Employing gays in civil service a 'tiny step forward'

source: Sunday Times, 6 July 2003
Li Xueying

As a policy officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 1999, Mr Lee Say Choy had access to classified information on the free trade agreement to be signed between Singapore and the United States.

After a day of closed-door discussions, he would unwind in gay bars with his friends.

'My colleagues and, I believe, my supervisors, knew I was gay, because I was quite open about it. But it was never an issue,' said Mr Lee, 30, now a financial reporter.

His move to the private sector three years ago was for 'personal reasons' unrelated to his sexual orientation.

'I never felt I was discriminated against because of my sexuality,' he told The Sunday Times. 'The top-most priority is still one's capability.'

His experience reflects the quiet policy change towards homosexuals that Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong revealed in a recent interview with Time magazine.

Mr Goh said the Government now employs openly homosexual people, even in sensitive jobs. He said: 'In the past, if we know you're gay, we would not employ you. But we just changed this quietly. We know you are. We'll employ you.'

Homosexuals had to disclose their status to avoid being open to blackmail, he added.

When interviewed, members of the gay community here said PM Goh's comments represented a 'tiny' step forward that was long overdue, but they would adopt a 'wait and see' attitude to see if the words would 'translate into action'.

'It's a step towards affirmation of the gay society although, all along, there have been homosexuals working quietly in the civil service,' said Ms Peggy Koh, 30, a counsellor.

Members of the gay community said that at the root of the 'danger' of gays being blackmailed was society's prejudice against them.

'Why should gays be susceptible to being blackmailed in the first place?' asked law academic Eleanor Wong.

Mr Alvin Tan, director of arts group The Necessary Stage, was among those who were sceptical.

'I don't think the Government is doing this in a true attempt to

embrace diversity, but due to the brain drain of talented gays who have left the civil service - and Singapore - in search of more welcoming environments.'

There is a lot more to be done before homosexuals can receive the same level of respect as heterosexuals, said people in the gay community.

Dismantling the 'archaic' legislation against engaging in homosexual acts would be chief among them, they said.

In the Time interview, PM Goh said homosexual acts will remain an offence.

'It's more than just the criminal code. It's actually the values of the people. The heartlanders are still conservative,' he said.

Dr Lim Han Nan, 55, a Chinese physician, agreed. He said: 'It defies human nature. If people of the same sex want to be friends, that's fine. But not if they become lovers. 'We should not encourage them by legalising homosexual acts.'

But Singapore Buddhist Federation secretary-general, the Venerable Shi Ming Yi, said: 'People have different likes and dislikes. Of course, as a religion, we do not think that homosexuality is right.

'But we should still respect them and try to help them as much as possible. We would extend them a hand of compassion.'   

Footnotes

None

Addenda

None