IKEA’s endorsement of play doesn’t equate to support for LGBTs

I agree with Mr Edmund Khoo’s call, in “Gaffe by LGBT activists to attack pastor, IKEA” (April 30), for all in Singapore to embrace diversity and inclusiveness.

However, he has confused IKEA’s support for “gay theatre director Ivan Heng’s production (of) Public Enemy” as support for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community.

Also, contrary to his assertion that our LGBT community enjoys life and freedoms here, many members of this vulnerable community face discrimination at home and at work, as well as bullying in schools.

LGBT people are pro-family: We belong to and love our families. It is society’s prejudice that tears families apart. This is exacerbated by Section 377A, which continues to dehumanise and discriminate against a not insignificant minority of our society.

In all fairness to Wild Rice’s audiences, corporate partners and staff, we must help Mr Khoo understand that, firstly, Henrik Ibsen’s Public Enemy is not a gay-themed play.

Secondly, my sexuality has nothing to do with the strong support from the business, theatre and wider communities for Wild Rice, a proudly Singaporean theatre company that entertains audiences of all ages and from all walks of life, locally and abroad.

The company is committed to providing a public forum for the shared experience of theatre, celebrating diversity and reflecting the problems and possibilities of our times.

The company’s track record over the past 15 years demonstrates that the theatre provides a safe space for encouraging public discourse — negotiating difference, addressing injustice and giving voice to the marginalised in our society.

Our substantive body of work, which first and foremost celebrates Singapore’s theatre talent, has addressed issues regarding race, religion, politics and identity.

The world is waking up to the fact that the rights of LGBT people are inalienable human rights. Wild Rice’s long-standing partnership with IKEA affords us an open, constructive dialogue, and we have shared our views with IKEA regarding this issue.

Even as our audiences go on this journey with Wild Rice, we believe so do our partners and sponsors. Only with empathy and through meaningful engagement can we build a truly inclusive Singapore.