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SINGAPORE — Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) have the autonomy to manage their own campus activities, such as deciding which artists, speakers and performers to invite, including those who may identity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) causes, said Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah.
The IHLs need to be respectful of Singapore’s wider social norms and laws, and exercise appropriate judgement and sensitivity when dealing with potentially socially divisive issues, she told Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 5)
But these decisions on LGBTQ performers should not be made based on personal views, as different people may have very different personal views, she added.
Ms Indranee was responding to a supplementary question by Nominated Member of Parliament Walter Theseira, who asked the Education Ministry to confirm whether decisions to allow LGBTQ individuals to perform or speak at school campuses should be based on established policies or personal views.
His question came after two individuals made the news when they withdrew their engagements with two IHLs after they were told to edit out LGBTQ content.
In September, local bisexual singer Leon Markcus pulled out from a concert that was to take place at SIM Global Education, after he was allegedly told to change his performance in a way that did not promote the LGBTQ community.
Read also: New legislation protects LGBTQ community from religiously motivated violence but law is 'same for all'
In July, local disc jockey Joshua Simon decided not to speak at a TED Talks session held at Singapore Polytechnic after he was told by the school to edit out portion of his script that contained LGBTQ content.
“Such decisions should not be made on personal views,” said Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance.
Ms Indranee said that IHLs provide a public space which is attended by people of “many different views… many different persuasions, whether it's race, religion or sexual orientation”.
Read also: Singapore’s approach to tackling inequality is to build 'enabling meritocracy': Indranee
The schools need to ensure that these spaces, where potentially socially divisive issues are discussed, are safe for its audiences.
“The key thing is to work within the parameters I have outlined, which is that they have to be respectful of our social norms and laws, and they do have to exercise appropriate judgement and sensitivity,” she added.
This means that there is an element of discretion schools will have to exercise when making these decisions.
Read also: LGBT activist launches fresh High Court challenge to Section 377A
But “that element discretion should not be decided based just on your own personal belief,” she repeated.
Instead, IHLs should seek to make their decisions based on what is comfortable for their audience.
“Some audiences may well be able to be much more accommodating, others may feel a little uncomfortable. Institutions will have to take that call,” she said.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...llow-lgbtq-speakers-performers-based-personal
The IHLs need to be respectful of Singapore’s wider social norms and laws, and exercise appropriate judgement and sensitivity when dealing with potentially socially divisive issues, she told Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 5)
But these decisions on LGBTQ performers should not be made based on personal views, as different people may have very different personal views, she added.
Ms Indranee was responding to a supplementary question by Nominated Member of Parliament Walter Theseira, who asked the Education Ministry to confirm whether decisions to allow LGBTQ individuals to perform or speak at school campuses should be based on established policies or personal views.
His question came after two individuals made the news when they withdrew their engagements with two IHLs after they were told to edit out LGBTQ content.
In September, local bisexual singer Leon Markcus pulled out from a concert that was to take place at SIM Global Education, after he was allegedly told to change his performance in a way that did not promote the LGBTQ community.
Read also: New legislation protects LGBTQ community from religiously motivated violence but law is 'same for all'
In July, local disc jockey Joshua Simon decided not to speak at a TED Talks session held at Singapore Polytechnic after he was told by the school to edit out portion of his script that contained LGBTQ content.
“Such decisions should not be made on personal views,” said Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance.
Ms Indranee said that IHLs provide a public space which is attended by people of “many different views… many different persuasions, whether it's race, religion or sexual orientation”.
Read also: Singapore’s approach to tackling inequality is to build 'enabling meritocracy': Indranee
The schools need to ensure that these spaces, where potentially socially divisive issues are discussed, are safe for its audiences.
“The key thing is to work within the parameters I have outlined, which is that they have to be respectful of our social norms and laws, and they do have to exercise appropriate judgement and sensitivity,” she added.
This means that there is an element of discretion schools will have to exercise when making these decisions.
Read also: LGBT activist launches fresh High Court challenge to Section 377A
But “that element discretion should not be decided based just on your own personal belief,” she repeated.
Instead, IHLs should seek to make their decisions based on what is comfortable for their audience.
“Some audiences may well be able to be much more accommodating, others may feel a little uncomfortable. Institutions will have to take that call,” she said.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...llow-lgbtq-speakers-performers-based-personal
