Gay reporting

The frivolous comments made by a health minister in Singapore has provoked massive outrage in the Singapore blogging community (and of course the gay activists). However, we all know that one of the golden rules of ST reporting is that anything said by the government, especially propaganda is instantly deemed reputable and hence publishable in the ST.

The allegation that gays contribute greatly to the rise in AIDS levels is not only unfounded but irresponsible and insensitive. One wonders if our leaders are really so bigoted and close-minded to issues such as homosexuality, in which case we should really query if such close-minded people are worthy enough to lead us especially since it is an oxymoron for such people to promote 'creativity' and 'critical thinking'.

But of course, the excellence of our ministers are hardly in doubt, since most of them are the elite from our population. Why then, did this aforementioned minister make such a comment regarding gays? And why did the ST media publish it?

While I reserve my opinion on homosexuality, as I am hardly qualified to cast judgment on how others choose to live their lives, I do wonder why homosexuality has suddenly blossomed into our society. Did they accede to the increasing gay population and awareness in the SG populace and thus show more recognition for it? I have never heard of the SG government acceding to public pressure before (amazing fact for a democracy), and this is no exception. Of course, the pragmatic SG government 'accepted' homosexuality because of purely economic reasons(US).

Homosexuality is still very taboo to a big part of the population. It is clear that both government and majority of the population still frown against homosexuality. Perhaps, there is a reason why there is still intolerance of homosexuals in our society. For most 'traditional' people, they feel that homosexuality is 'wrong' or 'immoral' or 'unnatural'.

What about the SG government? Are they similarly 'traditionalists' such that they cannot accept the idea of homosexuality?

I suggest that their antipathy, unlike citizens, are founded more on pragmatic reasons rather than 'traditional' reasons. As I mentioned earlier homosexuality was only tacitly acknowledged by the government a few years back, and this was due to political/economic rather than social pressure. However, the aversion to homosexuals is surely one which is analogous to the aversion to singles (yes, let us not forget that singles are very much discriminated against in SG as well). Simply because homosexuals, like singles, will not contribute to the economy as baby production factories unlike traditional heterosexual couples. As such, this will worsen the birth-rate situation in Singapore, and therefore the potential future of SG.

Such disparaging remarks provokes added antipathy toward homosexuality by adding fear (of AIDS) and anathema into the melting pot which already consists of disgust and bigotry. As such, anti-homosexuality resentment by the masses will increase, which the government hopes will translate as pro-heterosexuality- and hence more babies.