In Singapore, a cancelled talk on sex and gender spotlights divide on LGBTQ issues

The Science Centre, organiser of the panel discussion, cancelled the event after receiving “feedback” from the public. It said it would also “review [its] approach” and offer refunds.

The cancellation on Sunday came after Protect Singapore, an NGO that advocates pro-family values, urged its more than 2,000 Telegram subscribers to voice their concerns about the forum to the Science Centre and Singapore’s Education Ministry.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam later that month said the government would look into legislating against cancel culture.

“We should not allow a culture where people of religion are ostracised, attacked, for espousing their views or their disagreements with LGBTQ viewpoints. And vice versa,” he said.

A survey last month found that about two-thirds of 500 respondents thought transgender people face discrimination in Singapore society today.

The same Ipsos survey, of people aged 21 to 74, showed that 45 per cent of respondents supported LGBTQ people being open about their sexual orientation or gender identity, while 15 per cent did not.

On marriage equality, about half said same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally or be allowed to obtain legal recognition, while a quarter of respondents disagreed.

Organisers of Pink Dot, Singapore’s annual LGBTQ pride event, expressed disappointment about the cancellation of the talk, saying it could have helped to reduce stigma and encouraged a more informed and inclusive society.

They noted a trend of “certain quarters” successfully mobilising to shut down such events for going against the groups’ personal beliefs.

Protect Singapore said it welcomed discussions on gender dysphoria, but panels should include “organisations and individuals who provide