The recent police decision to deny a licence for an annual gay Christmas party could be seen as a signal to the homosexual community not to push things too far when it comes to high-profile events that seem to promote alternative lifestyles.

Sociologists, MPs and members of the gay community contacted said events where homosexuals engage in public displays of affection, as seen at last year's SnowBall indoor party, may have taken the opening up of Singapore a bit further than what the authorities are prepared for.

The party, which was scheduled for this weekend, would have been the third annual Christmas party organised by Jungle Media, the Singapore subsidiary of Hong Kong-based fridae.com and said to be the region's largest online gay portal.

Jungle Media had applied for a licence in October and was told by the police on Dec 8 that the application was rejected on the grounds that the event is 'contrary to public interest'.

The police also said that it does not discriminate against gays but recognises that Singapore is still a 'conservative and traditional society'.

After the Government said last year that it is open to hiring gays, there has been a on and off debate about the status of homosexuals in Singapore and their rights. Parties organised by fridae.com and the economic spin-offs of gay events have been widely reported in the media.

Mr Charles Chong, a Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said 'The gay community must realise that in trying to move society at too fast a pace, it may cause a backlash.'

Mr W.K. Chan, 38, a legal counsel, who has attended parties organised by Jungle Media, said it is clear that the authorities are sending this message 'We're fine about gays in society but please don't shove it down our throats.'

'It's a sign to the community to take things slow,' he added.

But some members of the gay community think that the episode may send out conflicting signals. Why, they asked, was there now a toughening of attitude towards gay activities when Jungle Media had been granted licences for seven parties in the last three years?

Mr Alex Au of gay activist group People Like Us said 'It was one step forward when there was talk about being a progressive society and opening up, but this incident is like taking two steps back.'

The police had said last week that they had approved parties such as Nation.04, usually held in August, after receiving assurances that the events would not be 'organised as gay parties'.

Mr Viswa Sadasivan, who heads The Right Angle Media production company, said 'Do we want to emphasise a stance on moral values or be pragmatic? Singapore has become more neutral towards gay lifestyles. Some have used this opportunity to entice the pink dollar. So now what do people take this to mean? That we want your money but don't want you?'

Other observers such as constitutional law expert Kevin Tan said the denial of a licence could be linked to the recent warning that HIV infections among homosexuals shot up from 54 cases last year to 77 in the first 10 months of this year.

Those who welcomed the police decision, like counsellor Tan Thuan Seng, president of charity group Focus On The Family Singapore, said 'We don't want them to encourage young people who have some degree of gender confusion to make the mistake of going into a gay lifestyle.'

Dr Stuart Koe, chief executive officer of fridae.com, said the incident would not stop the company from applying for a licence for the Nation party it plans to hold next August.

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20 December 2004
Straits Times 

The police recently turned down a licence application for a gay Christmas party because those held in the last two years had been targeted at gays only.

This went against the basis on which the permits were granted, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explained yesterday.

'We allowed it and we made it quite clear that it had to be a party which was not targeted at gays alone... As the party turned out, our sense of it was that it was beyond what we were prepared to accept. So we said no.'

Earlier this month, the police turned down an application by Jungle Media to hold this year's SnowBall party because 'the event is likely to be organised as a gay party which is contrary to public interest'.

The organisers appealed to Mr Lee and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, but they were not successful.

Asked yesterday if this meant Singapore was no longer going all out for the 'pink dollar', Mr Lee said it was not a matter of 'all or nothing'.

'I think it's a matter of balance... of how we can have space for this group of people who are gays, whom we accept as Singaporeans.

'But at the same time, it's about respecting the outlook, values and perspective of the majority of Singaporeans, who know Singapore to be a certain way and do not want to see it changing suddenly, and I think they have a point.'

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21 December 2004
'Today' newspaper (Voices section)

While Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a point in saying that the Snowball Party is about "balancing norms" (Dec 20), one also needs to be aware that Snowball is a ticketed event. People who are offended by same-sex intimate behaviour need not attend.

If Singapore truly wants to embrace diversity, the conservative mainstream has to stop imposing its "values" on others.

The same can be said of the recent casino debate.

While Families Against Casinos Threat (Fact) perceives gambling as a social evil, it should be mindful that Singaporeans are able to visit casinos easily on overseas cruises. People can fritter away their money even if we do not build a casino at home.

The crux of the argument lies not with whether casinos will break up families or create more social problems; but rather, personal responsibility.

In that regard, Fact would do well to focus their educational efforts on how citizens should "gamble" moderately.

Both issues highlight a pertinent dilemma.

Conservative Singaporeans want the Government to constantly impose tight controls or legislate against what they perceive as "social evils". Yet, they are not willing to look beyond the surface.

Banning such activities outright only brings them out of the country.

Singaporeans will continue to gamble in neighbouring countries and gay people will spend their tourist money in societies with a much more tolerant culture.

As we aim to become a more modern and progressive nation, conservatives need to understand that there have to be compromises. As the saying goes, "We cannot have our cake and eat it too."