The Singapore government has long denied the city a Gay Pride Parade. Instead, a group of citizens got together 11 years ago to celebrate their gayness by starting up a Pink Dot assembly in one of the city's smaller parks. The government has never liked this celebration and has in recent years put up considerable barriers. First, it banned international companies from donating to the costs. Prior to the ban, companies like J. P Morgan, Google, Bloomberg, Microsoft and Yahoo had been sponsors. That promoted the organisers to approach a large number of Singapore based companies with the result that even more finds were raised. Then the government made it against the law for all Singapore non-citizens to attend.
Notwithstanding, the Pink Dot celebration has continued. This year's was held yesterday with many thousands turning out in spite of rain at the start. The main theme this year was "Repeal 377A", the old British colonial anti-sodomy law.
A surprising attendee was the younger brother of Singapore's Prime Minster and his wife. They were there to show solidarity with their gay son who recently married his partner in South Africa.
R to L: Li Hsien-yang, his son's partner Dr. Heng Yirui, his son Li Huan-wu and the older Li's wife at this year's Pink Dot.
Photos: Pink Dot SG