Different opinions over LGBT do not mean discrimination

In “LGBT youth at higher risk of suicide, more support needed” (April 29), the writer asserted that discrimination is the main contributing factor in LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) youth suicide.

This is contradictory to the Health Minister’s parliamentary reply last year on suicides: “Suicidal behaviour has a large number of complex underlying factors, including family, social, economic and mental health issues.

“Relationship problems were associated with one-third of all suicides, and financial or employment issues were associated with a further one-third”, based on a study of Singapore’s suicide statistics from 2000 to 2004.

Homosexual relationships can be complex. At the Singapore AIDS Conference 2014, survey results showed that a significant percentage of gays met their sexual partners through smartphone apps, gay saunas and Internet chat rooms.

Also during the conference, Mr Bryan Choong from Oogachaga presented that drug and alcohol abuse remains a problem in the MSM (men who have sex with men) community. In the United Kingdom, drug abuse is closely related to HIV cases.

In addition, the Health Promotion Board shared about its community initiative targeting 15- to 19-year-old at-risk youth who have multiple relationships and are suspected of or known to be engaging in sexual activity. These findings affirm the Health Ministry’s study that relationship issues are a major contributing factor in suicides.

The LGBT subject is naturally an open-ended one, with different opinions. Differences do not equate to discrimination, however. To qualify for the term discrimination, one must be deprived of equal education, financial and social opportunities. Many from the LGBT community are well educated, are in the upper middle class and have wide social circles, particularly in the arts and creative industries.

Everyone must be respected as an individual, regardless of his or her sexual orientation and age. Schoolteachers must be trained to intervene in bullying and must work with parents.

Most important is to mend broken relationships with loved ones, restore self-confidence and have a positive outlook in life.