Lim, 21, was born male and is currently identified as transgender. This year’s rally was her first and she attended it alone.
“Conversion in the military is as you can imagine,” she said. “I can’t openly hug this side of myself and only have friends on the online community.”
“But I decided to show up for myself today and didn’t know what to expect. I brought a dress and changed it when I went to the park and was greeted warmly. I enjoyed everyone’s presence. People.”
After two years of virtual protests due to the pandemic, Singapore’s biggest quirky pride event returned on Saturday at Hong Lim Park, where it first started on 16 May 2009.
Thousands of people turned out on the hot, humid afternoon, carrying pink signs and waving rainbow flags to support the city’s rights movement.
Among the crowd were members of parliament Henry Kwek, from the ruling People’s Action Party, and Jamus Lim from the opposition Workers’ Party.
Gay sex in Singapore remains illegal even when it is consensual, between adults and in private. Social attitudes, though largely still conservative, are changing, activists say, and the government is now “considering the best way forward” on whether to change the law, which already dates back to when Singapore was a British colony more than 60 years ago.
“Policies need to evolve to keep up with such changing attitudes. And legislation needs to evolve to support updated policies,” Singapore Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a statement. a recent parliamentary session.
“And if and when we do decide to move, we will do so in a way that continues to balance these differing perspectives and avoids triggering a sudden, destabilizing shift in social norms.” society and public expectations.”
Last week, Disney Pixar’s Lightyear received an NC16 rating in Singapore, banning children under the age of 16 from watching the film in cinemas because of a controversial scene depicting same-sex relationships.
Singapore’s media development agency Infocomm said the cartoon was not suitable for younger audiences due to its “excessive depiction of homosexuality”.
“We don’t have respect and equality, no matter what we pledge or what the government says – and that’s why it’s important,” said Nizam Razak, a 36-year-old gay man at Pink Dot. is to hold Pink Dot every year”. “Why can’t our children see a lesbian kiss? Already, we are being erased from society here in so many ways and this is not okay.”
“When will things really get better for us in the gay community? It’s hard to say.”
Organizers say turnout is higher than in previous years and they hope to keep the momentum going next year.
“The plan was a bit rushed but in the end, we did it. We gathered thousands of people together to support activities for the rights and pride of the ethnic people in Singapore and that is the goal. “, a representative said.
For first-time attendees like Dawn Lim, the Pink Dot experience is “not like being in Singapore”. “This park, this pink sea – it’s really a safe space and I’m glad I got to experience what it’s like,” Lim said.
“For one day each year, I feel human and free to be myself without fear or judgment from people and when I leave Hong Lim Park tonight I will just go home and get back to my life. live in seclusion.”
