Since the summer of last year, when then prime minister Goh Chok Tong said that the civil service was now hiring gays, the international media has made much of comments about the apparent opening of society here, especially towards homosexuals. Gay plays, parties, bars and saunas; we have it all. The current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, called for a more tolerant and inclusive society. Yet, over the past month, a backlash of sorts seems to have taken place, with the health ministry warning that Singapore was facing an alarming Aids epidemic, laying much of the blame on homosexuals.

One minister talked about the 'promiscuous and unsafe lifestyle advocated and practised by some gays', criticised the many saunas advertised on a gay website, and the gay community's education efforts by the non-governmental organisation, Action for Aids. As the gay community points out, given that homosexuality is outlawed in Singapore as 'an act of gross indecency' and punishable with two years in jail, how can you actively promote safe sex between men without being complicit in abetting an illegal activity?