idea, and a really good way to gain some attention. I'll definitely be keeping watch to see how it goes, and hopefully it will be successful!
ReplyDeleteI think it's good that there is a movement for a more inclusive society, which is being endorsed by public figures (I'm assuming the people in this video are well known in Singapore?). I hope it works, but unfortunately demonstations like this don't often have immediate effects upon society. It can take a long time for a single person to change their preconceived notions of a minority group, let alone an entire society's attitude. But definately a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, very interesting indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe ‘Pink Dot Group’ is probably endorsed by the Singaporean Government. Normally, such events would have to be registered with the Government (via the Societies Act), hence, their political agenda is probably hidden somewhere in the background. Additionally, since the presenters in the ‘Pink Dot’ clip are famous Singaporeans, they would have most certainly garnered the support of the Government in order to carry-out their advertisement for the event. If not, they will surely be fired or sued under some dodgy libel suit.
In fact, in recent times, the Singapore Government has extended greater rights and freedoms to the homosexual community despite Section 377A of the Penal Code still outlawing homosexual relations. For instance, in 2003, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, contended that his Government was becoming more open to employing and recognising homosexual individuals. Good Step Mr. Goh! I salute you!
The problem in this case seems not to be about the Singapore Government’s curtailment of homosexual rights, but rather about the Singapore population still holding homophobic views (7 out of 10 Singaporeans frown on homosexuality!) Since the country is always trying to achieve perfection, I am almost certain that the Government is trying to iron-out this little discrepancy which threatens to ruin their island’s utopia. I’m guessing (on a rather large whim), that the Government want to achieve an ‘understanding’ society. They have already created a functioning cosmopolitan one, so why not tackle sexuality? Bring equality to all? ... Maybe?
Possibly, the Government sees that is high time to reverse the following statement:
“The issue is whether Singaporeans are ready to change laws to bring them in line with heterosexual acts. Singapore remains, by and large, a conservative society. Many do not tolerate homosexuality, and consider such acts abhorrent and deviant. Many religious groups also do not condone homosexual acts. This is why the Government is neither encouraging nor endorsing a homosexual lifestyle and presenting it as part of the mainstream way of life. We should not be hasty to act in this area. Hence we are leaving Section 377A as it is.”
It is also possible that I am completely wrong and that this is some sort of Singaporean revolt against the Government’s Penal Code section outlawing homosexual relationships. Somehow, in a policed state, that seems highly unlikely. The Government must have given permission to the event, meaning another step towards extending more rights to the people. And, maybe, one step closer towards democracy (say it isn’t so!)
The following aided my knowledge! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_gay_history:_2000_to_2009_A.D.