More than 40 Singaporean LGBTIs and allies are featured in Pink Dot Singapore’s new campaign video to launch the sixth annual rally to support the acceptance of LGBTIs in Singapore.

Titled ‘For Family, For Friends, For Love,’ the video was launched on Thursday night at the Parkroyal on Pickering hotel with over 100 people in attendance.

The 4-minute video features LGBT and straight Singaporeans ‘shar(ing) their sentiments about Pink Dot and their wish for a more open-minded and inclusive Singapore,’ according to organizers.

‘Pink Dot means a lot to me. Before it came about, Singapore didn’t appear open-minded and compassionate enough. Now, Pink Dot represents the possibility that Singapore can be a place where LGBT people are included,’ said director Leon Cheo in his Director’s Note.

The three ambassadors this year are prominent personalities actor Sebastian Tan, actor and TV host Brendon Fernandez, and actor and Nominated Member of Parliament Janice Koh.

For the first time, the event on June 28 will include a new Community Voices segment, where members of the LGBT community and straight allies are invited to address attendees. It will be followed by a concert before it culminates in the dot formation which was 21,000-strong last year.

Paerin Choa, a spokesperson for Pink Dot Sg, said, ‘We would like Pink Dot 2014 to be an opportunity for Singaporeans – both LGBT and straight – to take stock and reflect on the changing landscape that has come about in recent years. Even as we celebrate the positive changes we as a community have brought about, we remain cognisant that more still needs to be done before we can truly consider ourselves an equal and inclusive society. We love Singapore, and it is our fondest wish that Pink Dot can help to continue bridging the various segments of society in celebration of the Freedom to Love, for our family members, for our friends, for Singapore.’

Global energy company BP and financial services company Goldman Sachs have joined as corporate supporters this year. The other corporate supporters are Google, Barclays, J P Morgan, contact lens manufacturer CooperVision, Parkroyal on Pickering and audio branding agency The Gunnery.

Local organizers in Hong Kong will hold their own Pink Dot rally on Sunday June 15 at Tamar Park while Pink Dot Okinawa will be held for the second consecutive year on July 21.

Sylvia Tan is a reporter for Gay Star News and member of the Pink Dot Sg organizing committee.