SINGAPORE — This year’s edition of Pink Dot will feature performances by various homegrown artistes, animated short films, a documentary and music video as well as a digital light-up, the organisers said on Tuesday (June 9). 

The yearly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rally — themed Love Lives Here in its 12th edition — will be streamed live on the Pink Dot website on June 27 from 8pm to 9.30pm. 

This is the first time in 12 years, since the event has been held here, that it will not take place at Hong Lim Park near Chinatown.

The organisers said in a press statement that the livestreamed programme will feature performances by homegrown artistes Charlie Lim, Joanna Dong and Mathilda D’Silva. Up-and-coming musicians such as Chris Hong and Leon Markus will also make an appearance. 

In a first showcase for the event, there will be a music video featuring 35 Singapore drag queens and a special Pink Dot episode of YouTuber Preetipls’ Nobody Asked series, where she uploads skits and reactions to her tweets, among other things. 

Animated short films based on the lived experiences of LGBTQ youth are in the line-up, as well as a short documentary on a queer family forced to make tough decisions because of the pandemic. 

The rally organisers are encouraging Singaporeans to join in by decorating their homes and businesses with pink lights this month.

The public may also leave messages of support on the campaign’s website. These notes will form a glowing digital map of Singapore at the end of the livestreamed event.

The organisers said that the pandemic has “disproportionately impacted” LGBTQ Singaporeans.

Based on a survey of nearly 500 respondents done in May by Sayoni, a lesbian, bisexual and queer group in Singapore, 63.8 per cent of those polled faced challenges with mental health, and 47.3 per cent struggled with social isolation and a lack of access to support systems.

Mr Paerin Choa, a spokesperson for Pink Dot SG, said: “We hope that by lighting up our homes, signing up for the digital light-up and watching the livestream, we can still foster a spirit of community during these difficult times and be there for one another.”  

The organisers had announced on March 16 that the event would be cancelled and replaced by a livestream during the pandemic.

Singapore is still grappling with Covid-19, with 218 new cases reported on Tuesday. 

The country is resuming economic and social activities in three phases after stay-home restrictions were eased from June 2. Large gatherings are still barred right now.

Even in the final phase of reopening — where the situation will remain until an effective vaccine or treatment is developed — the authorities have said that social, religious and other gatherings that would have resumed will still have to be limited, in order to prevent large coronavirus clusters from emerging.