Singapore’s Media Development Authority says it will not allow a concert by openly gay U.S. spiritual-pop duo Jason and deMarco.
‘Alternative lifestyles are against the public interest,’ the MDA said. ‘Based on the reports about the duo’s performances in the United States and the duo’s Web site, the duo uses their musical performance and their own example of being a couple to celebrate and promote a gay lifestyle.’
The couple was being brought to Singapore by the local gay Christian support group Safehaven, which says more than half of the tickets for the April 3 Action for AIDS charity concert have been sold.
But without an ‘arts and entertainment license’ from the MDA, the concert cannot be staged.
Safehaven is appealing the matter to the minister for information, communications and the arts.
‘The discrimination that goes on against gay people is not just an issue that goes on in Singapore, it happens everywhere,’ Jason said March 24. ‘Go to any city around the world, and you will find it.
‘We are very concerned about the intolerance against gay people that is expressed and enforced by the government of Singapore, and we are asking people to speak out.’ — Rex Wockner