Nothing New

Not Immaterial, Doc (28 April 2011)

‘Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Dr Ang Yong Guan was quoted as saying that ‘a person’s sexual orientation doesn’t matter’, while reacting to news about his teammate, Dr Vincent Wijeysingha (‘PAP and SDP square off over ‘smear tactics”; Tuesday). A person’s sexual orientation is immaterial and not an issue to most Singaporeans if he is not holding an influential public office. If Dr Wijeysingha were to be voted into Parliament, I would be very wary of him if he is a gay activist. A Member of Parliament is beholden to his electorate to preserve the social fabric and moral values of our society. We are still a conservative nation with strong family and religious values against homosexuality. The last thing we want in Parliament is a gay activist. I am certain the voters of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC would not want to vote in their ‘first gay MP’.’

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see a letter of this ilk. After all, that was probably exactly what Vivian was aiming for when he launched his personal attack. I wish it was not this way, but Singaporeans holding discriminatory and outdated opinions is not exactly something new.

To point out what our author is saying or implying:

1) “The gay” is akin to a disease that can be spread.

2) There is a danger that public figures will spread it. How? Beats me.

3) We can and should legislate morality.

4) Legislation should be passed according to religious values not held by all.

Every single one of those arguments is bullshit. Citizens’ private lives should be of no interest to the state unless they are pursuing activities that directly and non-consensually harm other members of society; for example, child pornography. Legislation is meant to protect every citizen in the country equally; it is not meant to discriminate and hold anyone to an arbitrary moral standard. The idea of a gay agenda is completely laughable, or should be, to any discerning individual. Most importantly of all, legislation should not be passed according to religious values or moral standards held by only a percentage of the population. Singapore is a secular state, and a secular state it ought to stay. We cannot permit any religious values to influence the laws passed here, because we are not a theocracy and, fortunately, only a crackpot minority think we ought to be.

This country will never advance if its people continue to cling to outmoded concepts of morality and law.

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