Snowball, Meltdown Completely Submerged to Oblivion?
Is the tossing out of Snowball by PELU a huge surprise?
To be honest, something like this could happen anytime and caught optimistic gay activists off guard.
After all, it was less than 3 years ago when the Singapore media was shunning the taboo “gay” topic. Now, gay saunas, bars and clubs are thriving quietly amidst a largely unconcerned populace.
However, it seems that once the can of worms have been opened (in this case meaning – high profile large scale gay events get widely publicized), the authorities or PELU in this case, eager to be seen massaging the egos and worries of the conservative public and groups, will do anything to make sure that they are seen to be doing their job.
Prior to this national day, I wrote an article warning the GLBT community of the possibility of the shutting down or reduction in number of gay parties or establishments. A harsh and ominous message that no one wants to believe.
One can argue that Snowball is merely a single event, and does not in itself constitute the government’s reversal of policy to quietly allow gays to carry on with their private lives. However, this rejection signals that any gay related activities are at the whims and fancies of the authorities, business orientated or not. Without a clear consistent guideline on what is permissible, it becomes difficult for gay activism and even GLBT related businesses to predict and manage their efforts.
I cannot stress enough the importance for the GLBT community in Singapore to be aware of national or PLU issues, form community bonds and start being pro-active, as it has been sitting on its laurels for too long. Passively not doing anything does not infer allegiance and loyalty to the country. As Singaporeans, regardless of sexual orientation, everyone has the right to speak up. It is not just an individual concern or a gay issue. It is also about breaking down closets within the society, families and building a better future for younger GLBTs.
Fight for the right to be seen and heard for they will never be served on a silver platter.
When AIDS Coalition to unleash Power or acronym ACT UP was initially formed in US as an NGO that preaches a militant style of activism, they raised the immediacy of HIV issues to a largely in denial government and country. Organizing sit ins, street demonstrations, and engaging in non violent civil disobedience acts, they raised awareness and aided on the AIDS treatment front.
According to Elinor Burkett, author of a book about the response to the epidemic, The Gravest Show on Earth, “ACT UP took control over both the government's public health care response to AIDS and its scientific response to AIDS, for better and worse." She noted that the organization and its various local chapters helped accelerate drug approval process of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), funding to house people with AIDS, and patient lobbying on research and treatment issues.
The purpose of reenacting the success of ACT UP is not to encourage any form of violence, riots or lootings. Instead, I think it is time for the community to be aware that they have to take control of the situation. By that, I’m referring to “coming out” as a community and informing the general population about what being gay is about, and the daily issues we face. Only when the GLBT community has a voice and a face (however diverse it might be), would the majority, start to take us seriously; and only then, will we be able to contribute significantly and feel at home here.
In a documented interview on ACT UP, Sarah Schulman posed a question for Larry Kramer, one of its original founders.
She asked him, “ This is kind of tough question, but if you had never been involved in fighting for anybody else, where did you get the expectation that other people should come and make a stand for us?”
Larry said, “ I guess I never thought of it that way. We needed help and you had to scream for it, and I asked for it nicely, originally. We tried to be very nice to The New York Times and to Ed Koch and you learn very fast that you’re a faggot, and it doesn’t make any difference that you went to Yale and were assistant to Presidents of a couple of film companies, and that you had money. You suddenly know what it’s like to feel like a faggot or a nigger or a kike… … And I guess, if the one thing that various analyses and working in AIDS – whatever we were working in – taught me is, was how to make the anger productive and creative and useful… …
