Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan attended a conservative Christian group’s fundraising gala on Thursday (30 May).

Focus on the Family Singapore, which has promoted controversial conversion therapy and campaigns against abortion, raised US$300,000 at the dinner on Thursday, according to the Straits Times.

‘The real reason why the Government supports families is that it is the tone of society’ Balakrishnan told attendees of the black-tie event.’

‘A society is formed when there are units that are totally committed to one another’ he said according to the Straits Times.

Gay sex is illegal in Singapore under article 377A of the colonial-era penal code.

Surveys have found the majority of Singaporeans support the legislation even though it is not regularly implemented.

In April, Balakrishnan was accused of labeling decriminalization a ’silly’ issue.

On its website, Focus on the Family Singapore claims it seeks to strengthen the role of male and female in marriage and ‘traditional family’.

In November 2015, the group supported a petition to prevent singer Adam Lambert from performing in the city-state.

LGBTI rights campaigners have also accused the group of promoting damaging conversion therapy.

Widely debunked by health experts, conversion therapy seeks to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity.

Rights groups in the US have labeled Focus on the Family in the US one of the best-funded anti-LGBTI groups in the country.

See also

Li Huanwu’s same-sex marriage: Is this a big deal for LGBTI Singapore?

Groundbreaking report released on Singapore’s LBTQ communities

Gay dating app Taimi launches in Singapore