Pink Dot ad removed: Against UN resolutions 2016, 14 & 11?

Source: Jnzl's Photos/CC BY 2.0Source: Jnzl's Photos/CC BY 2.0

I refer to the article “ASAS asks Cathay to amend Pink Dot 2017 advertisement” (Jun 8).

It states that “In a conversation with Marketing, an ASAS spokesperson said that all advertisements in Singapore must comply with the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice (SCAP), and that the premise is that all advertisements must be “legal, decent, honest and truthful”.

ASAS also cited the SCAP’s General Principles, specifically under its “Family values” section 10.1, where advertisements should not “downplay the importance of the family as a unit and foundation of society.””

As to “As such, keeping with the shared values in Singapore’s society, such as “family as the basic unit of society”, “community support and respect for the individual”; and “consensus, not conflict”, the council is of the view that the statement “Supporting the freedom to love” must be removed” – what is the authority for the “family as the basic unit of society”?

In what way does the advertisement breach “community support and respect for the individual”; and “consensus, not conflict”?


Is this arguably, in contravention of the United Nations’ resolutions on the protection and discrimination of LGBT rights passed on 30 June 2016, 2014 and 2011?

Leong Sze Hian

About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.