It’s No Go for Planned Christmas ‘Gay Party’
Police rejects licence, saying event is likely to be a
gay party and is against public interest
Straits
Times, December 9, 2004
By Tanya Fong
A CHRISTMAS party, organised for
the past two years by local subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based gay online portal,
has had its licence application for this year’s party turned down.
Police rejected the application for the SnowBall.04
indoor party, which was to be held at the Warehouse disco on Havelock Road
over Christmas weekend, saying ‘the event is likely to be organised as a gay
party which is contrary to public interest’.
The application was put up by Jungle Media, the same
company that organised Nation.04 in August.
Jungle Media is a Singapore subsidiary of Hong Kong-based
fridae.com—the largest online gay portal in the region.
In a statement to the media, the police said they had
approved parties such as Nation.04 after receiving assurance that the events
would not be ‘organised as gay parties’.
However, they said they noticed people of the same gender
‘seen openly kissing and intimately touching each other’ during the party.
The police also said some patrons were using toilets
meant for the opposite sex, ‘suggesting that most of the patrons were
probably gays or lesbians and that the event was almost exclusively for
them’.
These ‘openly gay acts’ at the Nation.04 ball also
provoked several complaints from other patrons.
Said the police: ‘The police recognise that there are
some Singaporeans with gay tendencies. While the police do not discriminate
against them on this basis, we recognise that Singapore is still, by and
large, a conservative and traditional society.’
They have promised to scrutinise applications for any
similar events in the future.
The police Public Entertainment Licence Unit (Pelu) has
granted licences for the last three Nation parties, which were held in
parallel to the National Day holiday celebrations. This year’s SnowBall,
usually held in December, would have been the third.
Chief executive officer of fridae. com Stuart Koe said it
was shocked by the rejection as it has ‘had a very congenial working
relationship with Pelu and various police jurisdictions’ for all their past
events.
Mr Koe said: ‘Our events are known to be extremely
professionally organised and have earned both domestic, as well as
international acclaim. Nation.04 attracted 8,000 participants.
‘In a study commissioned by the Singapore Tourism
Board, Nation.04 was estimated to have generated $10 million in tourism
revenue.’
In response to the rejection, Mr Koe e-mailed an appeal
letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last night, asking the authorities to
reconsider their decision.
The letter was also copied to Home Affairs Minister Wong
Kan Seng, the police and the Attorney-General Chan Sek Keong.
No Reason to Scuttle ‘Gay Party’
Straits
Times Forum, December 11, 2004
I refer to the article, ‘It’s no go for planned
Christmas ‘gay party’ (ST, Dec 9). By rejecting the application for a
licence to hold the party, the police are over-reaching their authority.
The police said they noticed kissing and intimate
touching involving people of the same gender in previous events held by the
organiser.
If the degree of kissing and embracing is no different
from any greeting or affection shown at other parties such as ZoukOut, then
the police have no grounds to cite such a reason and still say that ‘they do
not discriminate’.
In any case, it is not against the law to embrace or kiss
someone of the same sex, nor to cross-dress, another observation cited.
If the police had felt these were against the law, why
didn’t they arrest those persons on the spot there and then?
If they felt they had no powers to arrest them, as these
acts are not against the law, then why cite it as a reason to reject an
application?
Overall, the police seem to be saying that any party that
caters to the gay minority is now banned, based on the hoary excuse of
‘public interest’ and that of a ‘traditional and conservative
society’.
These phrases contradict their ‘do not discriminate’
claim. They are inconsistent with a society hoping to move forward.
I will be interested to see if the same excuses are
invoked when the time comes to approve the setting up of a casino.
—Alex Au Waipang
Police Did Right in Rejecting Gay Party
Straits
Times, December 17, 2004
Forum Page
THE decision of the police not to
give a licence for the Christmas ‘gay party’ planned by Fridae.com
(‘It’s no go for planned Christmas ‘gay party’; ST, Dec 9), as this
undermines the public interest, is to be strongly commended.
Given the alarming Aids epidemic Singapore is facing, any
event which would threaten to aggravate this problem and endanger the public
health cannot be allowed.
The police noted in their press statement that they had
noticed same-sex couples ‘openly kissing and intimately touching each
other’ during other Fridae.com-organised events. Furthermore, they noted
that the use by patrons of toilets meant for the opposite sex suggested most
patrons were ‘probably gays or lesbians and that the event was almost
exclusively for them’.
As Straits Times Senior Writer Andy Ho noted recently:
‘It is homosexuals who engaged in condomless anopenetrative sex that are
culpable of spreading HIV in Singapore’, causing the ‘second wave of HIV
here and worldwide’.
To facilitate or allow such activities to carry on
unchecked would constitute a gross breach of the public trust and be highly
irresponsible. The Aids problem cannot be ignored.
Blatant flaunting of homosexual activities is offensive
to the conservative mainstream which wants to see enduring standards of public
decency and morality upheld—it would be regressive to allow this to
degenerate.
It is heartening to read that the police authorities will
be scrutinising applications for similar future events with an eye to
protecting the health of our nation and our social well-being. Such vigilance
warrants the nation’s gratitude and thanks.
Thio Su Mien (Dr)
Misconceptions of HIV And Double Standards
[Unpublished response from Singapore to the above letter]
I am writing in reply to Dr Thio Su Mien letter dated Dec
17 2004, “Police did right in rejecting gay party”
The reader supported the police rejection of Snowball
Party because she believes that such parties upset mainstream conservative
values.
In creating a modern gracious society that tolerates
diversity, including sexual minorities, Singaporeans need to resist and reject
the mindset of “mainstream conservative values” and apply it to everyone.
Just consider this scenario. If we pander to just the
“conservatives” and not tolerate the other end of the spectrum, how then
can our society flourish and convince the more liberal- minded citizens to
contribute?
Readers need to note that the party aforementioned is a
ticketed event, which is not susceptible to the general public. Hence, the
people who are attending Snowball, is likely to know the party well and
unlikely to be affronted by same sex intimate behaviour. In such a situation,
it is highly questionable that the average conservative Singaporean will
witness any conduct that they find morally offensive.
Moreover, Fridae.com has successfully applied permits
during the past few years for similar parties without any fanfare. This
rejection creates doubts as to the consistency and type of standards that PELU
applies to, especially with regards to large-scale events.
Dr Toh also commented that such parties encourage same
sex behaviour which indirectly contributes to the HIV epidemic.
According to the Ministry of Health website, of the 138
cases reported in the first 6 months of this year, 132 cases acquired the
infection through the sexual route with heterosexual transmission accounting
for 65%, homosexual transmission at 23% and bisexual transmission at 8%.
It is erroneous to believe that gays are the leading
cause when the straight population is not immune to the epidemic as well.
Moreover, if we are to follow along her line of argument,
we will need to close down all bars, nightclubs and pubs which sees some form
of close interpersonal contact, be they straight or gay, as it will lead to
the spreading of HIV.
This will however be unimaginable because we do not want
a Singapore that imposes draconian restrictions on its citizens.
HIV can affect anyone and should not be discriminated
based on a person’s sexuality. While conservative society promotes
monogamity or in certain cases, sexual abstinence, such ideals are impractical
and may backfire—Hence, it needs to be preached in moderation. That is why
Action for AIDS, the only AIDS advocacy group in Singapore, encourages condom
use.
If Singapore is intent on building an inclusive, gracious
and tolerant society, the general public and mainstream conservatives will
need to stop imposing their values and double standards on the other
minorities.
Charles Tan, Singapore
Unpublished Letter from Germany
Dear Editor,
I REFER to the report “It’s no go for planned
Christmas ‘gay party’” (ST, DEC 9).
I am a German national who has visited Singapore many
times over the past ten years. Not for short 24-hour stopovers or hasty
shopping sprees. Instead I have got to know your city-state more than just
superficially, found long-lasting friendships there and learned a lot about
your country, its cultural traditions and its impressive progress made over
the past 40 years. So by following the discussions and what´s going on in
Singapore, I dare to say I am not just a transient onlooker. In fact my
affection (as I may call it) has grown to the point where I have started
making business plans which would hopefully lead me to become a resident in
your country. That of course involves a lot of considerations, there are
investments to be made (tourism related) that in consequence would generate a
very small but not negligible number of new jobs and in total a growth in
revenue from tourism.
I am well aware of the ongoing discussions about
“stayers” or “quitters” in your country, about “opening up or
attract more foreign talent”. So when I am being asked by people here “Why
would you want to invest in S´pore ?” I keep trying my best to describe
Singapore to them as a far less straight-laced place, a way more liveable
location in contrary to some long-lived stereotypes abroad. And indeed there
have been significant changes and hopeful signs that talent and creativity has
a chance to grow. I am optimistic, even in so-called conservative societies
people will realise that in the long run a more diverse culture with an open
flow or exchange of information, a place where fundamental civil rights are
guaranteed, this all will bring benefit to the whole country and add to the
dynamics of the economy.
This weeks news about the banning of a mostly gay dance
event on Christmas of course was a severe blow to many hopes inside and
outside of Singapore that the country is moving forward to become an
all-embracing society where also gay people can celebrate parties as others
can do. The reasons given in the Police statement are outright discriminatory
against homosexuals. Signs of intimacy like exchanging hugs or kisses are not
a crime as far as I know. I have always considered Singapore as a role model
for creating a society where racial and religious harmony are not only hollow
phrases. But harmony and tolerance are indivisible. The striving for an
all-inclusive society where everybody counts and can partake also means to
recognise that gay people can live a life in dignity. Lesbians, gays or
trans-gendered people have always been there and are there to stay as your
fellow countrymen and –women. They have contributed to Singapores headway.
They are your neighbour, your national serviceman who defends your shores,
your hospital nurse who cares for your loved ones when they fall sick, your MP
from your constituency who works hard to make life better, your tv
anchorman/-woman who you invite to your living room each night, they are your
daughters and sons ! So I may ask, is this a sign of a matured, respectable
society to deny the right to celebrate a party only because it´s an event for
gay people (even if it´s only some party for a minority among the hundred
thousands of gay Singaporeans)? I very much hope those in charge will repeal
their decision for the sake of your countrys further development. I am alarmed
by this ban, it has shattered my confidence to the point that I may have to
scrutinise my own business plans. Creativity, motivation and entrepreneurial
spirit can only grow in an open, vibrant society where everybody can play his
or her part, where visitors are welcome and ... yes, ...where trivial leisure
activities like going for a dance are possible for all.
Bernd LEUNIG Frankfurt, Germany
Unpublished Letter from Australia
Addressing the Government’s Failure to license Snowball
and other anti gay actions of the Singapore Government
I write to express me disappointment in the recent
decision made by the Police Service Licensing board. I had thought that
perhaps Singapore was beginning to move towards recognition of the gay and
lesbian communities in the city – state.
Senior Minister Lee and former Prime Minister Goh have
made speeches that recognize the contributions of gay and lesbian (LBGTQI)
people to the Singapore economy. The guarantee of equal rights and social
justice for all people must be a goal of a civilized and open societies and
governments. The appeals to authority, interpretations of an ancient scripture
written thousands of years ago, and/or relying on a return to `traditional
values’ do not advance the rights of the people or improve the state of the
economy.
Singapore is reporting an increase in the number of HIV
infections, and the Ministry of Health has put the blame on the gay male
community for the increase. I believe that his attempts to resolve HIV/AIDS
issues with blame and shame have no chance of success. The only real solution
to the problem of increasing HIV/AIDS infections is through education and open
discussions of sex and sexuality. Singapore must address the real issues of
sexual conduct without blame and shame if you are to reduce the number and
rate of infections.
Press reports indicate that the Police denied the
application despite approving parties run by the sponsoring company in 2002,
2003, and 2004. What is different now? Reports tell of behaviors like same sex
kissing and fondling as the reason. Might I suggest that Singapore and the
rest of the world consider that love and sex might be preferable to the
religious fundamentalists campaigns of discrimination, hate and bigotry.
The sky is not falling. Chicken Little is running amok
yet again with predictions of doom and gloom. No where in the world where same
sex relationships have been recognized has experienced a societal meltdown.
Traditional marriage has not collapsed and no children have been recruited to
be homosexual. The radical right plays on the most basic of fears. Hate is not
a traditional value.
Singapore will lose many of her gay and lesbian citizens.
If the discrimination continues and grown, people will simply leave and go to
countries where homosexuality is a `non-event’. Singapore will suffer
economic loss as tourism declines. Gays and lesbians will just avoid Singapore
and go to other destinations.
I had thought that Singapore was moving forward in
recognition of the basic human rights in concordance with the UN Declaration
of Human Rights. If Singapore wishes to grow and prosper, discrimination must
be eliminated and hate and bias banished from the country and the laws.
With regard from the land down under,
Henry W Collier, Honorary Fellow, University of
Wollongong
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