PinkDot FAQ for Our Foreign Friends!

PinkDot appreciates all feedback from our friends and supporters, and we are aware of the concerns
raised – especially with regards to the participation of foreigners at PinkDot 2012. As we come closer
to our highly anticipated event (and working very hard to make it the best one yet), we thought it
would be useful to highlight some of the questions that have been raised:

Q: I have read online that only Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents are allowed to participate, is that true?

A: Hong Lim Park is an area that has been designated by the Singapore government to be the venue
for the Speakers Corner, the only venue in Singapore in which people can demonstrate, hold exhibitions and speak freely on most topics. The Speakers Corner, however, is still governed by a set of rules and regulations.

Under the administrative categories listed within the terms and conditions of usage for the Speakers
Corner, the formation of the human pink dot is classified as a ‘demonstration’. As such, venue rules
stipulate:

“Only citizens and permanent residents of Singapore take part in the demonstration and the
organiser must not allow any person who is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident of
Singapore to take part in the demonstration”.

As such, organisers of PinkDot are unable to allow non-Singaporeans and non-Permanent Residents to
be within the dot formation when time comes for it. They are, however, invited to watch the formation
from a designated observation area. Nonetheless, as Hong Lim Park is a public space, everyone including foreigners is free to come for a picnic and enjoy the concert.



Q: But it doesn’t seem like foreigners were just “watching and observing” based on what I have seen
from the YouTube videos and pictures last year. Why is that so?

A: Citizenship and permanent residency can transcend race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We would like to think that Singapore is truly a multi-racial and multi-cultural society – including its own fair share of other racial groups. Let us not try to make local-versus-foreigner assumptions simply based on appearances.



Q: Can the organisers try to ask for allowance from the park so that foreigners are able to participate
just for a few minutes? The freedom to love should be extended to foreigners living in Singapore too!

A: We would very much like to do that because we do think it’s a really great idea. However, we also
appreciate that a situation like this is very complex, and many factors will have to be taken into account.
That said, we are continuing to work with relevant authorities to work out a viable solution – however,
as with many social movements past and present, it may take a while for our efforts to bear fruit.
Nonetheless, we take this very seriously and value all your support. To give a little background to our
current situation, you may wish to read these insightful pieces:

1. A Pink Dot in a Sea of Rights Abuses

2. Chee Soon Juan, Freedom of Assembly and Pink Dot

In addition, while we welcome efforts to champion the freedom of public assembly, PinkDot sees its
contribution to Singapore primarily as a movement focused on championing the cause of inclusiveness
and diversity through celebrating the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation.



We hope that our foreign supporters understand our position on this, and continue to support us in other
ways in order to further spread our message of equality and inclusivity to their own communities.

We had a blast at PinkDot Launch Weekend!

What better way to spend the long Good Friday and Easter weekend than to spread some love? This was exactly what our ambassadors Sharon Au, Lim Yu-Beng and Kumar did - touring the various clubs over the weekend to share their support for the freedom to love.

It was a rollickin' four nights at Play, Taboo, Butter Factory and Avalon for the ambassadors as they mingled with club-goers and shared their reasons for supporting PinkDot 2012. The clubs were packed with clubbers and supporters who welcomed the news of the new sunset event, culminating in the formation of the first-ever Night Pink Dot.

After the launch of the PinkDot Ambassadors' Video 2012, Sharon, Yu-Beng, and Kumar hosted quizzes to give away some cuddly PinkDot plushies! To all those who snapped up our cute plushies - a big THANK YOU! All proceeds will go towards funding PinkDot.

The PinkDot team would like to thank all those who have made this launch weekend a blast and a success. We had fun, and we certainly hope you did too!

Don’t forget to save the date – 30 June 2012, 6pm at Hong Lim Park. See you there with your pink lights!

Save the Date!

Save the Date for Singapore’s first-ever
NIGHT Pink Dot 2012!

Singapore, April 6, 2012 – On June 30, 2012, Singaporeans will, for the fourth year running, gather at Hong Lim Park to form a human pink dot in support of the belief that everyone deserves the freedom to love, regardless their sexual orientation.

This year, organisers have planned something extra special – Pink Dot 2012 will take place at sunset, for the first time in its history culminating in the formation of a pink dot of shimmering torches, light sticks and glowing mobile phones, in the first hours of darkness.

“Having a Pink Dot formed at night makes for a dramatic message of inclusivity and acceptance – a celebration of unity in diversity that emphasises our shared belief in the Freedom to Love, “ said Pink Dot spokesperson Paerin Choa.

Pink Dot 2012 is also proud to announce its Ambassadors, personalities who need no further introduction – actor-comedian-diva extraordinaire Kumar, former actress and City Beat host Sharon Au, and multi-talented actor Lim Yu-Beng, in a special announcement video that will be unveiled tonight.

The inaugural Pink Dot event in 2009, saw 2,500 people in attendance. In 2010, this figure nearly doubled to 4,000, while Pink Dot 2011 saw its largest turnout yet – more than 10,000 people thronged Hong Lim Park in a strong show of support.

So please, SAVE THE DATE: 

WHAT: PINK DOT 2012 

WHERE: Hong Lim Park
 
WHEN: Saturday, June 30, 2012
 
WHAT TO BRING: Pink lights!
WHAT TO WEAR: Of course, PINK!
 
TIMINGS: Activities commence 5.30pm, Concert begins at 6.30pm, Dot is formed at 7.30pm, or when it is sufficiently dark

*Please note: According to the park's terms and conditions, only Singaporeans and Permanent Residents may participate at the events held at Hong Lim Park. However, foreigners are most welcome to watch and observe.

PinkDot Launch Weekend

PinkDot is back for 2012!

Last year, over 10,000 Singaporeans and PRs stood for the freedom to love, and be loved, regardless of one's sexual orientation. This year, Pink Dot is made a little extra special - find out more this Easter weekend!

We will be premiering our PinkDot 2012 Launch Video at the following parties, say hi!

Thursday 5 April
TwoQueens, Blushing Bunny Party @ PLAY

Friday 6 April
Play
Taboo

Saturday 7 April
MisMatch9, Spring Fling @ Butter Factory

Sunday 8 April
Avalon

Can you guess which Celebrity Ambassadors are making a stand for Pink Dot this year? :)

::

PINKDOT PLUSHIES

This little plushie charmed our socks off when it appeared in the Pink Dot 2011 video. Now you can take home a little piece of Pink Dot at its cutest and cuddliest. Proceeds will go towards fundraising for Pink Dot 2012. Help us make Singapore a more open and inclusive society one Pink Dot at a time. Give it to a friend, a colleague, a family member, or heck, even a stranger. Spread the love. Pass on the message that everyone should have the right to love, and be loved.

Big Pinkie (60cm) - $68;
Medium Pinkie (30cm) - $38;
Baby Pinkie (5cm keychain) - $8.

Pinkie Plushies will be at the following shops from 5 April:

Hide and Seek
71 Bussorah St
Tel: 6296 2036

ActuallyActually
16 Purvis Street, #02-01
Tel: 6336 7002


ActuallyShop.com (online; international orders welcome)
http://www.actuallyshop.com/pinkdot

VERY Wooonderland

B3-12 ION Orchard

Tel: 6738 0002