There has been much discussion about the NLB’s decision to remove and pulp the three books that were deemed not ‘pro-family’ following a complaint by Mr Teo Kai Loon. To NLB’s surprise, there was uproar from netizens.
The complaint and book removal came very soon after the ‘wear white’ campaign organized by religious groups to protest the Pink Dot celebration. So there is no doubt that some would see the NLB incident as a case of LGBT vs religious groups too.
However, this is not the real reason for the uproar. I am straight and I have no concern for the LGBT issue or for their rights. Many others are as apathetic to the LGBT cause as I am. Yet we are against the removal of the books. Why? Because we fear that this book removal will set a dangerous precedent for Singapore. I am uneasy with Christian groups encroaching on my rights as a citizen.
Will we next hear about TV shows and other library books getting banned after complaints from vocal Christians?
I am aware that Muslim groups support the pro-family cause too, but the most vocal groups behind this cause are the Christian groups led by Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong of FCBC. It is highly disturbing to know that vocal Christian groups are disguising their Christian evangelist agenda under the ‘pro-family’ banner.
As a non-Christian, I do not want to see any church acting as a second force in my country. I only respect the authority of the Singapore government. Lawrence Khong has many a time tried to influence government policy. In 2013, Khong ‘ambushed’ Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong who was on a walkabout in Marine Parade GRC, invited him into the church, and then read out a prepared speech expressing his wish for Section 377A to be retained. He also wanted the movement to repeal Section 377A to be stopped by the government.
(Source: http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/pastor-ambushes-goh-chok-to...) (Another source: http://www.todayonline.com/commentary/gods-will-and-state-law-dangerous-mix)
The government does not exist to serve the whims of religiously-motivated individuals. The government is already determined to keep Section 377A. But Lawrence Khong and his ilk want more than that. They want to stop anything that acknowledges the very existence of the LGBTs.
Earlier this year, in February, Lawrence Khong meddled in the government’s policy making process again. Why? It was because he felt that the Ministry of Health (MOH) had condoned homosexuality. I was stunned. All the MOH had done was publish a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Health Promotion Board website. The FAQs were just normal health tips highlighting some medical problems gays could face. It didn’t seem a big deal. The focus was on staying healthy. And isn’t it the responsibility of the government to ensure that we are all healthy?
Lawrence Khong forbids acknowledgement of LGBTs. Any mention of a gay is too much for him.
As our former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said in 1987, "Churchmen, lay preachers, priests, monks, Muslim theologians, all those who claim divine sanction or holy insights, take off your clerical robes before you take on anything economic or political.”
“Take it off. Come out as a citizen or join a political party and it is your right to belabor the government, but use a church or a religion and your pulpit for these purposes and there will be serious repercussions”. (Source: http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1987/08/01/lee-kuan-yew...)
I sincerely hope that Lawrence Khong and those like him will not repeatedly use anti-LGBT rhetoric to interfere with the workings of government agencies. He and FCBC have already made plans to do so. Members were sent a template email on how to write to agencies. (Source: http://therealsingapore.com/content/pastor-lawrence-khong-guide-how-lobb...)
Although I am a non-Christian, I am getting annoyed with Lawrence Khong’s repeated encroachments, all in the name of his anti-LGBT cause. He claims that his pro-family cause is intended for the good of all Singaporeans. Sorry, but I trust our elected representatives to decide what’s good for Singapore and Singaporeans.
I sure as hell did not vote for Lawrence Khong, so that’s it for him and his cause. His anti-gay crusade does not in any way make me feel interested in joining his religion. If he doesn’t like gays, fine. He has his church. He has no right to force his Christian beliefs on our secular state. There are already MPs of all religions represented in parliament and they adequately bring up religious issues from time to time.
I sincerely hope he stops disturbing the government with his antics. There are serious national issues like the CPF that matter more to Singaporeans than his petty anti-gay crusade. As for NLB, it should be more consultative and reasonable when dealing with religiously-motivated complaints. It should not be seen as pandering to any religious group.
A concerned Singaporean
TRS Contributor