[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_type=”circular” background_color_gradient_direction_radial=”top left” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89) 30%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 80%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”30%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_color_gradient_end_position=”80%” background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot-2022-06-30-at-10.21.15-AM.png” parallax=”on” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”160px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”61px|48px|61px|48px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”46px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_2_font_size=”28px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”-30px||-2px|0px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|90px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”33px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.2em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”28px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
No Pride In Prejudice: How Singapore\u2019s LGBTQ+ Community Are Still Fighting For Equal Rights<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” width=”83.3%” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”0px|129px|-35px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|63px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
CHIN NGIOK SHUAN\u00a0<\/b>attends Pink Dot to find out from the LGBTQ+ community how social stigmas and prejudices affect them and how they are still fighting for equality for themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” custom_margin=”-30px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The Pink Dot event drew large crowds this year and everyone was warmly welcomed by other members of the community as well as volunteers who helped run the show. Photo by Chin Ngiok Shuan.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-385px|||” custom_padding=”107px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-55px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-35px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”2px|0|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-40px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”15px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BY <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pinkdot.png” title_text=”Pinkdot” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ width=”500px” custom_margin=”847px|-422px||-132px|false|false” custom_padding=”|12px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Pansexual-Pride-flag.png” title_text=”Pansexual Pride flag” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ transform_scale=”125%|125%” transform_translate=”39px|39px” width=”500px” custom_margin=”2887px|-422px||-132px|false|false” custom_padding=”|12px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px|-45px|-616px|false|false” custom_padding=”|0px|0px|0px|false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n From unequal housing opportunities to laws opposing homosexual couples adopting children, the local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community tends to end up with the short end of the stick when it comes to living in Singapore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since June is Pride Month, the topic of equality of the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore is once again a hot topic for debate. With other Asian countries such as <\/span>Taiwan<\/span><\/a> legalising same-sex marriage back in 2019 and <\/span>Thailand<\/span><\/a> drafting laws that allow homosexual couples rights to adopt children, manage joint assets and liabilities amongst other additional rights, the local LGBTQ+ community is waiting for Singapore to follow in the footsteps of these countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go for Singapore. While there seems to be a growing support for the <\/span>queer<\/span><\/a> (defined as \u2018relating to, or being a person whose sexual orientation is not <\/span>heterosexual<\/span><\/a> and\/or whose gender identity is not <\/span>cisgender<\/span><\/a>\u2019, and used in this article as an umbrella term for LGBTQ+) community, there are still many barriers that prevent them from being on equal standing with heterosexual couples in Singapore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The repeal of <\/span>section 377A of the Penal Code of Singapore<\/span><\/a> is one example of a barrier. The issue has been widely contested in Singapore, especially within the last couple of years, as the number of supporters for the LGBTQ+ community increase. However, the government has refused to repeal the law even though it is typically unenforced, citing \u2018<\/span>its assessment that society has yet to adequately integrate the opposing views of mainstream conservatives and the homosexual community\u2019<\/span><\/a>, alongside other reasons such as the majority of Singaporeans regarding homosexual behaviour as inappropriate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The government’s refusal to repeal 377A is not the only deterrent the LGBTQ+ community faces in Singapore. From a lack of community support to the <\/span>local media restricting homosexual content for those under the age of 16<\/span><\/a>, the seeming absence of support for the queer community is somewhat shocking.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The question remains: When will the LGBTQ+ community be free from the prejudices and stigmas that they face?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With the help of public movements such as Pink Dot, the answer is hopefully, \u2018sooner than we expect\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot-2022-06-29-at-11.56.22-PM.png” alt=”Keshi-vinyl-release-debut-album-gabriel” title_text=”Screenshot 2022-06-29 at 11.56.22 PM” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/anxiety-girl.png” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Thousands of attendees braved the sun to show up at this year\u2019s Pink Dot after two years of non-physical events, celebrating each other\u2019s pride. Photo by Chin Ngiok Shuan.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-20px||-1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Pink Dot<\/span><\/a> is Singapore\u2019s biggest annual LGBTQ+ Pride movement. Since 2009, members of the local LGBTQ+ community have gathered at Hong Lim Park, where Pink Dot is usually held, to fight for their rights in Singapore. The non-profit group supports the belief that everyone, regardless of identity, gender and sexuality, deserves the freedom to love who they love and they hope to bring queer Singaporeans closer to their loved ones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPink Dot has been my safe space. Every year, I meet so many people just like me who have been shunned by their families and friends just because we don\u2019t identify as straight or cisgender, and we seek comfort in each other, because we can\u2019t get that comfort anywhere else,\u201d says Taylor Hung, 19, who identifies as gay. <\/span>Cisgender<\/span><\/a> is defined in the dictionary as \u2018relating to, or being a person whose <\/span>gender identity<\/span><\/a> corresponds with the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth.\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”-Taylor Hung, 19″ job_title=”Identifies as gay” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “Every year, I meet so many people just like me who have been shunned by their families and friends just because we don\u2019t identify as straight or cisgender, and we seek comfort in each other, because we can\u2019t get that comfort anywhere else,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Throughout my conversation with Taylor at Pink Dot, he mentioned the different struggles he has had to overcome. These include his estranged ties with his family due to his sexuality and their inability to accept him for who he loves. Additionally, his friends alienated him from their friendship group, and he also noticed that the people around him would mock him for being \u2018different\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Acceptance by their loved ones for who they are is a major struggle the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore faces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that we don\u2019t care about being accepted, it\u2019s just that we have never gotten the acceptance. To fully embrace ourselves, we have to deal with the fact that we\u2019ll never be able to be the person our families and friends wanted us to be, and that we might lose them,\u201d says Taylor.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut I always believe that if they cannot accept me for who I am and who I love, there will always be others who will. Blood family isn\u2019t always the family you need and sometimes, found family will be the ones who stand by you no matter what.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”-Taylor Hung, 19″ job_title=”Identifies as gay” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cBut I always believe that if they cannot accept me for who I am and who I love, there will always be others who will. Blood family isn\u2019t always the family you need and sometimes, found family will be the ones who stand by you no matter what.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Other than found family, acceptance may come from unexpected sources of strength – allies of the queer community.<\/span><\/p>\n These people may be friends or family members of those in the LGBTQ+ community. They may also be individuals who support the movement and offer a consolation to these queer members: They are never alone in their fight for equality. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot-2022-06-29-at-11.57.14-PM.png” alt=”Keshi-vinyl-release-debut-album-gabriel” title_text=”Screenshot 2022-06-29 at 11.57.14 PM” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Allies may come in different shapes and sizes and <\/span>Ponzu<\/span><\/a>, brought by her owner Mr Roman (unpictured), was one of the allies present at Pink Dot. Photo by Chin Ngiok Shuan.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-35px||-1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Negative stereotypes and stigmas are also common issues the LGBTQ+ community face.<\/span><\/p>\n Ms Leah Chia Yi Yang, 29, a transgender woman, says that the stereotypes that she has noticed about being transgender in Singapore are that \u201cmost of us are promiscuous, do sex [work] or that we are unnatural\u201d due to their transition from their birth gender to the one they now identify as. \u201cThese stigmas affect us in our education and employment,\u201d she adds, indicating that some employers do not want to associate themselves with people from the LGBTQ+ community as they do not support them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe one [stigma] I hate the most is when people find out about my sexuality and they come up to me and tell me \u2018[you] should go back to church\u2019, or\u00a0 \u2018you’re so beautiful, you’re just wasting your potential\u2019,\u201d says Marie \u201cChangu\u201d Chang, 25, about being <\/span>pansexual<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>gender-fluid<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Pansexuality is one of the many sexualities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella and it is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as \u2018relating to, or characterised by sexual or romantic attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation\u2019. On the other hand, gender-fluidity is defined as \u2018relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is not fixed\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot-2022-06-29-at-11.57.35-PM.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2022-06-29 at 11.57.35 PM” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”-25px||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Changu received a lot of attention at this year\u2019s Pink Dot event with their rainbow outfit and bright personality. Photo by Chin Ngiok Shuan.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-35px||-1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The troubles with stereotyping and the social stigmas that Taylor, Leah and Changu have faced, are common ones in the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With Singapore being a largely conservative nation, it comes as no surprise that the queer community\u2019s fight for equality would be a long, taxing one. Viral instances such as <\/span>a transgender student in Singapore being denied hormonal therapy by the Ministry of Education even after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria<\/span><\/a> and more recently, the <\/span>hotel PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering\u2019s refusal to host a lesbian wedding<\/span><\/a>, are still all too frequent in Singapore.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, as time goes by, it\u2019s heartwarming to see that there is a growing trend of people in Singapore supporting same-sex relationships and declining support for Section 377A.<\/span><\/p>\n In <\/span>Ipsos\u2019 newest survey regarding the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore<\/span><\/a>, more respondents have indicated an increased acceptance towards same-sex relationships than three years before, with 29 per cent of respondents aged 50 and above saying that they are more accepting of these relationships compared to the past. Furthermore, the latest survey found that 20 per cent of respondents opposed Section 377A of the Penal Code, an increase from the mere 12 per cent of respondents in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA personal story of mine is my mother. She [used to oppose] the LGBTQ+ movement and is religious. But recently for some reason, she went to a local drag show and that alone opened up her eyes to the prejudice we face and also how hilarious we can be. After all, we’re still people, just with a little more pizazz,\u201d says Changu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Sequence-01_1-copy.mp4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Although everyone might be facing their own struggles, the fact that they are willing to come together and celebrate their differences with each other regardless of their gender, identity and sexuality, is what makes Pink Dot such a wildly successful and welcoming event for everyone. Video by Chin Ngiok Shuan.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-35px||-1px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n To some local LGTBQ+ members, openly queer Singaporeans are one of the reasons why they are starting to feel more comfortable coming out to the people around them as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Leah says that \u201c[openly queer Singaporeans] are helping to improve the public\u2019s impression of the LGBTQ+ community by showing a more diverse representation\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From <\/span>W!LD RICE<\/span><\/a>\u2019s founding artistic director <\/span>Ivan Heng<\/span><\/a>, to local entertainer <\/span>Kumar<\/span><\/a>, whose works include representation of the queer community, these people have helped change how some locals view the LGBTQ+ community for the better.<\/span><\/p>\n
Chin Ngiok Shuan<\/b>
Sub-Editor<\/strong>
Hype Issue #55<\/strong><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
June 30, 2022<\/h5>\n