| Agence France-Presse
December 15, 2004
Christmas jeers for Singapore after gay party
ban
The organisers of a banned gay Christmas party in Singapore
that had attracted major international sponsors have
hit out at the decision by authorities as an attack
on human rights and freedom of choice.
Police last week rejected the application by Fridae.com,
which promotes itself as Asia's leading gay website,
to host the all-night Snowball.04 party on December
25 on the grounds it was immoral and against the public
interest.
The Home Affairs Ministry upheld the ban on Monday
after an appeal by Fridae.com, saying public displays
of intimate behaviour at the party would be an "affront
and unacceptable to the large majority of Singaporeans".
"Fridae is extremely disappointed with the response
we have received, which, in the absence of any illegal
act, is a blatant show of discrimination against homosexuals
in Singapore," Fridae.com chief executive Stuart
Koh said in a statement received by AFP on Wednesday.
"In disallowing Snowball to be held, the police
department has effectively curbed freedom of choice
and the human rights of a minority population in Singapore
in the name of conservative social values."
Fridae.com had organised similar Christmas parties
in 2002 and 2003, as well as the increasingly successful
annual Nation festivals, which have been held since
2001 and attracted more than 8,000 revellers from around
Asia this year.
The parties have led to Singapore being recognised
as one of Asia's premier gay tourism and entertainment
hubs, as well as helped the government in its frequently
stated aim of shedding the nation's reputation as a
"nanny" state.
Major global brands had endorsed Snowball, with Heineken,
Moet and Chandon, Tag Heuer, Qantas and Singapore's
Intercontinental Hotel among the list of planned sponsors.
Koh warned the decision to ban Snowball was a setback
for Singapore's international reputation.
"The image of Singapore as a progressive nation
will be tarnished by such an act of discrimination,
and our aspirations of being a global city where diversity
is celebrated will be set back by many years,"
he said.
In its statement announcing the ban, police said gay
parties were "contrary to public interest in general".
"Singapore is still, by and large, a conservative
and traditional society. Hence, the police cannot approve
any application for an event which goes against the
moral values of a large majority of Singaporeans."
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