With a huge rainbow flag in hand at the annual Chingay Parade last Friday night, two gay Singaporean men have literally put the gay back into Chingay as despite its name, the Chingay Parade is not a gay parade.
The two-day event, which was held in conjunction with the Lunar New Year Celebrations, kicked off at the F1 Pit Building in Marina Bay last Friday night, in front of an 18,000 to 60,000-strong audience (according to numbers reported in various media) which included Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Roy Tan, a well known member of Singapore’s gay community, posted a message on a local newslist about his intent to march in the parade in January.
“The idea is to have fun and to get Singaporeans used to the idea of people in pink and waving rainbow flags marching along a public thoroughfare. It is not a protest, nor is it intended to have any political or gay message. Once we've softened public opinion after they see how harmless the whole exercise is, applying for a permit to have a dedicated LGBT pride parade along a main road will be so much easier.”
He was joined by Kim, a Singaporean who was visiting from Australia where he currently resides; and according to Tan, the pair was apparently the only two members of the public who signed up on the same day to march that night.
Tan, a 52-year-old healthcare professional, was also the first to moot the idea of a gay pride parade at the Speakers' Corner in Hong Lim Park in August 2008 when rules on public speaking and demonstrations were relaxed. His idea and determination eventually became the foundation of the PinkDot campaign and first-ever official LGBT 2,500-strong public rally held on May 16 last year.
He told Fridae:
“We decided to participate in the Chingay because we wanted to take advantage of the invitation to the public, by the government (specifically, the People's Association which comes under the purview of Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports) to march, or rather dance the samba, in a contingent for the very first time in the history of Chingay.
“We wanted to show the government and the Singaporean public what a harmless exercise it was for a contingent, dressed in pink or rainbow colours and waving a rainbow flag, to march in a parade along a major thoroughfare.
“We hope it will soften attitudes enough for the authorities to eventually approve of the organisation of an LGBT pride parade along a main road, instead of merely restricting it to Hong Lim Park. We also wanted to publicly demonstrate our pride in being gay and to set a precedent to encourage other LGBT citizens to take part in future marches. But most of all, we took part because we thought it was going to be fun... and it was!
“Yes, we were disappointed that no one else joined us. There were three people who expressed interest initially but they eventually backed out.
“I hope more LGBT Singaporeans will take part next year and that the government does not take steps to curb our participation. After all, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the guest-of-honour that night and he applauded as we marched past, just as he did all the other contingents.”
[According to the official Chingay Parade website, there is no historical record of how the word “originated." "But records show that as early as the 19 th century, Chingay appeared in South East Asia, beginning in Penang. The word was coined from its phonetic Hokkien equivalent, which means 'the art of costume and masquerade'. It alluded to a Chinese styled decorated miniature stage or float borne on the shoulders of performers. This miniature stage depicts an important historical scene. It was probably the beginning of the manual float. During New Year processions in old China, such floats were carried through the streets on men's shoulders while dancers, jugglers and magicians entertained the crowds. Huge animals, both real and mythical took part in the processions, which were essentially religious in nature and aimed at honouring deities at the beginning of each new year." Click on chingay.org.sg/2010/about-chingay.asp for more.]
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Peace out:)
the only regret is, there were not enough representatives from the pink contingent...2 men in pink boas, feathers and angel wings err really isnt me...I want to flaunt my leather outfit!!! haha...get my jist?
nonetheless, now the rainbow flag has caught the attention, will we have the chance to do it again next year?....
boy to father: "daddy, why is the flag in multi colours?"
father to boy: "that is a rainbow flag my boy, its stands for gay pride"
boy to father: "daddy, what is gay and why gay pride?"
father to boy: "tell you when we get home, its too loud here...just cheer and clap for them...they need our support"
Keep up the good work for us all and hopefully next year, they'll be a larger contingent.
I would like to echo and commend that even though they were the only 2 gay men proud enough to march in their own skin and wave that flag proudly. Yes there would alot of "us" there, but I doubt I, too, have even half the courage each one of them had to do what they did. For that, I salute and applaud them.
The spectators and authorities were obviously way too dense to know what the rainbow flag stood for other than probably merging with the flamboyant samba dancers and contingent. It a nice slip into the cracks of the parade. Am pretty sure that if the authorities knew, they would have had not allowed it. So well done, you pulled one biggie over the cat's eyes. :)
Cheers to the 2 rainbow flag bearers! Well done!
If I had known it's okay to participate, I would have proudly marched with my brothers.
The other issue is the flag. I believe it was not noticed as it blended in with the samba dancers. I honestly do not think that the authorities would give permission for a gay contingent to march under the rainbow flag in a public event as it is watched by all levels of society. Dont forget that children and young people would be watching too. I dont think that Singapore society is ready for this as yet.
So I am not getting my hopes up. I wonder whats going to happen next when they review the whole parade on tape and happen to see our two brothers carrying the flag. There will definitely be a more stringent check on participants next year and in all future public events.
I hope also that we can dispel the fears and myths the general public has of gays and lesbians by doing something more concrete such as giving back to society through some form of charity work or helping a sector of our society. That way we wont be seen in a negative light but as people who have something to give to society and contribute to society inspite of our sexuality. We are gay and lesbian. Yes. But we are also people with talents, hearts and faith. We need to change their mindset about us.
Then only perhaps that day will come when all of us can march as a contingent in public under the rainbow flag.
I wonder what the 'authorities' would/will do once a few hundred, or better: a few thousand, proud and open gay brothers AND sisters show up next year... ;))
Does anyone know how MediaCorp/Singapore TV covered the parade and if anyone was able to spot the two proud gay participants and their rainbow flag on TV or in any published photo, besides this self-posted YouTube video?
Again: Applause to both of you Kim and Tan!!!!
There should be NOTHING objectionable to 'families and young kids' watching the parade and seeing a rainbow flag or two proud pink dressed gay men at ths or any other event.. they are not doing anything objectionable at all.. right? :))
Gay people in Singapore, and around the world, are already contributing a lot to society everyday.. there should be no need for the gay community to have to 'prove itself' to anyone. Just be ourselves and be proud of who we are and how we contribute to society.. all in our own ways :))
Peace and Love :))
i know one of the guys
think its great as most of the people would have not known what its all about because it was not publicised, kind of like gay or hetereo life
Everyone at chingay jusy blended in and worked together
Mmmmm.......
GO ASIA GO GO GO
way too go guys!!!!
and cannot wait for my singapore trip..this 10 march till 15 march.
cya there chingay (China Gay)
I am sure you'll be allowed to wear anything you want IF you marched.
My dream was always having a plu cheerleader group walking at a National Day Parade in SGP.
coming closer to it babes...
You never know when we are ready ... by taking the action ... you will know the answer and no matter what, I am happy and proud to two of them who stand for us.
Been in Singapore long enought to see the progress year by year in gay society and they are positive one ... as long as we are looking in positive side, things will turn up just fine :)
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