  Pink Dot 2012
 On 30 June 2012, Singapore Chinatown was venue for Singapore’s fourth Pink Dot event. It is an annual event in support of Singapore’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (GLBT).
The Pink Dot symbolizes the desire for an inclusive society and the freedom to love.
This year, a bigger Pink Dot was formed by 15 000 supporters, its biggest to date. Pink Dot has been breaking its own record every year with the dot swelled by members of the GLBT community, their family members as well as straight couples, their children and pets who believe in every individual’s right to love regardless of one’s sexual orientation.
Why Pink Dot?
If it comes across as strange celebrating a right that does not warrant an explanation, it must be explained that Singapore, has laws that criminalizes consensual sex between two adult men.
Singaporean gay men who contribute to society, pay taxes and citizens in their own country breaks the law whenever they have sex even in the own privacy of their home. The law also applies to foreigners and visitors who have sex in their hotel room.
Although the law is seldom enforced, the penalty is up to two years imprisonment.
Gay Agenda?
Churches in Singapore have been extremely active in targeting the GLBT community among other issues. From offering therapies to “cure” gays” to taking over secular organizations deem too gay friendly (AWARE incident), Singapore churches demand that any mention of homosexuality be in the negative (not even neutral) and actively uses its religious base to influence policies.
Perhaps blinded by their self-righteous worldview to convert anyone and everyone to Christianity, the Singapore Christians actively talks about the Gay Agenda as if you can “convert” a straight person to become gay.
Since Christianity is not the only religion in the world, it is worth mentioning that there are other gods, goddess and deities to choose from.
In Taiwan, there is a Gay Rabbit god temple that not only do not condemn the gays but will even help them find their special one.
Consequences of GLBT discrimination
While the Gay Agenda has often been discussed, the consequences of GLBT discrimination receives little or no attention.
As long as society allows prejudice against GLBT individuals, seeing them as abnormal or sick, their lives are affected in ways that the average person cannot imagine.
When a partner is unwell or hospitalized, the same sex partner may not be able to make important decisions or be listed as a contact person.
GLBT partners risk prejudice and cannot show affection or concern to each other in hospitals, old folk’s homes or in the hospice the way heterosexual couples naturally would.
Institutions may not even recognize their status as same sex partners denying them the right to care, love and even grief for their partners.
They usually have to disguise their relationship as “friends”.
Pink Dot 2012
Pink Dot 2012 was the first Pink Dot to be held in the evening. 15 000 supporters with their touches illuminate the night sky with a big luminous Pink Dot.
As the Pink Dot fades into the twilight, lets hope Singapore emerge to become an inclusive society and one that every individual has the right to love.
Event date: 20 June 2012, Saturday
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