Stance on Participation of LGBTQ+ Speakers, Artists and Performers in Events at Institutes of Higher Learning
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the Ministry of Education's policy regarding the participation of LGBTQ+ speakers and performers at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). Assoc Prof Walter Theseira inquired if the Ministry monitors institutional decisions to regulate such individuals and whether these choices are based on national policy rather than personal views. Second Minister for Education Ms Indranee Rajah stated that IHLs have autonomy to manage campus activities but must provide neutral common spaces that respect Singapore’s social norms and laws. She emphasized that decisions should be guided by appropriate judgment and sensitivity toward diverse audience comfort levels rather than the personal beliefs of administrators. The Minister noted that IHLs must exercise discretion to ensure public spaces remain safe and respectful for all participants.
Transcript
15 Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked Minister for Education (a) what is the Ministry's policy on the participation of LGBTQ+ speakers, artists and performers in events at our higher educational institutions; and (b) whether the Ministry monitors decisions taken by educational institutions to bar, censor, or otherwise regulate such LGBTQ+ speakers and performers.
The Second Minister for Education (Ms Indranee Rajah) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) have wide-reaching impact on students and the broader Singapore society. They should provide a common space and neutral ground for open discussions and civil discourse. They need to be respectful of Singapore's wider social norms and laws, and exercise appropriate judgement and sensitivity when dealing with potentially socially divisive issues. Within the bounds of these principles, our IHLs have the autonomy to manage the activities on campus, such as deciding which artists, speakers and performers to invite, including those who may identify with LGBTQ+ causes.
Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Walter Theseira.
Assoc Prof Walter Theseira (Nominated Member): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for that reply. Just one supplementary question: I wish to ask if the Minister would agree that institutions should make these decisions on LGBTQ+ persons based on established policy and bearing the national interest in mind, rather than, for example, on personal views about such persons.
This concern arises because in a number of recent cases, speakers and performers were asked to censor content at SIM Global Education and Singapore Polytechnic. They withdrew their participation as a result of the request. It is not clear whether these decisions were motivated by these broader national policy concerns rather than any personal views. That is the concern here.
Ms Indranee Rajah: I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I think the point is that such decisions should not be made on the basis of personal views because different individuals may have very different personal views.
IHLs and other like institutions provide public spaces. When you have public spaces, you must ensure that your spaces are safe spaces for your audience, and your audience and the people attending those spaces will have many different views, be of many different persuasions – whether it is race, religion, sexual orientation and so on. So, the key thing is to work within the parameters that I have outlined, which is that they have to be respectful of our social norms and laws and they do have to exercise appropriate judgement and sensitivity, which means that there is an element of discretion. That element of discretion should not be decided based on just your own personal belief but from the view point of, "This is common space", you want people coming into the common space to be comfortable, and to take the decision appropriately. So, it depends on your audience. Some audiences may well be able to be much more accommodating, others may feel a little uncomfortable. The institutions will have to take that call.