Thanks to Ustaz Noor Deros' Wear White Movement and Pastor Lawrence Khong's support of the Wear White movement, we now know that a portion of people in Singapore oppose Pink Dot because of their religious beliefs.

Issues surrounding the LGBT community have become as contentious as ever, with the police reminding Pink Dot attendees to ‘keep the peace’ and stay out of racial and religious topics. Ministers have urged “balance and restraint” to “avoid dividing society”, while religious organisations and churches have come out to have their say.

Online, two sides of contention have emerged, and the views have become increasingly polarised.

On one side are the religious conservatives with their campaign of non-acceptance and the followers who support them – and on another are the activists advocating for equal rights for sexual and gender minorities.

The latter has gained some ground in recent years. The decision by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to publish their gender and sexuality FAQ was viewed as a success by the LGBT community; while the increasing attendance numbers of Pink Dot events point to greater support toward the LGBT community.

With the increasing acceptance from some Singaporeans towards the LGBT community, it would be inevitable that there will be a push back from the conservatives who do not accept (what they see as) the ‘LGBT lifestyle’.

A 'thoughful and constructive discussion'

In a statement, the Pink Dot organisers welcomed 'any opportunity to engage in thoughtful and constructive discussion'. Would constructive discussion be a solution between the two groups?

Currently, both sides have not come to the table. The views surrounding LGBT issues are simply too polarized – there is a lack of willingness to speak to the other party, to get to know what they think.

For the LGBT community, there are various reasons not to speak to the religious conservatives. Experiences of discrimination – found in anecdotal accounts, as well as the negative attitudes towards sexual and gender minorities – have made some weary of ‘constructive discussion’.

Religious conservatives that oppose (what they see as) the ‘LGBT lifestyle’ also have their own reasons not to participate in constructive discussion. They might see discussion as an affirmation of the LGBT community; some also may have had negative experiences speaking to LGBT activists about their own stand – but unlike people who identify as LGBT, they do not face discrimination for their beliefs.

Religious movements for non-acceptance such as Wear White have yet to respond to Pink Dot’s offer of conversation; but they might be the people who have the most power to approach the other side.

But this talk seems rather far away – and as Pastor Khong and Wear White amp up their confrontation towards the LGBT community, the idea of constructive discussion drifts even further.

In fact, some think that constructive discussion might not be necessary. Melissa Tsang, who started the counter-petition in support of the HPB gender and sexuality FAQ, shared with me her views: “I think we are very invested in trying to get the "conservative majority" (whatever that is) on board with us, because time and again we're told that these people are our court of appeal. So we try to change conservative hearts and minds not so much because we have grand delusions of a massive kumbaya, but because we are put in a situation where their consent is prerequisite to our protection.”

There are more pressing issues facing the LGBT community than the need for constructive discussion – the lack of public education about gender and sexuality in Singapore (only recently filled by the HPB gender and sexuality FAQ), as well as rampant depression and mental illness faced by people who identify as LGBT. These issues necessitate advocacy and support groups for the LGBT community; as well as laws that would protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination, however unpopular they might be.

But constructive discussion may be the best move the LGBT community has towards a greater acceptance. There’s an urgent need to talk about the discrimination facing the LGBT community right now – and to draw the line between religious expression and discrimination. Religious conservatives in opposition to the ‘LGBT lifestyle’ need to realise that Singapore, as a secular state, has no reason to continue to criminalise gay sex – and both sides need to realise that believers can and should the space to express their religious beliefs without being discriminatory.

A peaceful, constructive discussion is necessary not for the conservatives to consent to the protection of the LGBT community (to paraphrase Tsang), but for the sensibilities of all involved. Communication must happen for both sides to understand each other better.

As a young socio-political blogger and reporter I've experienced the anger Singaporeans had with the government post GE2011 – and how Our Singapore Conversation tried (and in some cases, failed) to be an outlet for government feedback. I’ve seen how diverse Singaporeans are in their beliefs, hopes and dreams; but I’ve always been hopeful of communication – for interaction preserves our sensibilities and keeps us away from uncritical echo chambers.

But I am not the best person to determine what constructive discussion would look like.

You are.

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Top photo from Pink Dot Facebook.

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