Fridae

The following press statement was issued by People Like Us on 7 October 2005 at 6.30pm:

People Like Us welcomes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's assurance that the government is not homophobic (Straits Times, 7 October 2005) and that it needs to accommodate the gay community's interests (Straits Times Online, 6 October 2005).

In his speech and Q&A with the Foreign Correspondents' Association on 6 October 2005, PM Lee said that performance and ability to continue to deliver results are what his government is measured by.

The measurables for determining the level of homophobia in the government's policies require ensuring that gay Singaporeans can live their lives without having to live in fear of the law or uninformed prejudice in a manner that is not experienced by heterosexual Singaporeans.

In particular, the following are critical to establish that the government's positions are not homophobic:

1. Decriminalisation of consensual gay sex and the equalisation of the age of consent;
2. Equalisation of censorship standards between heterosexual and homosexual themes and content;
3. Registration of gay-identified societies;
4. Removal of homophobic bias in the Ministry of Education's curricula.

The Prime Minister thinks that managing backlash and divisiveness should be via placing restrictions and unjust laws against lesbian and gay Singaporeans. With respect, People Like Us is of the view that he is wrong.

Just as maintaining racial harmony is founded upon the core principle that people of all races are equal in law and policy, and racist speech frowned upon, so integration and acceptance of the gay community cannot be realised unless the government adopts a similar principle regarding sexual orientation, and recognises that the threat to social harmony comes primarily from homophobia.

The Prime Minister referred to people who objected to homosexuality as a "sin". The government should ask whether the opposition to gay equality is not a virulently vocal, religiously-motivated campaign by a small number of people that is in no way representative, but merely seem so because they have the clout and resources to make themselves heard. Policy-making by a secular government operating in a multi-racial society like Singapore should not be taken captive by the religious beliefs of segments of its citizens.

People Like Us trusts that Mr. Lee will continue to foster an all-inclusive society in Singapore where everyone regardless of race, language, religion or sexual orientation will be treated equally by the law and governmental policies so that we can all find our place in this country we call home.