Singapore's annual Pink Dot gay pride rally drew over 20,000 people on Saturday, despite always increasing restrictions from the government designed to not only keep foreigners away but also attendance numbers down.
This is the 8th year (since 2009) the rally has at Speakers' Corner, an area set aside by the government for demonstrations, performances, and exhibitions.
In order to make sure foreigners were not participating in or influencing domestic politics, Speakers' Corner was barricaded and individuals desiring entrance had to show ID to prove they were citizens or permanent residents. Foreigners use to be able to attend by being considered observers instead of participants, but the government has blurred the lines between those two categories, banning both groups. The government also set a maximum number for attendees, possibly lessening the amount that were able to attend last year, which was 28,000.
The level of security also tripled this year, organisers said, with metal detectors and barricades under a law that requires police to monitor events with a crowd of more than 5,000 people.
The government said the move was in response to a growing threat of terrorism.
Organisers of Pink Dot were also told this year to increase security in response to potential terrorist threats. They added that the cost of hiring security has increased four-fold, and Pink Dot has had to hire 60 security guards for the event to conduct bag checks for every attendee.
Pink Dot would not reveal the cost of security, but would only say that it was a five-figure amount. – mashable.com
Way to stand proud Singapore! Keep up the fight!
Under Singapore law, sex between men is punishable by up to two years in jail, though prosecutions are rare.
h/t: uk.reuters.com, mashable.com