His Style Diary goes ‘pink’ in July, in support of Singapore’s annual Pink Dot event, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Uninitiated folks may view it as Singapore’s version of Gay Pride, but it’s way more. Singapore’s Pink Dot also proudly celebrates inclusiveness and the acceptance of all humankind’s differences – the freedom to love and tolerance towards the LGBT community.
Pink Dot in Singapore may not be heralded with big marches of rainbow floats and mass displays on the road, but its relaxed, picnic-in-the-park carnival atmosphere is no less meaningful in driving home the points of inclusiveness and tolerance.
In fact, Pink Dot Singapore has grown year on year, in spite of new challenges its organisers face each year.
This year, Pink Dot’s organisers and community have upped the ante on the event by stretching the Pink Dot main event happening on 21 July to an entire month. In other words, Pink Dot will morph into Pink Fest – a month-long festival of fringe activities and private events that more people, even non-Singaporeans can attend and participate in in support of the movement.
Check out the full calendar of events at the official Pink Dot website, but here are some key highlights that His Style Diary highly recommends.
Pink Dot 2018 @Hong Lim Park
Pink Dot Sg is a non-profit movement started by a group of individuals who care deeply about the place that LGBT Singaporeans call home. Pink is the colour of our ICs. It is also the colour when you mix red and white – the colours of our national flag. Pink Dot stands for an open, inclusive society within our Red Dot, where sexual orientation represents a feature, not a barrier.
Location: Hong Lim Park
Date: 21 July, 5pm onwards
Note: This event is open only to Singapore citizens and PRs.
Photo Exhibition: Out in Singapore by Leslie Kee
Celebrated photographer Leslie Kee – who has shot the likes of Madonna, Beyoncé, Kate Moss and J.LO – will display new portraits of 150 LGBTQ individuals as part of his ‘Out in Singapore’ project (a continuation of his previous ‘Out in Japan’ photo series).
Venue: Intermission Bar
6001 Beach Road #05-00, 199589
Date: 05 – 29 JUL 2018
Ed’s Note: I am very proud to be one of the 150 individuals who participated in the project. Come check out Leslie Kee’s celebrated works at the opening of the exhibition, 5 July, 7pm. Or check out my posts on Instagram @hisstylediary and @stylofitzo.
Career Fair: Proud Spaces by Chope
Your dream job does exist. ‘Whether local SMEs or international MNCs, there are companies that are wholly supportive of the freedom to love in Singapore’, says Chope. That’s right – your favourite restaurant-reservation platform is putting together Proud Spaces, its inaugural inclusive career
Venue: WeWork Beach Centre
Date: 07 JUL 2018 10:00
Talk: ‘Please Mind the Gaps (The Queer Future is Open)’ by IndigNation [FULL]
IndigNation, Singapore’s Pride Season hosts a conversation about where we are now, the world we imagine for ourselves, and how we want to get there. The talk will be fronted by experts on LGBTQ activism in Singapore. There will also be experts speaking on living as LGBTQ folk and their allies.
Venue: The Fabulous Baker Boy
Date: 07 JUL 2018 16:00
Talk: ‘Queer Art from Different Perspectives’ by Art Porters Gallery
Calling all art enthusiasts: Come down to Art Porters, a contemporary art gallery near Tanjong Pagar, for this series of talks on queer art.
Venue: Art Porters Gallery
Date: 14 JUL 2018 15:00
Market: PinkFest Sunday Social Market by Jade Amar and DJ Zig Zach
Sunday Social returns to Camp Kilo Charcoal Club, for a super special PinkFest edition, with a wholesome day of music, food and shopping! The Sunday Social Market is a passion project of DJ Zig Zach and Jade Amar, who come from two very different backgrounds: music and fashion.
Venue: Camp Kilo Charcoal Club
Date: 15 JUL 2018 12:00
Theatre Performance: FAGHAG by Pam Oei presented by W!LDRICE [SOLD OUT]
Pam Oei likes gay boys. Gay boys like her too. She has always felt irresistibly drawn to them, even as a teenager before she knew what the term ‘gay’ meant. Over the years, Pam’s adventures have included: coaxing gay boyfriends out of the closet, attending her first gay wedding in 2001, fighting to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code in 2007, and being the Countdown Queen at Pink Dot every year (though the job is less ‘queen’ and more ‘drill sergeant’!). This makes her a gold-star straight ally and a bona fide faghag.
Venue: Singapore Airlines Theatre, LASALLE School of the Arts
Date: 19 – 22 July (Unfortunately tickets are all sold out.)
Workshops: Coming Out Workshop by Free Community Church
Get advice on how to come out to your family and hear different parents’ perspectives on effective communication.
Venue: Free Community Church,
1 Commonwealth Lane, #02-02 One Commonwealth
Date: 21 JUL 2018 10:00
Party: THE LOVE BALL: Pink Dot is Burning by MISMATCH
Say yas to this party thrown by veteran organisers MISMATCH. Pangina Heals (co-host of Drag Race Thailand) hosts a ‘Vogue Ballroom’ event where LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to take part in category battles to win cash prizes vouchers and trophies!
Venue: Hard Rock Café
Date: 21 JUL 2018 22:00
PARTY: PEACHES & CREAM – By Two Queens Asia
Two Queens Asia, the largest all-women event organiser in Singapore, welcomes all girls—queer, bi and every other letter in the spectrum—to come celebrate at this post-Pink Dot party. A stellar line-up of DJs and performers awaits, so come prepared to dance. Also, all girls dressed in pink from 11 p.m. to midnight get in free!
Venue: Peaches Club Singapore
Date: 21 JUL 2018 23:00