SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will not be taking action against the organisers and foreign sponsors of Pink Dot, an annual event celebrating the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
This year’s event, which took place last Saturday (June 4) at the Speakers’ Corner, attracted 18 sponsors, including foreign multinational corporations such as Apple, Facebook and Google.
In an earlier statement, MHA stated: “The Government’s general position has always been that foreign entities should not interfere in our domestic issues, especially political issues or controversial social issues with political overtones. These are political, social or moral choices for Singaporeans to decide for ourselves. LGBT issues are one such example.
“This is why under the rules governing the use of the Speakers’ Corner, for events like Pink Dot, foreigners are not allowed to organise or speak at the events, or participate in demonstrations.”
It added that foreign entities “should not fun, sponsor, support or influence events held at the Speakers’ Corner”.
MHA also said that in the context of LGBT issues, this rule “will apply both to events that advocate the LGBT cause such as the Pink Dot, as well as events whose purpose is to oppose the LGBT cause”.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/pink-dot-sg/pink-dot-statement-on-corporate-sponsors/10154352793783304
The Straits Times
prabukm@sph.com.sg
