Original source :
MARUAH
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues have had a prominent place in Singapore public discourse of late, not least because of the upcoming annual Pink Dot event.
Debates about the role of religion in public life often enter into the foray, found generally in assertions of “secularism” and accusations against religious individuals and groups of “imposing religion” on society.
On a controversial issue like LGBT, there are those who disagree, and there who support what may loosely be referred to as “LGBT rights”.
One such supporter is self-professed “human rights” group, MARUAH, led by Braema Mathi.
Hypocrisy of “human rights” group MARUAH
During the controversy that arose early this year with the FAQs on Sexuality put up by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), MARUAH expressed how “disturbed” it was that HPB amended its FAQs on sexuality “because of pressure from faith-based groups and others who oppose discussions on sexual orientation”. It continued in its letter to TODAY, “FAQ an educational tool that should remain in its original form” (13 February 2014):
MARUAH’s focus is to ensure that rights to one’s sexual orientation are not compromised at the state level in a secular country governed by its Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The norms we should follow include the rights to information and to not be discriminated against.
Those whose beliefs differ on the issue of sexual orientation must work harder in their domains — religious houses, homes and faith-based schools — to take this deliberation and discourse further with their own communities, based on the value-based morality they endorse.
Private beliefs should not dominate to become the norm for all. We hope that the HPB will claim its role as one that is in an unassailable position to provide unprejudiced, indispensable information to educate the public objectively and equally.
enlightened religious leaders to make a stand in upholding these values in public discourse.Braema Mathi is a former Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore, a two-term former President of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), and former Vice-President of Action for AIDS. She led Transient Workers Count Too and its precursor, The Working Committee 2 (TWC2) from 2002 to 2007, and is a founding member of MARUAH (Singapore Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism). Braema is also the Regional President of the International Council of Social Welfare (Southeast Asia and Pacific) and has previously worked as a teacher, a journalist, in senior management and in research.
braemamathi 