Controversy erupts over parenthood symposium in Singapore

By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – 

The keynote speaker at a parenthood symposium in Singapore on Friday has made shockwaves with a series of controversial remarks on religion and sexuality during his address.

California-based behavioural psychologist Dr Melvin W. Wong's call for "media to reflect Christian agenda", that marriage and religion were a must for everyone and that husbands must love wives though it's "not easy with women these days" were made during the the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association (SPPA) symposium at the Fullerton Hotel.

These are based on live tweets from Jolene Tan, programmes and senior communications manager at women's rights organisation AWARE, who attended the talk and was tweeting through the official AWARE account @AWAREnews.

Wong also praised anti-gay sex law Section 377A as a "model for the world" and that "the whole world needs (to have) American values".

This despite the SPPA's website saying it "defend(s) the rights of all young people to enjoy their sexual lives free from all… discrimination" and under its core values, says it is "committed to gender equality" and "eliminating discrimination" against young women.

Who is Melvin Wong?

Wong, who is based in California, in late 2003 peddled a controversial "treatment" for homosexuality known as "Reparative Therapy" through a seminar in Singapore. A group of American psychologists came together at that time to write a letter to The Straits Times questioning Wong's claims of being affiliated with the American Psychological Association, and expressed other concerns about his approach to homosexuality.

Beyond that, according to more tweets from Tan, Wong said parents "should have (the) right to decide on (the) sexual orientation of (their) children"among other anti-homosexual comments like "leftists are fascists", it is "almost child abuse" for one to have gay parents.

Also shown at the conference was a video featuring Glenn Lim, who describes himself on his blog as a "writer, motivational speaker, trainer and curriculum developer". According to Tan, Lim "slammed" comprehensive sexuality education, and called for the teaching of "abstinence only".

Users on Twitter following the live tweets on @AWAREnews reacted in anger and shock at what was reportedly being said.

Hey #sppasymposium, I value kindness, and empathy, and love, and not holding the human race back by being a deluded bigoted asswipe

— V. Lim (@limvee) April 25, 2014

why is a "planned parenthood" symposium not talking about contraception and abortion and other actual family planning stuff #sppasymposium

— robert, punslinger (@robertbivouac) April 25, 2014

Bigots who use their uninhibited access to public spaces to share their ignorance are a waste of privilege. Shame on the #sppasymposium

— Melissa Tsang (@eightMILESwide) April 25, 2014

When she tried to speak up and ask questions or express disapproval of what was being said, Tan said she was either asked to keep quiet or leave, and tweeted that she was called "confrontational".

Tan tweeted also that she did speak to the SPPA president, listed on the SPPA's site as Dr Annamalay Sundardas, who defended his speaker lineup on the basis of having a "diversity of views".

Later on, in closing comments toward the end of the event, though, Tan tweeted him saying that the position of the SPPA does not align with the stance of its parent network, the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

"Freedom to make right choices through info with core values of responsibility [sic]," she tweeted, with regard to the SPPA's stance.

Yahoo Singapore is contacting the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association for more comments and is also trying to get in touch with others who attended the talk.

Women's and gender equality advocacy group AWARE itself attracted headlines on Thursday for its opposition to the government's plan to enhance housing, healthcare and education benefits for NSmen, on the basis that the benefits should be linked to military service.

In 2009, the group also made national headlines after a leadership tussle sparked debate and scrutiny over the group's supposed pro-gay agenda.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/controversy-erupts-over-parenthood-symposium-in-singapore-035500709.html