Singapore Gay Party To Be Held In Phuket

[george]

Singapore gay party to be held in Phuket

Ban forces festival to switch venues

SINGAPORE: -- One of Asia's most popular international gay and lesbian festivals will be moved from Singapore to Phuket this year after the Singapore police turned down an application for a permit to stage the party, organisers said yesterday.

A gay website which had organised the festival in Singapore since 2001,

Fridae.com, said the police earlier this month rejected its application for a permit because it would be ``contrary to public interest''.

The event will now be held from Nov 4-6 on Phuket, which is still struggling to bring back tourists in the wake of the devastation of the Dec 26 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Held on Singapore's Sentosa island yearly to coincide with Singapore's National Day in August, the party had been increasingly attracting thousands of participants from around the world since it was first staged.

It attracted 8,000 revellers in 2004 of which 40% were international visitors, Fridae.com said in a statement.

``We are disappointed that the authorities have deemed a National Day celebration by Singapore's gay citizens as being `contrary to public interest,' when it had previously been approved four years without incident,'' said Fridae.com chief executive Stuart Koe.

``This is a direct contradiction to previous calls for embracing of diversity,'' he said.

The police ban came three months after Senior Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan said the festival may be behind a sharp rise in the number of new HIV infections in Singapore.

Mr Balaji told parliament in March he based his statement on the opinion of an unnamed medical expert.

``An epidemiologist has suggested that this may be linked to the annual predominantly gay party in Sentosa, the Nation party, which allows gays from high prevalence societies to fraternise with local gay men, seeding the infection in the local community.

``However, this is an hypothesis and more research needs to be done by the experts,'' the minister said.

A record 311 people in Singapore had contracted HIV _ the virus that causes Aids last year _ up 28% from 2003.

Mr Balaji said 90% of the people who contracted the virus last year were men, with a third of them gay.

There are now more than 2,000 HIV or Aids confirmed patients in Singapore.

Fridae.com, which bills itself as Asia's largest website for gays, angrily rejected Balaji's comments.

Tourism operators in Phuket welcome the planned change of venue.

Phanu Maswongsa, vice chairman of Phuket Tourism Business Association, said the gay festival would be good for Phuket tourism.

``We should not look at them as gays.

They are tourists just like any other tourist,'' Mr Phanu said.

`` If we limit their right, soon nobody would want to visit Phuket.

''The festival should help boost room occupancy, which has fallen to only 15%, he said.

--AFP/Bangkok Post 2005-06-08

[Ijustwannateach]

Yeah, they came to Bangkok last time... easy to spot, too, they have a very distinct sense of fashion (to put it kindly). I think it's a good ploy on their part; sooner or later Singapore will get tired of the negative press and maybe start wondering about the money that local businesses are losing as a result of their unnecessary silliness.

"Steven"

[george]

Update:

Phuket welcomes international gay festival

PHUKET: -- The governor of Thailand's southern resort province of Phuket, Udomsak Assawarangura, yesterday confirmed that one of Asia’s largest gay and lesbian festivals was likely to be given the go-ahead to take place on the southern resort island, after having been banned from Singapore for being ‘contrary to the public interest’.

The website, [www.fridea.com], has held the annual festival in Singapore since 2001, but this year had its application turned down by the Singapore authorities.

But for Phuket, struggling to restore its tourism industry after the December tsunami, the prospect of an influx of gay and lesbian visitors has received a warm welcome from both the state and the private sector.

Noting that Phuket had hosted gay festivals in the past, Mr. Udomsak said that the festival was likely to take place as long as it did not contravene Thai legislation or morality.

“It must operate in accordance with the law, and not create problems or violate

morals”, he said.

“Phuket is ready and willing to host this event”, he added.

The festival, now likely to take place on the Karon Beach on 4-6 November, last year attracted some 8,000 revellers.

--TNA 2005-06-09

[Jamiesiam]

Oh God help us more Singaporeans to cope with, I don't mind people with superior attitudes but on such a large scale!!!

You can bet your life that if Phuket wasn't suffering so badly from lack of tourism we'd have been told to Pi** off as Thailand doesn't want any queers, but looks like the need for hard cash can overcome moral scruples in the dear old land of smiles.

Did anyone notice it clashes with Bangkok Pride's Pride in the Park?

[Soi Mongrel]

The TAT is singing a little different tune now then when they were persecuting the gay travel agency (it is immoral to promote tourism to gay people, etc. etc.)... Bunch of hypocritical wanks...

[win]

dont forget to update de date,time, and vanue

i really wana joy, but hey whre can i stay? i wont stay ther alone...

can anyone help me be my partner,,, jst wana ask

[Pongpat]

Update:

Phuket welcomes international gay festival 

PHUKET: -- The governor of Thailand's southern resort province of Phuket, Udomsak Assawarangura, yesterday confirmed that one of Asia’s largest gay and lesbian festivals was likely to be given the go-ahead to take place on the southern resort island, after having been banned from Singapore for being ‘contrary to the public interest’.

The website, [www.fridea.com], has held the annual festival in Singapore since 2001, but this year had its application turned down by the Singapore authorities.

But for Phuket, struggling to restore its tourism industry after the December tsunami, the prospect of an influx of gay and lesbian visitors has received a warm welcome from both the state and the private sector.

Noting that Phuket had hosted gay festivals in the past, Mr. Udomsak said that the festival was likely to take place as long as it did not contravene Thai legislation or morality.

“It must operate in accordance with the law, and not create problems or violate

morals”, he said. 

“Phuket is ready and willing to host this event”, he added.

The festival, now likely to take place on the Karon Beach on 4-6 November, last year attracted some 8,000 revellers.

--TNA 2005-06-09

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it sure it will be held at Karon Beach instead of Patong Beach???

[kreon]

and so thailand remains the sex capital of the world

[stephanbkk]

Hi -

Any updates on which beach the festival will be held. Would like to make hotel reservations and Karon beach is quite far from Patong. Thanks guys!