Pink Dot to return to Hong Lim Park in June

Singapore’s LGBTQ rally is set to return to Hong Lim Park in June, organizers announced on Saturday. 

Few details of the annual pride event were teased beyond the fact that only Singaporeans and permanent residents can attend due to laws amended in 2017 to prevent foreigners from advancing political causes in Singapore, meaning no public gatherings involving foreign nationals or companies can be permitted.

That year the change affected Pink Dot, which had previously been supported by major U.S. tech companies including Facebook and Google. Since then, Singapore businesses have stepped up to provide backing. Last year’s event saw more than 60 Singapore businesses including the Aloha Poke food chain and Singapore organic farm Bollywood Veggies participate.  

It also shined the spotlight on the forms of discrimination experienced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and called for repeal of a law that criminalizes gay sex. Those found guilty face two years of jail time.

Pink Dot began in 2009 and takes its name from participants converging to create a “pink dot” near the park’s Speaker’s Corner. This year’s event will take place June 27.

Related:

‘Repeal 377A’: This year’s Pink Dot takes firm stand against legal discrimination
Pink Dot invites PM Lee to rally, says LGBTQ in Singapore experience daily discrimination borne from 377A
‘We’re not like San Francisco’: Singapore PM Lee on Pink Dot, LGBT rights