Monday, July 1, 2013

Nothing Will Change


You have to give credit when credit is due. As 21,000 people showed up at the "Pink Dot" rally in support for same-sex rights, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) politician Vincent Wijeysingha officially came out as a gay man on his Facebook page.

I have to give the man pops because he did something and put his name down on something he truly believe in. All credit to the man as this makes him Singapore's first openly gay politician. Just don't expect the SDP or the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) to follow his lead and support gay rights anytime soon.

Yes, 21,000 people showed up at the rally. Yes, it's a record attendance. However politics is a number game and supporting gay rights in Singapore will cost the political parties votes. 

Now some people may say gay right is more accepted by Singaporeans now than ever before. That may be true but would Singaporeans vote for a political party based on this one issue? I doubt so but would people (like devout Muslims and church going Christians) NOT vote for a political party based on this one issue?

Not supporting this issue will cost the parties nothing but supporting this issue will cost them votes. Simply put; this is not an issue that will bring in the votes but will cost them some. For that simple reason, I do not Singapore’s official stance on gay rights to change anytime soon. 

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