Since it started in 2009, Pink Dot has grown from small gatherings and assemblies to bigger public demonstrations as participants fight for the freedom to love. However, its existence gets critiqued by the general public and even the government.

Singapore, dubbed The Little Red Dot on the map, is known for being progressive, but Pink Dot, a public expression of LGBTQ+ identity and solidarity, is not something commonly recognised within the country.

Lesbian women in Singapore have to navigate a country where same-sex relationships, while not criminalised for women, are still unseen in today’s society. The traditional values and emphasis on heterosexual couples can leave lesbian women feeling diminished. Pink Dot provides a space for them to connect, share experiences, and love.

Trans women in Singapore also face significant discrimination, from legal recognition of their gender to access to affirming healthcare and protection from harassment. The journey of a trans woman in a society that often struggles with gender dysphoria can be isolating.

Pink Dot has always wanted to voice out their frustrations to the Prime Minister, as he claimed in 2024 that Singapore “can be a society where every Singaporean matters”, but the lack of support for the trans Singaporeans says otherwise.

Recent surveys conducted by Pink Dot highlight that almost half of LGBTQ+ Singaporeans experience discrimination in job searches or at work, and a significant number of LGBTQ+ students face discrimination in schools, with transgender individuals being disproportionately affected.

Read more stories on trans women in article one & article two.

For this one student, she was told that she would not be allowed to return to her Junior College (JC) after receiving Hormonal Therapy (HRT). She took to Reddit’s R/SGexams to call out the Ministry of Education for not accepting trans students.

Alongside this, I was informed that I had to cut my hair to fit the boys’ hairstyle in the handbook, and that I was specifically to wear the male uniform; that could probably have slipped under the radar but it seems unlikely as all these troubles started in the same month. In addition, if I became unable to fit in the boys’ uniform if I somehow got hormone therapy, I would be expelled from school, instead of being allowed to wear the female uniform. The principal’s explanation for this was that ‘due to your presentation, you would be as disruptive to the school environment as a student with severe autism’.

Ashlee (@AcanthisittaParty986) on R/SGexams

Pink Dot allows trans women to stand tall and advocate for their rights to live without fear. This public gathering also allows individuals to openly express themselves, which would be ignored elsewhere.

However, Pink Dot is also extremely monitored, as any form of a massive and uncontrolled protest would result in the possible cancellation of the prominent LGBTQ+ event in Singapore. The government is extremely cautious about its approach to social issues, and hence, the laws were introduced in 2017, which barred foreigners and foreign-owned companies from participating in or sponsoring events at Speakers’ Corner, ultimately preventing a foreign influence from occurring in a local and domestic event.

This forced Pink Dot to rely solely on local sponsorship and attendance, which allowed them to showcase their support for local companies and also prove to the government wrong that, despite their major setback, they’re still able to host their event.

Furthermore, while Section 377A, the colonial-era law that criminalised sex between men, was repealed in 2022, there were other concerns within the country. Housing, employment discrimination, and lack of comprehensive protection against prejudice remain significant concerns for the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore.

Public assemblies challenging the status quo would be unthinkable, but the very existence of Pink Dot is inspirational. Despite the constraints of the need for strict adherence to regulations, the limitations on foreign involvement, and the enduring social and structural barriers faced by the LGBTQ+ community, Pink Dot still operates to this very day.