SINGAPORE — A man’s workout attire has sparked complaints by other users at the EnergyOne gym at Safra Mount Faber who accused him of “trying to change a sensitive social policy”.

New York-based Singaporean poet Jee Leong Koh had worn a white tank top which had the words “gay but not yet equal” on the front, and “equality for all” on the back.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Koh said he learnt of the complaints against him yesterday when the gym manager — who was not in the facility at the time — spoke to him on the phone after he arrived at the gym.

“I asked him how many people complained. He repeated, some, and elaborated more than one but not many. He also said that ‘the social issue’ was sensitive nationally, and that Safra could not allow any social advocacy,” said Mr Koh. “I explained that I was not trying to change any social policy, but I was wearing a tank top specially designed by a New York designer.” He added that he told the manager the other users “would not have complained if my tank top had promoted a national heart campaign. They were, in fact, complaining about my being gay”.

Mr Koh said he frequently used the gym whenever he came home every summer, and this was the fourth time he had been there since he was back this time. The gym manager and his staff were “totally courteous and reasonable” throughout the 15-minute conversation, said Mr Koh. “I asked (the gym manager) what he would like me to do. He said he was not going to ban me from the gym but would ask me to be sensitive to other gym users ... He told his staff to let me into the gym dressed in my tank top as usual.”

In response to media queries, Safra reiterated that the EnergyOne gym is “for national servicemen and their families and we hope that everyone is able to have a pleasant experience when they work out at our gyms”. It added: “Every now and then, there may be disagreements or unhappiness between gym goers, and we try to mediate as best we can.”

In this case, it received feedback from some gym users “about the words on Mr Koh’s attire and our gym manager spoke to Mr Koh to relay the feedback”.

Safra said: “Mr Koh’s attire did not contravene any of our gym rules and regulations. We have also spoken to the gym users who gave the feedback. From our conversation with Mr Koh, we believe there was no intent to cause discomfort to other gym goers, so we hope this can be resolved amicably.”

In his Facebook post, Mr Koh pointed out that he has done his National Service and in-camp training. “I finished as an infantry company commander with the rank of captain. I had not come out as gay then,” he said.

“It would be injustice to stop me from using any of the facilities of the Safra Recreational Clubs just because a few members do not like my tank top. Or, to put it more bluntly, just because they do not like gay people … It’s a tank top, for goodness sake.” Amanda Lee