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What Next After Pink Dot?

A Pink Dot flag-bearer observes the National Anthem at the annual event at Hong Lim Park on 13 June 2015 (Photo: Regina Goh)

As the dust of annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) awareness event Pink Dot settles from an estimated 28,000-strong turnout on Saturday, 13 June 2015, the LGBT community is taking concrete steps forward to engage more people from the varied facets of Singapore’s societal and political landscape.

Pink Dot appointed, this year, its first ever Malay ambassadors in its seven-year run – YouTube personalities Maimunah Bagharib and Hirzi Zulkiflie.

Pink Dot ambassador Hirzi Zulkifli in tears as he reads out his speech before the crowd at the recent Pink Dot event (Photo: Regina Goh)

In a show of emotion, Hirzi broke down into tears at multiple points in his speech before the Pink Dot crowd.

He said that the reason he and Maimunah decided to be ambassadors for the event this year was in response to his fans “showing signs of helplessness” after a recent meet-and-greet revealed their fears as LGBT youth.

“We cannot continue to pretend that LGBT individuals do not exist within our community just because we shut them out from our conversations,” said Hirzi, in response to youth telling him that they were depressed from a lack of avenues to address their concerns.

Hirzi gave the example of a young hijab-wearing girl who was worried about coming out as a lesbian – he hopes that his appointment as Pink Dot’s ambassador will set about a course of change in acceptance by the Malay/Muslim community.

“I really do hope that while we are the first brown ambassadors, that we are not the last either. We all have different ideas of what is right and what is wrong but we should all have the same senses for what is human,” said Hirzi.

Pink Dot efforts more than one-time event: organisers

Pink Dot spokesperson Paerin Choa (centre) with the event’s ambassadors for 2015 (Photo: Regina Goh)

Pink Dot spokesperson Paerin Choa noted that there had been advances in the treatment of the LGBT community, there have been several setbacks in the last year.

In a press conference, Choa said that a 35-second advertisement for this year’s Pink Dot that was planned to be run in cinemas was banned from theatres by the Media Development Authority (MDA).

The MDA had said that “it is not in the public interest to allow cinema halls to carry advertising on LGBT issues, whether they are advocating for the cause, or against the cause”, Choa shared.

However, Choa says steps are being taken to further societal inclusivity for LGBT people in Singapore. Although he declined to reveal specifics, he cited examples where certain Singapore government agencies had approached Pink Dot for opinions regarding LGBT issues.

Choa also noted the increasing corporate support surrounding the event. A record nine corporate sponsors came on board this year, including media heavyweights Twitter and Bloomberg. Local movie giant Cathay Organisation also became a sponsor.

Add the newly-created Pink Street – a selection of retail outlets along North Canal Road, which lines one side of Hong Lim Park, that support the event – to this.

Movement forward: inter-varsity support group launched

Five LGBT groups from four varsities in Singapore have come together to launch an inter-university LGBT network in Singapore (Photo: Inter-University LGBT Network, Singapore/Facebook)

Further to this, groups in the ‘Inter-University LGBT Network’ (Inter-Uni), which consists of five LGBT groups from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Yale-NUS College, plan to meet regularly and share resources.

Among the initiatives Inter-Uni has launched is an orientation week, with each university hosting its own LGBT orientation programme for students, staff and alumni. This would culminate in an inter-university mixer organised by all five LGBT groups where participants would get to know prospective and current students, staff and alumni from the other varsities.

There are plans for some groups to collaborate and offer regular workshops such as Gender & Sexuality 101 and Allyship 101, as well as a forum on creating more inclusive school communities. The forum is slated to take place in the next semester.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

June 23, 2015
Non-Muslim Students Told To Drink Own Urine In Toilet

ALOR SETAR: A group championing the interests of non-Muslim students (Waris Murid-Murid Bukan Islam) have lodged a complaint with the Kedah Education Director that a senior member of the teaching staff at the Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Ibrahim directed them to drink water only in the toilet.

This same person was also alleged to have said that in the event they had not brought any water with them to school, they could drink water from the tap there, or “drink their own urine”.

These instructions were allegedly given by the assistant principal, who is also responsible for student affairs, during the school assembly on June 21.

The teacher allegedly said: “Non-Muslim students are reminded not to drink water in class but only in the toilet. If not enough water, drink the piped water or your own urine.”

The errant teacher did not mention the fasting month during the brief speech.

The letter of complaint went on to berate the errant teacher for setting a bad example and having no respect for non-Muslims, both students and teachers, and for harbouring racist attitudes.

Source: www.freemalaysiatoday.com

June 23, 2015
UNHCR Expresses Concern On Amos Yee’s Conviction

BANGKOK (22 JUNE 2015) – The United Nations Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) is concerned about the conviction of 16 year-old Amos Yee for uploading remarks and images critical of the late Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime-Minister of Singapore. He is due to be sentenced on 23 June 2015. Amos was remanded on 2 June for three weeks after he refused probation and is currently detained in Changi prison where, according to his lawyer, his physical and psychological status is deteriorating.

Amos was convicted on 12 May 2015 on two charges, one of wounding religious feelings under section 298 of the penal code and another for circulating obscene imagery under 292 (1) of the Penal Code. Amos had pleaded not guilty to both offences. OHCHR understands that at the request of the prosecution, Amos is currently being assessed for his suitability for the Reformative Training Centre for a period of at least 18 months.

OHCHR is concerned that the Reformative Training Centre is akin to detention and usually applied to juvenile offenders involved in serious crimes. The District Court of Singapore in a recent case involving a juvenile recognized that the Reformative Training Centre is incarcerative in nature and should be imposed cautiously.

While recognizing the Singapore authorities concern with public morality and social harmony, OHCHR is concerned that the criminal sanctions considered in this case seem disproportionate and inappropriate in terms of the international protections for freedom of expression and opinion.

While Amos himself has refused the option of probation, OHCHR appeals to the Singapore authorities to give special consideration to his juvenile status and ensure his treatment is consistent with the best interests of the child, the principle that lies at the heart of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Singapore is a party.

OHCHR urges the Government to review the conviction of Amos Yee and the prosecutors to drop the demand for sentencing him to the Reformative Training Centre. OHCHR calls for the immediate release of Amos in line with its commitment under the UN Convention on the Rights of Child. OHCHR also hopes that the judiciary will exercise its authority in the protection of human rights including the rights of the child.

ENDS The Regional Office for South-East Asia in Bangkok represents the High Commissioner for Human Rights within South East Asia. The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations and heads the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which spearheads the United Nations’ human rights efforts .

Source: http://bangkok.ohchr.org

June 23, 2015
ABC Admits Error In Judgment In Allowing Former Terrorism Suspect To Join Q&A Audience

The ABC has admitted last night’s Q&A program “made an error in judgement” in allowing former terrorism suspect Zaky Mallah to join the Q&A audience and ask a question in a statement issued by the ABC this morning.

In last night’s episode, which was debating proposed changes to citizenship, Mallah said Coalition statements, such as those made by MP Steve Ciobo, were the reason young Islamic people were preparing to leave Australia and fight for Islamic State, after raising a question on what might have happened if politicians, not courts, had decided his case when he was charged and confined under Howard government terrorism laws in 2003.

Mallah later tweeted: “I would pay to see that Minister dumped on ISIS territory in Iraq”.

.@steveciobo says he would have banished a person for making threats of terrorism. #QandA http://t.co/zPeOcUMbbB

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 22, 2015

ABC Television director Richard Finlayson admitted the program “made an error in judgement” in allowing Mallah to join the audience of the the show, saying the circumstances of his appearance will be reviewed by the ABC.

“In attempting to explore important issues about the rights of citizens and the role of the Government in fighting terrorism, the Q&A program made an error in judgement in allowing Zaky Mallah to join the audience and ask a question,” he said.

“Mr Mallah has been interviewed by the Australian media on a number of occasions. The environment of a live television broadcast, however, meant it would not be possible for editorial review of the comments he might make prior to broadcast, particularly if he engaged in debate beyond his prepared question.”

Mallah was acquitted of two terrorism offences in 2005 but pleaded guilty to threatening to kill ASIO officials.

The ABC has this morning come under fire, from a number of quarters, for its decision to put him on-air.

Among the critics is News Corp columnist Rita Panahi who tweeted how, in January of this year, Mallah had said that she and fellow female columnist Miranda Devine were “whores” who should be “gangbanged on the Sunrise desk”.

The ABC confirmed it will now review the process which led Mallah to be brought onto the program but Finlayson also said: “Q&A will continue to raise issues that are provocative and controversial. There is always risk in undertaking live television. That is the nature of the Q&A program since it first aired in 2008.

“As has been the case in the past on Q&A, circumstances will happen that are not anticipated. The critical question is whether risks could have been managed and the right editorial judgments made in advance.

“The circumstances of Mr Mallah’s appearance will be reviewed by the ABC.”

Miranda Ward and Nic Christensen

The full statement:

In attempting to explore important issues about the rights of citizens and the role of the Government in fighting terrorism, the Q&A program made an error in judgement in allowing Zaky Mallah to join the audience and ask a question.

Mr Mallah has been interviewed by the Australian media on a number of occasions. The environment of a live television broadcast, however, meant it would not be possible for editorial review of the comments he might make prior to broadcast, particularly if he engaged in debate beyond his prepared question.

Tony Jones correctly and immediately ruled a statement made by Mr Mallah as out of order.

Q&A will continue to raise issues that are provocative and controversial. There is always risk in undertaking live television.That is the nature of the Q&A program since it first aired in 2008.

As has been the case in the past on Q&A, circumstances will happen that are not anticipated. The critical question is whether risks could have been managed and the right editorial judgments made in advance.

The circumstances of Mr Mallah’s appearance will be reviewed by the ABC.

Source: http://mumbrella.com.au

June 23, 2015
Amos Yee Set To Find Out Details Of Reformative Training Report

Teenage blogger Amos Yee is set to appear in court on Tuesday morning after spending three weeks in remand. He will find out if he is suitable for reformative training.

The 16-year-old had been found guilty on May 12 of making remarks intending to hurt the feelings of Christians in a video as well as uploading an obscene image.

District Judge Jasvender Kaur had called for a report on June 2 to assess if Yee is physically and mentally suitable for reformative training.

Yee was found guilty of deliberately hurting the feelings of Christians in the YouTube video, which criticised Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. The obscene image had the faces of Mr Lee and former British premier Margaret Thatcher superimposed on it.

The prosecution had called for Yee to be sent for reformative training, as he had not cooperated with his assigned probation officer.

The defence, however, argued this was a disproportionate punishment for Yee’s offence.

On Monday, the United Nations Human Rights Office for South-east Asia called for Yee’s immediate release.

In a statement, the Bangkok-based Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) urged the Singapore Government to review his conviction. It also asked that prosecutors drop their demand that Yee be sentenced to a stint at the Reformative Training Centre (RTC).

Reformative training is a rehabilitative sentencing option for young offenders aged under 21 who are found to be unsuitable for probation.

A stint at RTC lasts between 18 and 30 months, and includes structured rehabilitation programmes, foot drills, and counselling. Offenders will not have contact with adult prison inmates.

Although Yee has been in remand for three weeks without access to any telecommunications devices, his Facebook page has been constantly updated since last Thursday.

The posts, the origins of which remain unclear, centre largely around his grievances towards life in Changi Prison, such as the lack of sunshine or privacy in his cell.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

June 23, 2015