Pink Dot SG'17 💕🌈

Well hi guys! I'm back with another post!! So 2 days ago on 1 July, I attended Pink Dot SG with Ki for the first time and I decided to blog about my experience (at 1+am lol zhen) since some asked me about it!

Okay to start off, let's explain what's Pink Dot SG is about!

It's an event that aims to raise awareness, promote greater understanding, acceptance and inclusion of the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders) community. This year is even more special as it has broadened to include the queer, intersex and asexual, becoming LGBTQIA!

This annual rally at Hong Lim Park started from 2009 and the supporters had grew so much to 10,000+ this year! BUT, due to the recent changes to the Public Order Act (preventing foreigners from promoting political causes), only Singaporeans and PRs (permanent residents) were allowed to participate. The entire park was barricaded as well, unlike past years, due to the change. The same thing applied to sponsors as well as only local companies were allowed to sponsor this event and cause.

This did not deter supporters of the cause but seemed to do the opposite as even MORE locals and PRs attended and even has 120 local sponsors sia!! Daebak 💗

Entering

Due to the new enforcement mentioned above, participants had to queue up to produce our ICs/passports for verification and inspection of sharp objects. We were HIGHLY encouraged to come queue early (heng we did man) and everything went relatively smoothly and efficiently (at least for my case) since there were around 7(?) entrances to queue at. Upon passing the checkpoint, we were gifted with a pink brochure outlining the day's events, a PinkDot mascot car sticker, (EXTREMELY PRETTY) pink torchlight and an inflatable balloon toy thingy which has a pink LED light inside.

There were many volunteers around, some helped to give out bottles of water, some busied with the registration, some giving out the goodies and others helping to answer people's queries. We even met one of our Primary School classmate who was a volunteer as well!!

Activities there

There was an area where booths were set up in which around 3 (?) were F&B stalls such as Aloha Poke, Cocoloco and SharedTea. The rest are all like to promote and raise awareness of a certain group of the community. I felt like it was really interesting to see the various creative ways used.

It was a pretty eye-opening experience for me as I could see so many more of those from the LGBT community.

We decided to find a spot on the grass to sit and wait for the concert to start. Damn it was hella hot LOL Ki's friend, Kai Wen, came to join us as well, along with her colleague, Nate. Not long after, another 2 other people came to join us on the grass (I forgot whose friends they were haha 😌

cr: kaiwen

cr: nate

We all just made simple introductions and made small talks hahah all really nice people!! Oh and it was Nate who told me that like 2 years ago Pink Dot didn't have this many people which was why I was so amazed by the crowd. Oh mind you, by like 5+PM the crowd was insane lol so to those who wants to attend next year, please go early lmao.

Oh it was really amazing to see so many people dressing up to support the cause like with rainbow highlights (omg xiaxue was there guys and her rainnow highlighter was bomb)(didn't save the instastory pic of her sigh soz guys), extremely pink outfits, saw some wearing like drag outfits. Quite a lot of people brought along their dogs and kids along too!!! Damn adorable hahaha. It was also comforting to know that some friends and relatives were there to support too!! 😗

While waiting for the concert, there were like 2 people sharing their speeches and the emcee kept us entertained. By 7++PM, concert started with some local bands, singing a rendition of the national anthem beside escalating into the hype of the concert!!

Nathan Hartono kicked start, followed by Hirzi, MsAndreasChua and LimitedEdition and other performers!! OH DAMN THEY WERE LIT MAN HUE by this point in time Ki and I just abandoned our belongings and went to the front to watch. Thanks so much to Nate and the other guy for taking care man 🙏

After the concert around near 8 (?) we were prepared to start the light up!!!!!!! We used the pink torchlights and balloon LEDs to form the pink sea and this year was special with the rainbow torches!!!! WEW We had to gather towards the pink heart that was hung up at the Furama building. We did some like routines with the lights hahha kinda fun!!

cr: PinkDotSG

After that around 8+PM, we decided to leave the place already.

Gosh the day was so hot and I was so sticky and sweaty and suffocated ('cos I short then deprived of oxygen among the forest of tall peeps) but was still fun an enriching!! MIGHT consider volunteering next year but shall see how again wew!

Really hope for Singaporeans to grow to accept and embrace everyone for who they are and love whoever they want. As the emcees said, it's not a choice to be that way. Everyone are born different what and have their own rights to what they wanna like. It's okay if you don't support them due to your religion or beliefs, just don't condemn them or like slam them saying what they're doing is wrong. They also never force you to be like them, so why should you force them to be like you? If you don't agree with them, just leave them alone. You live your life your way, they live theirs their way. Got nothing nice to say, then don't say kay. (a very broken/ Singlish way of saying this)

To all my closeted friends or those who came out, have courage!! 😁 #lovefree

BEFORE YOU LEAVE, CHECK OUT THIS VID  💕🌈