Remy Choo is a lawyer who acted for members of the LGBTQ+ community in 2 constitutional challenges against Section 377A of the Penal Code between 2013 and 2022.
He delivered a rousing speech at Pink Dot 14 which touched on the path beyond repeal, and how a rich history of Queer activism has led the community to the position it is in today.
Here’s the transcript of his speech from Pink Dot 2022.
Introduction
HELLO PINK DOT. WELCOME BACK TO HONG LIM PARK!
It’s been two long years, but we’re back!
Since we’ve last been here, some things have changed.
The Government has said that Section 377A is under review. Just three days ago, a survey showed that a majority of Singaporeans no longer support the criminalization of gay men.
The Choices facing MPs
Soon, the question of repeal will be back in Parliament, and our MPs will face a choice:
- Will Singapore continue to be a society held hostage to a vocal moral minority, who get weirdly triggered by images of cartoon characters kissing?
- Or will we finally start making good on our pledge to be a democratic society, based on justice and equality?
The answer, to me, is clear. Any day of the year, I choose EQUALITY.
But what does repealing 377A mean?
Why repealing 377A matters
To me, repealing 377A is the first step to reclaiming what it means to be normal.
I came out when I was 30 years old. I was told that gay life ends at 21, but I’m happy to report that’s not true. Like many of us, I spent most of my life denying who I am.
And that’s because laws like 377A work by gaslighting us, and turning the logic of what’s normal upside down, inside out. Gaslighting works by forcing us accept to realities that we know not to be true:
This relic of our colonial past, introduced by the English in 1938, has become the last bastion of our Asian Values
Discrimination is legally sanctioned, in a country that professes the right of every citizen to equal protection before the law. And in a country that prides itself on being compared to Hong Kong or New York, we rate cartoons like the most conservative of religious societies.
But, to stigmatize love: how can that be normal? Look around us, we know there is nothing abnormal about our love.
Standing on the shoulders of giants
Today, we gather in the thousands to celebrate the freedom to love. We look to a better future, a new normal, standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us.
In years past queer Singaporeans fought for visibility by starting NGOs for queer rights in a time when gay clubs were being actively raided by the police.
In the face of medical discrimination, in a time of a very different epidemic, queer Singaporeans fought to be heard.
And there were other queer Singaporeans who challenged the law in Parliament, and after that, yet others who became Plaintiffs and sued the Government in our Courts.
So we stand here today because our community fought, and we need to keep fighting. Fighting to exist, to be seen, and fighting to advance.
Discrimination will not end with Repeal
Whichever path Parliament takes on 377A, remember this: Discrimination did not start with 377A, and it will not end with repeal.
We need to carry that fight forward and what that means is we need to fight discrimination in our schools.
We need to fight discrimination against queer people in housing policy.
We need to fight for media representation.
And even in our own communities, we need to fight discrimination against racial minorities.
And we need to fight the stigma of those amongst us who live with HIV.
If 377A is repealed, it’s the beginning of a long road to equality, not the end.
Here today, we see a future that is so much more than the law.
Celebrating love
Look around. Look at the love our community is capable of. Hold the hands of your partners. Your family. Your chosen family. What can be more normal than this love?
My friends, today, we celebrate this love. We do this confident in the knowledge that we are on the right side of history.
And tomorrow we continue the fight for equality. Thank you.
Reactions
A snippet of Remy’s speech that was uploaded on TikTok may be found below:
@jianweit
At least one TikTok user was of the view that Remy delivered the best speech at Pink Dot 14.
In an Instagram post published a couple of days after Pink Dot 14, Remy wrote:
Pink Dot is the day queer Singaporeans affirm our visibility, uplift our community, and raise our flags with PRIDE ?️?
As we start turning our backs on one bad law, we’re reminded of how much more work needs to be done before we’re equal before the law.
Many in the comments section praised Remy for his speech and his advocacy.
You can connect with Remy through LinkedIn and Instagram.
Since you have made it to the end of the article, follow Wake Up Singapore on Telegram!
