How and Why We Should Celebrate Pride Month in Singapore with Our Kids: Pink Fest and Pink Dot 2024

June is Pride Month! Here’s how (and why!) we should celebrate Pride Month and Pink Dot 2024 in Singapore with our kids

Pink Fest and Pink Dot are back with fun events for Pride Month in June 2024! Pink Dot SG has served as a safe space for the Singapore LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community since 2009, with its annual bash in Hong Lim Park. It’s always a joyous day filled with performances, fun activities, and lots of pink that puts a Singapore spin on Pride celebrations that take place around the world during June. While Pink Dot is traditionally limited to only Singaporeans and permanent residents due to government regulations around the use of Hong Lim Park, there are many other ways for everyone to participate in Pink Dot and celebrate pride month this year.

Read more: An SG Mama on Parenting & Supporting a Transgender Child

Why Get Kids Involved in Pride Month?

Pride Month is about “being able to be fully who you are, no matter who you are,” says Eliza Byard of the non-profit advocacy network GLSEN told Mashable. “When you let your child experience you talking about that, it may give them permission to be who they are.” Family participation is so crucial, as Pink Dot’s organisers point out, because for so many LGBTQ individuals in Singapore “familial relationships often get compromised due to a lack of understanding.” A big part of Pink Dot is getting people to think about the issues commonly faced by the LGBTQ community, both inside and outside of their families, with a goal of promoting understanding and unity amongst family and friends.

Even if no one in your family identifies as LGBTQ, explaining Pink Dot and its significance can help to reduce and eliminate anti-LGBT prejudice, and demonstrates to your kids the importance of being an ally (crucial here, as in the fight against racism). Just as it is important to talk to children about race from a very early age, so you can talk to your kids about LGBTQ+ identity. It needn’t be framed as a conversation about sexuality, but rather on being able to love whomever we choose, and to feel happy and confident in our own identity.

Think about what concepts your kids are familiar with – such as love, family members, friends, fairness – and also consider what you would like your child to value. Identity? Respect? Diversity? Standing up against discrimination, racism, homophobia, and transphobia? For a wealth of resources presented in a local context (and four languages), be sure to check out Congregaytion.

Read More: What I Wished My Parents Said When I Told Them I Was Gay

Pink Dot 2024 & other events

Pink Dot is back at Hong Lim Park on 29 June 2024. The theme this year is “No one left behind” envisioning a Singapore where no one is left behind. Pink Dot invites the public to stand with the LGBTQ+ community. Show up with your family (in pink!) and look forward to exciting performances by homegrown artists and various local drag queens! Enjoy a relaxing picnic with your family, friends and even pets as you soak in all the wonderful performances.

When: 29 June 2024
Pink Dot opens: 3:30pm
Pink Dot concert: 5:30pm
Pink Dot ends with a night formation at 7.15pm
Admission: Free! Do note only Singaporeans and Permanent Residents may enter the barricaded parts of the park.
Where: Hong Lim Park, New Bridge Road, Singapore 059299

Consider being an individual or corporate sponsor as part of the Red Dot for Pink Dot campaign. Visit reddotforpinkdot.sg for more information.

Pink Fest 2024

There’s also Pink Fest – an inclusive festival throughout June 2024 celebrating Pride Month in Singapore with activities and lifestyle events from the signature event Pasar Pink to an Inclusive Careers Fair at WeWork 21 Collyer Quay on 22 June 2024. There’s also Pink Screen, organised by The Projector which opens with “Bugis Street (1995)”(rated R21) and films such as Ethan Coen’s road comedy DRIVE AWAY DOLLS (2024).

Pasar Pink

Pasar Pink is Pink Fest’s signature event market co-organised with Sunday Social, which returns to the Museum of Ice Cream this year. Look out for an incredible lineup of vendors from delicious bites (Two Men Bagel, Wanting Kimchi and Ice Cream Bar) to local brands to shop at. Pawrents, you won’t want to miss the Proud Pet Parade (at 2pm), a super cute pet fashion show! Register for Pasar Pink now – the first 100 to show your Peatix ticket at the Peatix booth will get a perfume roll-on from Innerfyre Co. Register here.

When: Sunday, 9 June 2024, 11am to 6pm
Where: Museum of Ice Cream

Queer Families beach day out

There’s a Queer Families beach day out on 15 June where families can join for the first-ever queer families aerial drone shot to be taken in Singapore! Enjoy a fabulous day out at the beach and hang out with other queer families and families-to-be. Sign up for free here.

When: 15 June, 11:30-2:30pm
Where: Only disclosed to confirmed ticket holders!

Pink Fest run 2024

The annual Pink Fest run returns along the Marina Reservoir with 8 and 4 KM options, starting from the Water Sports Centre, located near Stadium MRT Exit A. The run is open to anyone. Brisk walkers are welcome to join too (the 4 KM option is recommended if you intend to walk.) Register here.

When: 15 June 15, 2024 8am – 10am
Where: The Water Sports Centre (approx 100 meters in front of Stadium MRT Exit A)

Pink Dot 2024 Light Up

Decorate your home with pink lights during the month of June (it’ll be a fun one to do with the kids) to show support to those who might not be able to do so. Or purchase pink fairy lights from the Pink Dot e-store for $20, with proceeds supporting Pink Dot event! How much fun would it be to walk around Singapore spotting pink lights? Do note that while everyone is free to light up their own private spaces – including rooms and windows – you cannot light up common areas like corridors, the outside of HDB units, etc.

Further Reading with kids: Age-appropriate books to discuss identity & gender:

If you’re interested in finding age-appropriate books to help explain these topics to your kids, consider reaching out to Pelangi Pride Centre, which is run by local “lesbrarians” (lesbian +librarians) Eileena Lee and Charmaine Tan. You can find their entire catalogue online, including a dedicated children’s collection, and books are available for lending on Saturdays.

Additionally, here are a few highly recommended books geared towards children aged 3 and up:

• Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
• Daddy, Papa and Me by Leslea Newman
• The Family Book by Todd Parr
• Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero by Ellie Royce
• Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
• The Different Dragon by Jennifer Bryan
• The Rainbow Flag: Bright, Bold, and Beautiful by Michelle Millar Fisher