The Singapore police (and the Ministry of Home Affairs) have turned down a request (application for Public Entertainment Licence, I imagine) from Fridae.com to hold a Christmas party:
The Home Affairs Ministry upheld the ban on Monday after an appeal by Fridae.com, saying public displays of intimate behaviour at the party would be an “affront and unacceptable to the large majority of Singaporeans”.
Because, you know, those foam parties they let everyone into on Sentosa over New Year’s aren’t really places where sweaty teenage boys go to feel girls up.
Because, naturally, Singapore is a progressive place for the arts and culture (where corporations should invest and tourists should visit) but is simultaneously extremely socially conservative and traditional.
Because, obviously, if you’re gay you must have raging hormones and have no control over how you conduct yourself in public. Like straight couples have a better idea of the notion.
That’s what they’re saying, isn’t it? These bloody homos have no place in gracious Singapore society since they are all depraved licentious beings who will not hesitate to ravish all and sundry, gay or straight (and God Forbid, turning some of our strapping young men into simpering fags) if they were allowed to have a rainbow-coloured Christmas party.
Unless, of course, they keep their heads down and aren’t open about their sexuality while they contribute to the GDP. Then they’re okay to have amongst our ranks.
(I do not mean to leave girls out, but gay girls are a less uncomfortable, less believable… notion in Singapore. It’s all that illegal porn we get.)
What a load of fucking idiots, these bureaucrats. Once again, they have ensured that the only time Singapore gets in the international news is when they do something incredibly fucking ridiculous.
Additional notes: check out Fridae.com’s press release. Fridae.com has also published a bunch of letters from supporters.
(You want to protest? Vote with your wallet; it’s the only thing the Singaporean government understands. Do not support the Arts Festival. Do not support the Buskers Festival. Do not support The Esplanade. Do not support the next harebrained tourism idea the STB comes up with. Don’t go to Singapore. If you do, only visit gay-friendly establishments. Writing letters to the media will only make the MHA stick to their decision more stubbornly — they cannot be seen as having made the wrong decision.)
Perhaps if each of the participants promise to produce at least one offspring within a year of the party, the authorities might see this as an opportunity to create a new population growth initiative!
Comment by mdmhvonpa — 15 December 2004 @ 10:20 pm
Yeah, writhing nude teens in public is only acceptable if it ends up increasing the birth rate.
Comment by Terry — 16 December 2004 @ 2:50 am
That would be novel. Set up a sperm and egg bank near the party with a ‘fertilisation’ tent?
Comment by andrea — 16 December 2004 @ 8:25 am
Asia by Blog
Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature, usually posted on Monday and Thursday, providing links to Asian blogs and their views on the news in this fascinating region. Previous editions can be found here. This will be the final edition for 2004. New edit…
Trackback by Simon World — 16 December 2004 @ 4:53 pm
It’s just like America really: Singapore is a progressive place for that subset of the arts and culture which the President enjoys.
Comment by eldan — 17 December 2004 @ 12:46 am
So is the USA becoming more and more like Singapore, or is it the converse?
Comment by andrea — 17 December 2004 @ 8:53 am
“Keeping their heads down” might be one of the things they don’t want to see!
Comment by TuTu — 17 December 2004 @ 3:45 pm
Money isn’t the real issue actually- people, especially critics of singapore, assumed that when the government allowed gay bars to operate, acknowledged the presence of gay civil servants, and called for greater tolerance of ‘diversity’ among Singaporeans, it was all to chase the ‘ink dollar.’Critics were quick to sneer at the ‘mercenary nature’ of the government.
Of course, the police refusal to grant the permit has shot down this notion. There are many people who are genuinely discomforted by blatant displays of homosexuality. And rightly or wrongly, the government has to consider the feelings of this majority. One only needs to read letters sent to the local daily to confirm this.
Contrary to stereotypes of Singapore being cold, clinical, and a ‘nanny state’, things are never that simple. The problem is not solely due to the ‘bureaucrats’. even in the US, Europe, and Australia, its citizens are still grappling with legalizing gay marriage, allowing gay priests into the church, and genuine public acceptance of people with homosexual inclinations. As Singaporean society matures (it has only enjoyed 40 years of independence), people will naturally become more tolerant.
Comment by Anonymous — 17 December 2004 @ 11:11 pm
correction: i meant to write ‘PINK dollar’, not ‘ink dollar’.
Comment by Anonymous — 17 December 2004 @ 11:13 pm
That’s kind of the point, I guess. I don’t think homosexuals are any more blatant about their sexuality than heterosexuals – there are of course extremists in both cases. What I’m not happy with is how they’ve gone with the stereotype to justify their decision.
Comment by andrea — 18 December 2004 @ 1:25 pm
my take: homosexuals have to be LESS blatant than heterosexuals. Whether one likes it or not, two men kissing has a much higher chance of causing offence than a ‘lovey-dovey’ heterosexual couple….anywhere in the world. Ironically, gay-bashing isn’t exactly uncommon in the West whereas in Asia, one might just get disapproving looks.
Comment by Damien — 19 December 2004 @ 8:08 pm
Damien, I agree, and that’s why I think we need to challenge the prevalent point of view. If social conservatives are constantly greeted with male-male, female-female, and male-female couples in society, it’ll all become normal. In time.
Comment by andrea — 20 December 2004 @ 8:47 am
Yes, just look at how well accepted it is in the US for male clergy to molest boys. It is fine as long as it does not happen on the playground in public view. It has been going on so long that it almost seems like nobody cares it happened, except for the boys it happened to. :p
Comment by Terry — 23 December 2004 @ 12:43 am
Cat, pigeons, Terry… Yeeha!
Comment by neil — 23 December 2004 @ 10:26 am