š£ļø Our Voices, Our Votes! š³ļø
š Hopes and Hesitations from Singaporeās LGBTQIA+ Community for GE2025. š§ļø
As Singaporeans head to the polls on 3 May 2025 for GE2025, the question that inevitably arises is: what kind of future do we want Singapore to become?
With many parties and candidates, all hand on heart with competing visions and manifestos, broadcasting their messages through loudspeakers on lorries, big stadium rallies, doorstop interviews, and an overwhelming flood of podcasts. Some might call it a sensory and information āoverload.ā
Do you feel it too? (If youāre feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of it, hereās your permission to set some boundaries on the amount of GE content youāre letting into your life.)
Yet, this is part and parcel of democracy in action; the contest to win as many of the 97 seats in Parliament as possible, to have the power to decide the future of Singapore.
It all sounds a lot. But if you paused, took a step back from the political noise, you might notice something quieter (yet more urgent) seems to be simmering beneath the walkabouts, giveaways, and speeches.
More has been said about the LGBTQIA+ community and our so-called "agenda" than there have been actual LGBTQIA+ voices heard. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4, Source 5, Source 6)
That seems odd, doesnāt it?
When then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the repeal of Section 377A during the 2022 National Day Rally, he said:
"I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social mores, and I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans."
But how can true relief, and everything it entails (acknowledgement, safety, equal opportunities to housing, job protections and more) be possible if our voices are still missing during such an important moment in the nationās life?
Do we not vote too?
(Apologies to those who are parked under Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC this GE.)
In the lead-up to Singaporeās General Election on 3 May 2025, Stayinā Qrious! is proud to present Our Voices, Our Votes; a series of heartfelt interviews with LGBTQIA+ individuals from different walks of life.
Through honest conversations, I hope we can explore our communitiesā hopes, hesitations, and the everyday lived realities that shape how members of our community are approaching this pivotal moment.
These stories are not here to tell you how to vote; they are here to make visible the experiences, concerns, and dreams that often go unheard when the nationās agenda is set without us.
Because the truth is ā we are still not part of the future nation-building plans.
No political party has included us in their manifestos for GE2025; no candidate has meaningfully named the LGBTQIA+ community as of concern in Singapore.
The invisibility cuts even deeper when coded words like āagendaā and āideology are thrown around, framing us as āsocially divisiveā; something to be managed rather than human beings to be heard.
Too often, we are met with hurtful refrains ā that "family building comes first" or that there will be "no changes under my watch."
It is a silence that is anything but neutral; it leaves a mark. One that Iāve felt for some time.
Thus, over the next four days, you will meet first-time voters, students, teachers, gig workers, and everyday LGBTQIA+ Singaporeans; each reflecting with vulnerability on what matters most to them ā from the cost of living and housing, to queer rights, to their complex feelings of resignation, hope, and finding belonging in the only home many of us have ever known.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of listening, reflection, and connection.
Before you dive into this series of interviews, Iād like to share a few important notes about how this series was created:
Originally, a community check-in survey was meant to accompany this series, capturing a small groupās top three concerns, their feelings about the elections, and more. However, to avoid contravening any election laws, those survey results will now be published after Polling Day in a future Substack post. You may notice the interviewees occasionally referencing their answers from that original survey.
These interviews were conducted between 20ā24 April 2025. By the time of publishing, GE2025 news may have shifted ā readers, please bear that in mind.
All interviews have been lightly edited for clarity and readability. I have fact-checked all interviews to the best of my ability. If you see hyperlinks or āNBā (nota bene) notes within the text, they indicate where Iāve added additional context or made minor factual context, while preserving the heart of what was shared.
Most interviewees have provided their preferred names and pronouns. Ages are given in ranges to help protect their privacy. Not everyone can be publicly "out," but that doesnāt make their voices any less important.
Some interviews might not suit your exact political leaning or that you wish that āthey say less, do moreā. And thatās okay. There is no "queer purity test" here. We hold space for everyone, meeting them at where they are, wherever they are on their journeys.
Lastly, and I have to state the obvious: This intention of the series is non partisan. Thereās no āendorsementā of any party or candidates through publishing this on Substack.
Our Voices, Our Votes! - The Interviews
Charlotte (she/her), trans, 25-34: āMany queer people just want to live Singaporean lives, on equal footing with cishet (cisgender heterosexual) folks.ā
Anon (they/them), trans, 25-34: āHaving real protections would make a big difference. it would mean having some stability to build a future.ā
Kelvin (he/him), gay, 35-44: āTrue equality is a future where policies are fair and who you love doesnāt limit your rights or dignity."
Josh (he/him), gay, 35-44: āWe talk a lot about multiple pathways to success, but nothing really changes. Itās still the same system, just with different packaging.ā
K (she/her), trans, 25-34: āWe need to get to a place where weāre discussing real lived experiences instead of reacting to talking points about bathrooms or sports. Thatās not where the real pain or the real questions are.ā
Sherman Ho (he/him), gay, 35-44: "When society accepts us, the legal frameworks will naturally followā¦ That acceptance matters more than anything."
New interviews will be posted daily, leading up to Polling Day.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these interviews are those of the individuals themselves and do not necessarily reflect my own. This series aims to amplify a diversity of voices within the LGBTQIA+ community. Again, no single conversation can represent the full breadth of our lived experiences.
Once again, my heartfelt thanks to all the interviewees for trusting Stayinā Qrious! with their stories. š«¶š¼
Actually there is one party that included queer people in their manifesto - our dear Goh Meng Seng from PPP. Also the first and probably will be the only candidate that uttered the word āgayā in GE 2025. š