Gay rights rally turns prudish Singapore pink
Thousands reject discrimination and old law in show of support for LGBT community
More than 20,000 people wearing pink clothing gathered in Singapore yesterday for an annual rally in support of gay rights in the city-state, where an archaic law criminalises sex between men.
From pink tube tops to hats and even facial hair dyed pink, straight and gay Singaporeans arrived at Speakers' Corner, a government-designated free speech park, in the colour theme picked by organisers to represent the freedom to love.
Some brought dogs and cats in pink pet clothing and on pink leashes.
"Singaporeans gathered here today are saying that we want to be a kinder and more inclusive society," said Ivan Heng, an ambassador for organiser Pink Dot Sg and a prominent local theatre director. "More Singaporeans have come to understand that prejudice and discrimination hurts the community, our families, and the people we work with."
Organisers, who stressed that the event was not a protest but a public show of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, estimated that 21,000 people attended.
It was the biggest crowd since the annual event started in 2009, when nearly 2,500 people attended.