Operator That Cancelled LGBTQ Event in S’pore Explained Their Decision

Last Updated on 2023-05-05 , 3:48 pm

IMC Group Asia, the operator of Capitol Theatre, has clarified that the cancellation of the Slay Harajuku event, which catered to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, was not due to its LGBTQ nature. 

Instead, the decision was based on the fact that it was an electronic dance music (EDM) event, and the theatre had previously suffered damages after organising a New Year’s Eve EDM party in 2022. 

This led to a policy change that prohibited EDM events from being held at the venue. 

Unfortunately, this change was not effectively communicated to the event’s management team, Slay LA, resulting in the cancellation of the Slay Harajuku event scheduled for 27 May 2023.

Event’s Cancellation Raises Concern Over LGBTQ Discrimination

Slay LA, the organiser of the now-cancelled Slay Harajuku event, claimed that the previous owner of Capitol Theatre, Perennial Holdings, had expressed discomfort and concern to the current owner, IMC Group Asia, regarding the LGBTQ nature of the event.

 

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Slay LA clarified in an Instagram post that they had booked and paid for the venue in March 2023 and will not hold the event at any other venue following the cancellation. 

They expected a turnout of approximately 600 to 700 partygoers at the Japanese-themed event. Due to the cancellation, they will suffer losses in sponsorship deals and ticketing revenue of tens of thousands of dollars.

In response, Perennial Holdings denied that the cancellation was due to the event’s LGBTQ nature. 

The company stated that it was committed to managing the heritage property in a responsible manner while considering the views of the surrounding religious community, particularly the mosque and church adjacent to Capitol Theatre. 

IMC Group Asia supported this stance, stating that the venue was unsuitable for hosting EDM events and did not want to risk any damage to the historic site.

History of Slay LA’s LGBTQ Events in Singapore

Slay LA has previously organised two successful LGBTQ events in Singapore, with its latest event, Aqueerium, drawing large crowds of partygoers to Rumours Beach Club.

The company emphasises that its events promote diversity and inclusion, with attendees including straight allies.

For Slay Harajuku, Slay LA had planned live DJ performances, dance performances, and a drag performance, which features drag queens, usually male, using drag clothing and makeup to create exaggerated female-like appearances while lip-synching to songs.

Slay LA has shared that in addition to alleged concerns over the event’s LGBTQ nature, Perennial Holdings had also expressed concerns over “noise complaints” from nearby tenants and potential “rowdiness” from the event. 

However, Slay LA believes these concerns should have been raised before the venue hire agreement.

Alleged That the Capitol Theatre was Unsuitable for EDM Events

IMC Group Asia has stated that the Slay Harajuku event at Capitol Theatre was cancelled due to their policy of not hosting EDM events at the venue. 

This decision was made following their experience of hosting the “Don’t Let Daddy Know” EDM New Year’s Eve party in December 2022, which left the theatre in terrible condition and required significant reparations.

The company emphasises that the cancellation was not related to the event’s LGBTQ nature but solely due to the operational difficulties of hosting an EDM event at Capitol Theatre.

IMC Group Asia took over management of the theatre from Perennial Holdings in January 2021 and has followed guidelines to avoid hosting EDM events at the venue since.

Capitol Theatre, which opened in 1930 and was considered one of the finest cinemas of its time, has a rich history and was acquired by the government for conservation in 1987.

After a four-year renovation, the theatre officially reopened on 22 May 2015. 

As such, IMC Group Asia believes the venue is not suited for dance events or the genre of EDM music, and the company would prefer to avoid risking damage to the historic building.

LGBTQ Discrimination in Singapore

This is not the first time the LGBTQ community has faced alleged discrimination in Singapore. One such incident occurred in June 2022, when the Parkroyal Collection Pickering Hotel refused to host a lesbian couple’s wedding ceremony. 

The hotel later apologised for the incident and said it was open to hosting all events from the LGBTQ community.

Additionally, a 2019 online survey commissioned by Yahoo News Singapore found that many Singaporeans believe that people in the LGBTQ community still face discrimination in the country. 

Negative perceptions towards the LGBTQ community were attributed to local censorship laws prohibiting any neutral or positive portrayals of LGBTQ individuals in mainstream media.

Indeed, earlier this month, in April 2023, a local production called Silent Walls was criticised by some members of the LGBTQ community for presenting gay men in a negative light. 

The show depicted an older gay partner grooming a younger man, and complaints were made about the negative portrayal of gay men in mainstream media. 

These portrayals often involve gay men meeting tragic ends and dealing with AIDs, a late stage of HIV spread through unprotected sex.

Small Steps Taken by Singapore Government

In the 2022 National Day Rally, the Singaporean government repealed section 377A of the penal code, which criminalises sex between men, after many years of public and parliamentary debate.

However, despite this legal change, certain government policies remain unchanged. For instance, film classification and advertising standards policies are not intended to be amended.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has guidelines and regulations that effectively limit LGBTQ representation in mainstream media. 

They claim that these regulations safeguard younger audiences from sensitive or age-inappropriate content and enable mature audiences to make informed choices on the content they consume.

Although the government has taken steps towards LGBTQ inclusion in its policies, there is still significant room for improvement. 

Since the repeal of 377A, the government has amended the Constitution to protect the definition of marriage, ensuring that it cannot be challenged constitutionally in courts. 

According to the constitution, marriage should be between a man and a woman, and children should be raised within such traditional unions, and this definition will remain unchanged.

Many national policies hinge on this definition of marriage, including housing, education, adoption rules, film classifications, and broadcasting standards. As such, the government stated that changes in these areas must be made slowly and with care.