"That is how we can talk to the other side… the best way is to tell a story rather than to argue because when you're arguing, it tends to be circular and you'll never reach a conclusion" — Sean Foo, founder of Dear Straight People.
Welcome to another edition of the Esquire Talks. Today's topic: should Singapore recognise LGBTQ rights? Well, duh, right? We know the LGBTQ population exist; we know that these people pay the same taxes as the rest of us so why, in the year of our Lorde in 2018, is this still an issue?
Moderated by a white, straight, cis-male (Neil Humphreys), the panel consisted of Hirzi Zulkiflie, a YouTube personality; June Chua, founder of The T Project, a shelter for the homeless transgender community; Cally Cheung, COO and co-founder of LGBTQ support platform Prout; Reverend Miak Siew from the Free Community Church; and Foo, as quoted above. While recognising LGBTQ rights was overwhelmingly lauded by the panelists and participants in the room, one can't help but notice the lack of straight representation in the audience. Because, at the end of the day, this panel is for the 'rest of us'—the ones who are not part of the LGBTQ group, but are the key to a solution of policy-making and progression.
So, if you find this useful, do share it; to a member of the LGBTQ, this panel's discussion will sound like its preaching to the choir but hopefully, it helps to enlightened the rest of us.
For more thought-provoking conversations, tune in to Esquire Singapore's podcast series THE BITE.
