Pink Dot breaks record with 15,000 attendees on first night event

Text & photos: Shah Salimat
Additional photos by Pink Dot

Pink Dot broke its own record last year and continues to be the most attended event at Hong Lim Park, also known as the Speakers' Corner, with 15,000 attendees lighting up the first ever night pink dot on June 30 with pink torchlights and lightsticks. The first Pink Dot in 2009 attracted 2,500 attendees while last year saw a crowd of 10,000.

The annual gathering celebrates the freedom to love regardless of sexual orientation. A National Day Parade rehearsal interrupted proceedings briefly when the Singapore flag flew over the park. Performing band Jack & Rai reacted by singing the National Anthem, with many standing and singing along. Other performances included the cast of upcoming musical La Cage Aux Folles, band King Kong Jane and classical act T'Ang Quartet.

Ambassadors Sharon Au, Kumar and Lim Yu-Beng together with host Pamela Oei led the crowd to shine their pink lights just after sunset. Yu-Beng said, "We need to go a step further beyond tonight and take this glow with us when we leave."

Check out the photos from Pink Dot 2012.