|
|
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Singapore park forbids gay-rights picnic (5:55 p.m.)
SINGAPORE-- Singapore banned a gay rights group Wednesday from holding a picnic and fun run at a popular park, saying politics were not welcome in the country's green spaces.
Gay rights group People Like Us had planned a picnic at the downtown Botanic Gardens on Thursday and a 5-kilometer (3.11-mile) run the following day as part of a series of activities marking gay and lesbian pride month.
"It was never meant to be political, and this testifies to the paranoia of the government," Alex Au, an organizer said. "They automatically assume that anything gay is a political challenge to them. It speaks volumes about the political climate in Singapore."
The prohibition follows bans last week on a gay rights forum and an exhibition of photographs depicting same-sex kissing. Authorities have also banned gay festivals and censored gay films yet there have been few prosecutions. (AP) |
|
|
|
