“We learn to love a love that doesn’t look like ours.”
This strong statement is but one of many emotionally impactful lines found in Pink Dot SG’s 2015 campaign video, which was unveiled last week alongside the Ambassadors and Sponsors for Pink Dot 2015.
For the uninitiated, Pink Dot Singapore is an annual rally that encourages the concept of Freedom to Love, which is the right to love regardless of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity — a freedom that allows love to transcend all barriers and social obstacles, and a love that leads to a kinder, more inclusive Singapore.
This year, Pink Dot hopes that Singaporeans would take a step back to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation towards dispelling discrimination and prejudice that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community here faces, as well as the many challenges that still remain.
Left to Right: Hirzi Zulkiflie, Munah Bagharib, Patricia Mok are unveiled as Ambassadors for Pink Dot 2015.
Heading the charge for 2015’s Pink Dot Singapore are the lovely Ambassadors Patricia Mok, Daren Tan and Munah Bagharib and Hirzi Zulkiflie. These Ambassadors, who are no strangers to the Pink Dot movements, are all established in their own right and wish to use their platforms to raise awareness and remove the social stigma faced by the LGBT community here in Singapore.
Pink Dot SG 2015, being the seventh Annual Pink Dot event, sees a record number of corporate brands declaring public support for the Freedom to Love, with media giants Cathay Organisation, Twitter and Bloomberg joining returning sponsors Google, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, BP and The Gunnery. These corporate sponsors were presented with Pink Dot plushies at the Pink Dot 2015 launch event as a token of appreciation for their valued support.
The 2015 Pink Dot Campaign Video, which was directed by the acclaimed Singaporean director Boo Junfeng, was nothing short of inspiring. It highlights all the challenges the LGBT community in Singapore has faced and is facing, whilst paying an emotional tribute to all the courageous and inspiring individuals who have contributed and stood up for the LGBT community in Singapore.
I was floored by the level of dedication and passion poured into a video made by an entire cast and crew of volunteers. For some, it is very apparent that Pink Dot has become an integral part of their lives, championing a cause they so deeply believe in.
As part of Pink Dot Singapore’s community outreach efforts, a social media campaign has been launched in partnership with Campaign.com, a local Internet start-up. The public is invited to upload photos to www.campaign.com/WhereLoveLivesSG of themselves making a heart-shaped hand sign with the hashtag #WhereLoveLivesSg to show support for the movement.
“This is where we call home. Where we love. Where we hope. Where we are red, white and all the colours in between.”
Pink Dot 2015 will be held at Hong Lim Park on 13 June 2015, Saturday.
View Pink Dot Singapore’s 2015 campaign video here:
