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Pink Dot SG

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Pink Dot SG is an annual movement and event that started in 2009 in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Singapore. It is the biggest campaign supporting LGBTQ rights in Singapore.[1] In 2017, Pink Dot SG drew a crowd of 20,000 people, the largest since its first edition on 16 May 2009.[2] Nearest to Clarke Quay MRT station (NE5), Pink Dot is held at an open-air venue in Hong Lim Park. Entrance to the event is free of charge and participants are encouraged to dress in pink clothes.

Bird's eye view of the crowd at Hong Lim Park for Pink Dot 10 (2018). Photo credit to Sebastian Tan.

Pink Dot 10 (2018)

 
Pink Dot SG's logo. Photo from Facebook.

Pink Dot 10 is the official campaign name for the 2018 edition of Pink Dot SG. 2018 marked the 10th anniversary of Pink Dot SG, with the overriding theme of “We are Ready”. With 113 local sponsors in partnership with Pink Dot 10, the event was held at Hong Lim Park on 21 July 2018.[3] Although only Singaporeans and Permanent Residents were permitted to enter the venue, it was observed that there were foreigners still camped beyond the barriers barricading Hong Lim Park.[4]

Section 377A

 
Ready4Repeal Logo. Photo credit to Ready4Repeal.

On 9 September 2018, Pink Dot SG released an official statement responding to exclusion of Section 377A in the report on criminal law reform by the Penal Code Review Committee (PCRC).[5] Section 377A of the Penal Code criminalises consensual sex between men. In their official statement, Pink Dot SG declared their support of the petition Ready for Repeal (Petition website) (Ready4Repeal website) in which the signatures were submitted for the Penal Code Review on 28 September 2018.[6] The petition is still active and has garnered 50,246 signatures as of 18 January 2019.

Notable participants

Local comic Hirzi Zulkiflie and past Singapore Idol participants Tabitha Nauser and Sezairi were invited to perform during the event.[7] Founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's grandson, Li Huanwu and his partner, Yi Rui Heng, were also present during the event.[8] Li Huanwu is the son of Mr Lee Hsien Yang. Li Huanwu first came out on Out in Singapore (Official website), a local photography initiative geared towards helping LGBTQ individuals in the self-disclosure of their sexual orientation. In a photo dated 1 July 2018 on the Out in Singapore website, Li Huanwu is pictured in a warm embrace with his partner Yi Rui Heng.[9]

Declarations

10 Pink Dot ambassadors including Singapore actor and actresses Adrian Pang, Patricia Mok and Tan Kheng Hua read out 10 declarations stating the next steps forward for the LGBTQ community in Singapore.[10] The declarations covered issues ranging from LGBTQ portrayals in Singapore media to having schools, healthcare facilities, and companies that are LGBTQ-friendly.[11]

PinkFest

PinkFest is a Pink Dot fringe event that occurs every year in the lead up to Pink Dot. PinkFest 2018 had up to 20 community-organised activities in its line-up.[12] It was the first time where the fringe event extended to 2 weekends. Since participation in Pink Dot itself is limited to Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents, PinkFest provides an opportunity for foreigners to pledge their support for the campaign. PinkFest 2018 featured activities ranging from a “Coming Out Workshop” by Free Community Church to a queer heritage walking tour called “Walk This Way - Queer Chinatown Guided Tour” organised by non-profit LGBTQ+ organisation Oogachaga.[13]

Challenges to Pink Dot SG

Foreign sponsorship ban (2016)

 
Red Dot for Pink Dot logo. Photo credit to Pink Dot SG.

In October 2016, there was an amendment in Singapore’s Public Order Act noting that foreign firms and business are not legally allowed to support Pink Dot without a permit.[14] The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that foreign companies should not meddle in highly charged social concerns with political overtones.[15] Pink Dot was one example of socially controversial movement. This amendment hindered large multinational companies such as Facebook, Google Twitter, and banks such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs from sponsoring future Pink Dot events. In 2017, 10 well-known foreign brand names submitted an application to support the Pink Dot event. However, their application was unsuccessful.[16]  


Singaporean companies and local business leaders have stepped up in response to this incident. Launched in 2017, the Red Dot for Pink Dot (Official website) initiative is a sponsorship drive aimed to rally Singaporean businesses behind Pink Dot. In a statement on the Red Dot for Pink Dot website, CEO of 99.co (a Singapore property search engine) and founder of Red Dot for Pink Dot, Darius Cheung, mentioned that 120 Singapore businesses pledged their support for Pink Dot through funding and sponsorship. Red Dot for Pink Dot provides potential sponsors 3 options: Rose Sponsor (SGD$1,000), Coral Sponsor (SGD$5,000), and Fuschia Sponsor (SGD$10,000).

Opposing camps

The Facebook group We Are Against PinkDot in Singapore (WAAPD) (Facebook Page) was created on 4 July 2013 and is active until today. It serves as a community forum where users commonly share online articles and voice their views on the topic of LGBT in Singapore. On 16 July 2018, the group encouraged its followers to wear white during the day of Pink Dot.[17]


On 31 May 2017, posters promoting Pink Dot 2017 were pasted on the side of the escalators at Cineleisure Orchard shopping centre. Many netizens were shocked at the level of Pink Dot’s advertising exposure and some even demanded for the authorities to be involved.[18] Following pressure from the WAAPD group, ASAS suggested the removal of the phrase in the poster: “Supporting the freedom to love”.[19] In a separate statement, a spokesperson from Cathay Organisation asserted that the company fully supported the event and what it stood for.[20]


In 2014, Pink Dot encountered opposition from various religious groups. Muslim religious teacher, Noor Deros created a Wear White campaign to express his views against LGBT. Similarly, Faith Community Baptist Church senior pastor Lawrence Khong convinced his supporters to wear white on the day of the Pink Dot event.[21]

References / Citation

  1. ↑ "PINK DOT 10: AN OUTREACH OF LOVE AND COMPASSION ACROSS ALL BARRIERS". Pink Dot SG. July 21, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://pinkdot.sg/2018/07/pink-dot-10-official-statement/
  2. ↑ Loi, Esther and Cheow Sue-Ann. “Pink Dot marks 10th anniversary tomorrow”. The New Paper. July 20, 2018. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/pink-dot-marks-10th-anniversary-tomorrow
  3. ↑ Sim, Fann. “Pink Dot celebrates 10th edition”. Channel Newsasia. July 21, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pink-dot-celebrates-10th-edition-10551414
  4. ↑ Sim, Fann. “Pink Dot celebrates 10th edition”. Channel Newsasia. July 21, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pink-dot-celebrates-10th-edition-10551414
  5. ↑ "PINK DOT SG STATEMENT ON THE PENAL CODE REVIEW AND SECTION 377A". Pink Dot SG. September 9, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://pinkdot.sg/2018/09/pink-dot-sg-statement-on-the-penal-code-review-and-section-377a/  
  6. ↑ Goei, Glen and Johannes Hadi. “Ready for Repeal (#Ready4Repeal)”. GoPetition. September 9, 2018. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ready-for-repeal.html
  7. ↑ Ibid.
  8. ↑ Cheow, Sue-Ann. “Pink Dot celebrates its 10th year”. The Straits Times. July 21, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pink-dot-celebrates-its-10th-year
  9. ↑ “Huanwu Li & Yirui Heng”. Out in Singapore. July 1, 2018. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.outinsingapore.sg/project-001/2018/7/4/huanwu-li-yirui-heng
  10. ↑ "10 DECLARATIONS FOR EQUALITY". Pink Dot SG. July 21, 2018.Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://pinkdot.sg/2018/07/10-declarations-for-equality/  
  11. ↑ Sim, Fann. “Pink Dot celebrates 10th edition”. Channel Newsasia. July 21, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pink-dot-celebrates-10th-edition-10551414
  12. ↑ Low, Youjin. “Pink Dot to mark 10th year with more events; but rally organisers struggling to raise funds”. Today. May 22, 2018. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/pink-dot-mark-10-year-more-events
  13. ↑ Pinkdot.sg. Accessed on 17 January 2019. For a complete lineup of Pink Fest events: https://pinkdot.sg/2018/05/pinkfest-line-up/
  14. ↑ Zhu, Melissa. “Govt has made position on Pink Dot support clear: MHA on foreign firms' appeal”. Channel News Asia. Jun 16, 2018. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/govt-has-made-position-on-pink-dot-support-clear-mha-on-foreign-8949944
  15. ↑ Ibid.
  16. ↑ Chua, Alfred. “Foreign companies’ application to support Pink Dot rejected”. TODAYOnline. June 16, 2017. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/foreign-companies-application-support-pink-dot-rejected
  17. ↑ Loi, Esther and Cheow, Sue-Ann. “Pink Dot marks 10th anniversary tomorrow”. The New Paper. July 20, 2018. Accessed on 14 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/pink-dot-marks-10th-anniversary-tomorrow
  18. ↑ Chew, Nicholas. “Complaints over Pink Dot campaign at Singapore mall”. Asiaone. June 6, 2017. Accessed on 11 January 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.asiaone.com/singapore/complaints-over-pink-dot-campaign-poster-singapore-mall  
  19. ↑ “Advertising watchdog asks Cathay to remove phrase in Pink Dot ad”. Channel News Asia. Jun 9, 2017. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/advertising-watchdog-asks-cathay-to-remove-phrase-in-pink-dot-ad-8932824
  20. ↑ Tay, Vivienne. “Cathay Organisation responds to Pink Dot 2017 escalator ad controversy”. Marketing Interactive. June 7, 2017. Accessed on 18 January 2019. Retrieved from: http://www.marketing-interactive.com/cathay-organisation-responds-to-pink-dot-2017-escalator-ad-controversy/
  21. ↑ Yuen Sin. “MHA says foreign sponsors not allowed for Pink Dot, or other events, at Speakers’ Corner”. The Straits Times. June 17, 2016. Accessed on 14 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mha-says-foreign-sponsors-not-allowed-for-pink-dot-or-other-events-at-speakers-corner
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