Dear Singapore, Understand Why Students Had to Risk Their Lives to Peacefully Protest for Trans Rights
This was written by Prout, an LGBTQ+ meetup and support platform to build a safer space for the community to find meaningful connections and seek support. Follow us on Telegram for LGBTQ+ news and events at t.me/proutapp and like us on Instagram and Facebook.
Dear Singapore,
You may have seen the peaceful protest that happened outside the Ministry of Education calling for more rights and protections for LGBTQ+ students, the statement by Pink Dot which we have co-signed, and the statement by the #FixSchoolsNotStudents protest group.
Whether you’re inside or outside the LGBTQ+ community, take a moment to pause and reflect on why these youth had to do this. After exhausting all formal communication channels following the incident affecting student Ashlee and faced with a suspended Speakers’ Corner due to Phase 3 regulations, our youth believed they had little choice left. We have let our youth down.
We call for leniency by the authorities and an open forum for LGBTQ+ students, especially the transgender and non-binary community, to air their concerns and frustrations.
We also call for the LGBTQ+ community to support our transgender and non-binary friends. Reach out to them, listen to their concerns, understand their pain and assist wherever you can. Right now, they need us.
Yours sincerely,
Prout
— Written by Kyle Malinda-White, co-founder & CEO, Prout
