SINGAPORE – The rain didn’t stop a sea of pink from turning up at Hong Lim Park for the annual Pink Dot event on Saturday afternoon (June 4).
Fortunately the skies cleared in time for the party to get started.
Since kicking off in 2009, the annual event which advocates freedom to love for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, has seen an outpouring of support.
While there are detractors among Singaporeans here, the group has continued to grow.
Instead of the annual light-up this year, attendees at Pink Dot 2016 were encouraged to pen down their heartfelt thoughts and encouragement for inclusivity on pink placards.
This year’s event saw television host Anita Kapoor, comedian Liu Ling Ling and rapper ShiGGa Shay take the stage as ambassadors.
Local personalities and musicians like Charlie Lim, Gareth Fernandez and Hirzi Zulkiflie performed for the crowd while activists gave testimonials on discriminatory practices among other obstacles when expressing their identities in Singapore.
In the lead up to the event, Pink Dot released a few videos detailing the struggles some locals face pertaining their identity.
One of them highlights The T Project, a shelter for homeless transgenders.
While the home has offered solace to the many who pass through its doors, it may have to close or relocate due to lack of funds.
In a nod to inclusivity, the corporate support for this year’s Pink Dot is the largest yet, with a total of 18 corporate sponsors, including companies such as Google, Barclays, Twitter, Facebook and Apple.
debwong@sph.com.sg
