Gay backlash

Gay Backlash, Singapore 2003

The 7 July 2003 issue of Time Asia magazine carried a feature article entitled The Lion in Winter which featured Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, saying that though homosexual acts remain illegal in Singapore, his government is now open to employing homosexual individuals, even those with open lifestyles. While this was greatly welcomed by the homosexual population of Singapore, it also drew strong response from self-proclaimed conservative individuals of the nation. Foremost amongst all were the National Council of Churches of Singapore who issued a statement that homosexuality would remain incongruous with the scriptures of Christianity, and an independent group of 20 Christians from different denominations, voluntary organisations and professions, led by Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong, of the Cornerstone Community Church.

In particular, the second group conducted a meeting to discuss a strategy and plan of action for Christians to tackle what they termed as a "volatile situation." The meeting supposedly ended with a decision to draft an immediate plan of action that every pastor and church can adopt in a battle against homosexuality. In particular, Yang called for Christians to "express their concern" to their Member of Parliament, through letters or during Meet-the-People sessions, and send their views to the Feedback Unit and write letters to the media.

Though Yang subsequently varied the details of the meeting, and also denied being the main organizer, the website of his church did publish a statement on July 20 titled "Don't Keep Silent." In it, the statement wrote "We cannot stand idly by. Homosexuality is a sin and it is far more rampant, militant and organised than most of us actually believe it to be. The battle lines are now drawn and it is time for the Church in Singapore to rise up and make a stand."

This meeting was subsequently followed by repeated letters to the forum of Singapore's daily, The Straits Times. Most prominent of all was a letter signed by eight persons, including Dr (Mrs) Thio Su Mein, the Dean of the Law Faculty of the National University of Singapore. The letter itself was heavy with various claims, prominent ones including that the removal of homosexuality as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association is due to lobbying and pressure by gay activists, that citizens should enjoy the civil liberty of viewing homosexuality as repugnant, perverse, immoral, and undesirable without being termed as bigots, and that a homosexual agenda would threaten the integrity of the family of racial/religious harmony.

The events of the above were summarized in an article by M Nirmala on July 23, 2003 titled "Gay Backlash." This was published in the local daily, The Straits Times.

It is important to note however that several other prominent members of the Singaporean Christian community disagreed with the above-mentioned groups. These include Reverend Yap Kim Hao, the former bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, and Catholic Theresa Seow, President of the (Singapore) Inter-Religious Organisation. Interviews of the Reverend and Sister Seow were also included in Nirmala's article.

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