Singapore PAP MPs, opposition politicians attend LGBTQ rally despite pro-family scorecard

“We need to look at different sectors that need to be engaged and continue the communications with each of the sectors.”

A morning downpour might have left most of Hong Lim Park in a muddy bog, but that did not stop thousands from dressing up in pink and attending Pink Dot to show their support for the LGBTQ community.

Held from 3.15pm to 8.30pm on Saturday, the annual LGBTQ rally featured 29 community booths from organisations providing different forms of support to the LGBTQ community and performances by local acts such as singer Marian Carmel, all men’s choir Sing Men’s Chorus and drag performance group Singapura Drag Royalty.

Several speakers also took the microphone during the event, including Anne Goh, a former national rugby player and volunteer for lesbian, bisexual and queer organisation Sayoni; drag artist Kira Moon, who was harassed and assaulted by a group of men in March; and Clarence Singam, co-founder of counselling organisation for the LGBTQ community Oogachaga.

Pink Dot spokesperson Clement Tan said this year’s theme – No One Left Behind – “encapsulates for us [in the LGBTQ community] the exclusions we encounter throughout our lives all the way from cradle to grave”.

This is the second Pink Dot since Section 377A, a decades-old law criminalising gay sex, was repealed.

Earlier this week, Protect Singapore – which describes itself as a group that aims to protect the values of marriage, family, children and conscience – released a scorecard grading politicians based on their stances towards LGBTQ issues.

The scorecard is to “help you evaluate whether your MP supports your values”, the group said in a Facebook post on Monday. Among the grading criteria includes never attending Pink Dot.

When asked about the