By Dear Straight People,
Section 377A may be repealed, but discimination against Singapore’s LGBTQ+ community continues.
Following two successful parties, the organisers of SLAY Singapore announced that the next edition of SLAY would take place on Saturday, 27 May. Boasting a Japanese theme, SLAY Harajuku was poised to be their biggest party yet.
Uncomfortable About Hosting A Gay Event
SLAY Harajuku was scheduled to take place at Capitol Theatre, and full payment for the venue hire agreement was made back in March.
However, issues started to pop up in April.
On 11 April, SLAY was informed that Perennial Holdings, which is a stakeholder of Capitol Singapore, expressed discomfort with Capitol Theatre hosting a ‘gay event’.
On 14 April, the SLAY team was informed that their venue hire agreement would be cancelled, despite prior assurances from the SLAY team.
The reason being, negative feedback was received from neighbouring tenants, and from the adjacent hotel and mosque, after a previous EDM event was held over new year’s eve; and a decision was made by the stakeholders (Perennial Holdings) to hold back on any more EDM events indefinitely.
We have to state that these concerns were never made known to us at any point in previous correspondences or site visits.
SLAY Team
As a result of the sudden cancellation, the organisers are unable to secure an alternative venue, leading to the cancellation of SLAY Harajuku.
Months of hard work by the SLAY team have now gone up in smoke.
Discrimination Against Singapore’s LGBT Community
Section 377A may be repealed. But Singapore still has a long way to go with regards to LGBTQ+ rights.
Gay parties in Singapore serve as crucial safe spaces for queer individuals, providing an environment free from prejudice and discrimination. Thus, it is disheartening to witness the ongoing infringement of these spaces due to homophobia.
You can read the full statement by the SLAY team here.
Dear Straight People has reached out to Capitol Theatre Singapore for comment, but we have yet to receive a response.
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