News
2007-08-09
Singapore park
forbids gay rights picnic
Singapore barred
a gay rights group Wednesday from holding a picnic and
fun run at a popular park, saying politics is not welcome in
Singapore barred
a gay rights group Wednesday from holding a picnic and
fun run at a popular park, saying politics is not welcome in
the country's green spaces.
Gay rights group
People Like Us had planned a picnic at the downtown
Botanic Gardens on Thursday and a five-kilometer run the
following day as part of a series of activities
marking gay and lesbian pride month.
The National
Parks Board wrote to the events' organizer, Alex Au, to say
the activities were not permitted by authorities, Au said.
''The Singapore
Botanic Gardens is a premier botanical institution. We do
not want it to be used as a venue for interest groups to
politicize their cause,'' a board spokesman said in an
e-mailed response to questions.
Established in
1859, the128-acre Botanic Gardens is a popular tourist
attraction and venue for picnics, jogs, and outdoor
concerts. The park features more than 10,000 types of
plants.
''It is our
policy to keep such activities out of our parks and gardens.
Let's keep our green space as areas for relaxation and
recreation,'' the spokesman said.
Au said the
events were intended as social gatherings to commemorate the
city-state's National Day, which falls on Thursday.
''It was never
meant to be political, and this testifies to the paranoia
of the government,'' Au said. ''They automatically assume
that anything gay is a political challenge to them. It
speaks volumes about the political climate in
Singapore.''
The prohibition
follows bans last week on a gay rights forum and an
exhibition of photographs depicting same-sex kissing.
The curbs have
come amid a debate in the modern, conservative city-state
on whether gay sex should be decriminalized. Under Singapore
law, gay sex is deemed ''an act of gross indecency,''
punishable by a maximum of two years in jail.
Authorities have banned gay festivals and censored gay
films. Despite the official ban on gay sex, there have been
few prosecutions. (AP)
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