The biggest credit goes to Clarence Singam. He had the original inspiration, and spent months either persuading various people and groups to organise events for August, or if they were already planning an event, to link it with the pride month. At times, it seemed hopeless when things moved ever so slowly, at other times frustrating when groups pulled out. But he persevered and gradually won others over by his determination and optimism.

From the beginning, IndigNation was conceived as a series of events that would be relatively more sedate in nature, intellectual and aesthetic if possible. These sides of the gay and lesbian community have not had much attention since the success of the Nation parties, and with the government lately demonising gay parties, there was a risk of rising homophobia. The community needed a morale-booster, at the same time, it could also be an opportunity to correct some skewed impressions that society in general may have of the lesbigay community as one only interested in partying.

Furthermore, PM Lee Hsien Loong had promised in August 2004 that indoor talks would no longer need licences from the police, and it was time for the community to test this promise and use the opportunity so available.

Up to a week before the start of the pride month, it didn't have a name, and it took another bolt of inspiration to come up with a shortlist, which was then reduced by elimination to IndigNation.

Some detractors argued that a name like that made it sound as if the pride month was purely a testy response to the banning of the Snowball and Nation parties, when it had been planned as a celebration of other sides of our gay and lesbian life. This argument is not without merit though it cannot be denied that the pride month was at least indirectly a response to the negative portrayal of the gay and lesbian community as a result of the government trying to justify its bans. Others were indignant about the brusque way in which the Affect05 concert, featuring Jason and deMarco, was banned, and the shoddy treatment of Manazine.

Equally importantly, it was important to reiterate that gay and lesbian Singaporeans are also part of the nation, and not to surrender the word "nation" to the discretionary and exclusive use by the State.

The pride month opened on 29 July 2005 with an exhibition of Martin Loh's children's illustrations at Utterly Art, and was followed in quick succession by a talk in Chinese by Tan Chong Kee on "Same-sex love in Classical Chinese Literature" on 2 August 2005. Then, "ContraDiction: A night with gay poets" was held on 4 August 2005, where 7 gay and lesbian poets gave a recital of their works (and that of a 8th poet as well).

In the second week, another art exhibition, "Solitary Desire" opened at Art Seasons, featuring works by Steve Chua and Ong Jenn Long.

After a brief lull to allow the noise of the State-organised National Day celebrations to pass, the talks resumed.

There was a double-bill on 16 August 2005, wherein Sheo S Rai gave a lecture on "Same-sex love in Classical South Asian Literature", followed by Russell Heng's "Where Queens Ruled! – A history of gay venues in Singapore", wherein he stressed the need for gay and lesbian Singaporeans to excavate more of our own history.

Two days later, the forum "Sex and the Christian gay person" was held, followed by "Exploring Paul, homosexuality and the Romans".

The fourth week opened with The Quarterly, which staked our equal claim to nationality. While organised by People Like Us, an effort was made to include straight people in the audience (they came, and they spoke too) and the entire discussion was about Singapore, not about being gay. At the end of the 2-hour forum, the entire room rose to sing the National Anthem.

Other events in the fourth week were "S.A.D. Alienation", a mid-week party at Coccolatte, the theatre production "Boys", and a barbecue/get-together by Adlus members to celebrate their sixth anniversary.

IndigNation was not just a series of events. It was also a set of tests for ourselves and for Singapore generally.

Would we face any trouble with the licensing authorities despite the Prime Minister's promise? We proved that the promise was real. Where in 2004 and all the years past, any talk with gay themes was routinely banned, in August 2005, they were held without interference. In fact, Chong Kee's talk, "Same-sex Love in Classical Chinese Literature" was originally prepared for the Lovers' Lecture Series (March 2004), but which was not delivered then because the government refused a permit. Effectively, through IndigNation, the ban on that particular lecture has been reversed.

The poetry recital however required a permit, because it wasn't classed as a talk but as an arts event. Even so, the Media Development Authority expedited the permit despite a very late submission. They gave their approval little more than 24 hours after receiving the emailed application.

The police tried to be tougher with Adlus' sixth anniversary event, but Nick Lum, the organiser, argued that it was a "BBQ cum potluck dinner similar to countless ones held every weekend at East Coast Park etc," so why were they insisting on a Public Entertainment Licence? They eventually relented.

The other test was whether we would be able to get media publicity. This is a proxy for the government's attitude to gay initiatives. For example, it was noted by many during August 2004, that while the foreign media were reporting on the Nation '04 party, not a word was mentioned in the local media.

For IndigNation, things were different. There was quite positive coverage in both the Straits Times and Today at the start of the pride month, and a week later, another report in Today for the poetry recital.

The third test was applied, not to the government and the media, but to gay and lesbians in Singapore. The organisers adopted the policy of allowing all events to be photographed or videographed. In most events, even the audience could be photographed, and no announcement on this would be made. It was felt important to treat IndigNation events just like other public events in Singapore, for there can be no meaning to "pride month", if we're not out and proud.

It was heartening that almost everybody seemed undisturbed by being photographed, testifying to the maturity and confidence of the Singapore gay and lesbian community.

Much of the texts and photographs will in due course be archived at Pelangi Pride Centre for the public and historical record.

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