Foreigners banned as Singapore holds gay-rights rally

Singapore is a pretty horrible place despite the positive reputation it seems to enjoy with some in the west (but it now starting to fade). Socially, it's incredibly backwards and conservative. Legally, it's very represive when it comes to basic rights and freedoms. Politically, it's essentially a nepotistic dictatorship.

There are many unusual laws in Singapore. Anyone who visits will need to be aware of a few. Don't leave your curtains open when changing clothes, for example. As a visitor, acting like a guest is expected, especially for politically "hot" issues.

Singaporeans seem to have decided that order was more important than freedom. As a visitor, it isn't my place to say whether that is good or bad. If I lived there, perhaps I would have a different view? As it is, I don't see the issue with a "locals-only" mandate for large public gatherings.

If you visit, get some Chicken-Rice at Maxwell Food Centre!

I couldn't be paid enough to step foot in Singapore but it isn't as conservative as people might think based on the laws against graffiti, littering etc. The fact that this parade has been around for 8 years and the laws against gay sex are not actively enforced is more progressive than its Islamic neighbors religious neighbors (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei etc).

Lizz:

Comparing to Indonesia and even Malaysia is not saying much. I found Singapore to be clean and friendly (although I did see chewing gum on the ground - shock, horror!), but very sterile. The country has been more like a communist dictatorship. I hope things will change.

Why the ban? Very odd. I've heard Singapore to be a fascinating place, let's hope it becomes even more inclusive in future.

Singapore has very strict laws concerning various topics.

But than 5mill in a very crowded territory ... not heaven.

Singapore at least has the groundwork to become more open and progressive. That this event was happy and peaceful, has continued for 8 years and had 8,000 people is testimony to that. You certainly can't say the same about Singapore's Islamic neighbors.

Banning locals from Casino and banning foreigners from parades is fine with you? Way worse going on.

Rather totalitarian IMO.

Comparing to Indonesia and even Malaysia is not saying much.

I'm just saying on the issue of tolerance for sexual minorities you can hold it against a wide swath of the world where it is actually getting more dangerous to be gay, such as in Russia, much of Africa and the Middle East. The advances that are being made in some parts of the world seem to be encouraging a backlash in other parts of the world and Singapore (along with Vietnam) could easily have fallen into that trap but deserve credit for so far not.

Pretty odd that they'd allow an openly-gay event to take place despite their laws and then ban foreigners from participating. If it's to avoid foreign interference, wouldn't that make more sense at an anti-gay rally or protest against such an event, and wouldn't you want the West to see that you are not as Draconian on gay rights as they claim you are?

Weird.

The event also is against the law.

Confusing here too.

Singapore is not Draconian on this compared to a lot of cultures but there is widespread perception that gay inclusiveness has gone too far too fast in the West and they are trying to find their own way.

Singapore citizenry appears to trust their govt to look out for them like a father. Public harmony seems more important than freedoms.

Just because a country chooses to have different laws around behaviors than my home country, that doesn't make them any worse or any better than what I'm used to. It just makes them different with different priorities. That is their decision. Singapore is a republic, not a dictatorship, regardless of what some posters might claim.

I started playing a game there - find the spy-cam covering where ever I was. Sometimes it was really easy, since there would be 10 street cameras on a single pole.

I suppose if my common behaviors were something Singaporeans considered offensive, then I might feel differently.