Fridae

Despite the previous evening’s stormy weather, clear skies greeted participants for the seventh edition of Pink Dot SG, seeing its largest turn-out yet, with more than 28,000 people coming together to form Singapore’s iconic symbol of inclusivity and diversity: a giant human pink dot.

This year’s Pink Dot focuses on the message, ‘Where Love Lives,’ and invited the community to reflect on the progress that has been made towards dispelling the discrimination and prejudice that face lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as the many challenges that still remain.

Among the major challenges the community had faced over the past year, probably the biggest was the verdict in October last year by the Court of Appeal upholding the constitutionality of Section 377a of the Penal Code, which criminalises physical intimacy between men. Before that, children’s books supporting same-sex families were taken off the shelves in July, while Ikea’s tie up with a vocal anti-LGBT magician pastor in April this year had caused widespread discontent among LGBT Singaporeans.

After that, in May, Jolin’s Tsai’s song ‘We Are Different, Yet The Same’ got censored. Similarly, a 15-second pre-event advertisement for Pink Dot that was meant to be screened in cinemas at around the same time, was only yesterday (Friday, June 12) refused a rating by the MDA after a two-month wait, effectively banning it. The MDA cited the reason that “it is not in the public interest to allow cinema halls to carry advertising on LGBT issues, whether they are advocating for the cause, or against the cause.”

“Pink Dot this year holds special significance for us. After the setbacks that we had experienced over the last 12 months, giving up and losing hope would have been the easy thing to do. But we also know that Singapore’s LGBT community are a very resilient bunch, and in view of these challenges, we still have much to celebrate,” said Paerin Choa, Pink Dot SG Spokesperson.

This year, Corporate Singapore threw its support behind Pink Dot, with the largest-ever list of corporate sponsors. International social media powerhouse, Twitter, local entertainment giant Cathay Organisation, as well as financial software, data and media company Bloomberg, join returning sponsors Google, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, BP, J.P. Morgan and The Gunnery, all of which are committed to helping to increase society’s understanding and social acceptance of LGBT people.

The event kicked off with the Community Voices segment, where invited speakers from the LGBT community, and straight allies, shared stories on their personal challenges and touched on their hopes and dreams for a better and more compassionate Singapore.

Among the Community Voices invited this year, are some very personal and insightful stories told by some very brave members of our community. Pink Dot 2015’s ambassadors were then introduced on-stage by theatrical doyens Ivan Heng and Glen Goei: multi-talented performers Patricia Mok and Daren Tan, and Hirzi Zulkiflie, one-half of YouTube comedic duo Munah & Hirzi.

This was followed by the Pink Dot concert, which saw home-grown talents such hip-hop star ShiGGa Shay, acclaimed local indie singer Inch Chua and the much-celebrated Gentle Bones take to stage with their unique brand of music. Dance group Plus Point kept the adrenalin pumping with their moves, and Ambassadors Hirzi Zulkiflie and Daren Tan themselves kept audiences entertained through the evening.

Complementing this, and adding to the park’s atmosphere of conviviality and vibrancy, was the Pink Dot’s signature Community Tent. Established as a focal point for Singapore’s diverse array of LGBT and LGBT-friendly organisations, this year’s Tent saw 28 group making their presence felt in Hong Lim Park. These include the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, Oogachaga, Young Out Here, Pelangi Pride Centre, Purple Alliance, Maruah, Humanist Society, the Inter-Uni LGBT Network, Tomboy Pride, and plenty more.

People were also encouraged to take part in Pink Dot’s social media campaign, #WhereLoveLivesSg. Powered by local social media agency, Campaign.com, participants upload photos of themselves forming heart shapes with their hands, accompanied by a short write-up of why they support the Freedom to Love.

The event culminated at sunset, when participants all came together to form a shimmering, giant Pink Dot with torches, mobile phones and light sticks. Following in last year’s footsteps, a massive word formation spelling ‘LOVE’ was illuminated in white light within the sea of pink.