Ong Ye Kung (王乙康, Wáng Yĭ Kāng; born 15 November 1969[1] is a Singaporean politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) since 24 April 2018 and Second Minister for the Ministry of Defence. He has also been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang GRC since September 2015 following the 2015 General Elections.

Comments on discrimination against LGBT people in Singapore[]

On Friday, 14 September 2018, during a dialogue with the audience at the annual Singapore Summit, a conference for business and thought leaders to discuss business and global affairs, Ong was asked how the nation could be more inclusive towards people of different sexual orientations.

Ong_Ye_Kung-_No_discrimination_against_LGBTs_in_work,_housing_&_education

He replied that there was no discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community "at work, housing (and) education" in Singapore. Saying that it was in Singapore’s DNA to be inclusive, he added: "The fact is they (the LGBTQ community) live in Singapore peacefully, no discrimination at work, housing (and) education. They go about their lives. However, on the issue of LGBTQ, it is also an issue of social mores and societal values." He added, "We might be the largest animal in the jungle, but we are not the jungle. Some things we leave it to society to decide over time."

Reaction of human rights activists[]

Rachel Yeo, Executive Director of the Inter-University LGBT Network (IULN) strongly disputed the minister’s comments. Yeo said: "If Mr. Ong genuinely believes LGBTQ+ people do not experience any kind of discrimination in Singapore, then I don’t know which rock he’s been living under. When it comes to housing, same-sex couples face significant barriers to owning their own homes. Unlike heterosexual couples, they cannot order BTO (build-to-order) flats as their unions are not recognized under Singapore’s laws. Mr. Ong should be familiar with what it’s like to be gay in civil service – being outed as gay when you’re a soldier or a teacher could cut short your career […] At many workplaces, LGBTQ+ folk omit details of their personal lives for fear that they will be viewed differently by their colleagues and superiors and ultimately hinder their career."

Yeo had made headlines in July 2018 after being disinvited from speaking about LGBTI issues for a TEDx youth talk at a Catholic school in Singapore. She said her own experience was emblematic of censorship of LGBTI issues which was rife in Singapore’s schools and educational establishments. "Under Singapore’s sex education, the only thing we’re taught about homosexuality is that gay sex is illegal under 377A. LGBTQ+ folk endure ignorant, hurtful remarks from peers and educators at an alarming frequency," she added. "That LGBTQ+ people are discriminated against on all three fronts is a fact, not subject to [Mr. Ong’s] personal opinion."

References[]

Aqil Haziq Mahmud, "Foreign investment not enough to grow maturing economy", Channel NewsAsia, 14 September 2018[2],[3].
Faris Mokhtar, Victor Loh, "No discrimination against LGBTQ community at work, in housing and education here: Ong Ye Kung", TODAY, 14 September 2018[4],[5].
Calum Stuart, "'No LGBTI discrimination in Singapore', says education minister", Gay Star News, 15 September 2018[6],[7].
Obbana Rajah, " Ong Ye Kung says there is no discrimination of the LGBTQ community here", The Independent SG, 15 September 2018[8],[9].

Acknowledgements[]

This article was written by Roy Tan.

Ong Ye Kung's views on homosexuality

Contents

Comments on discrimination against LGBT people in Singapore[]

Reaction of human rights activists[]

See also[]

References[]

Acknowledgements[]

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