BUILT BY THE COMMUNITY

For 20 years, Pelangi Pride Centre has served as a beloved resource centre for the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore. But it is more than just a well-stocked library of books - it is sharing its space with individual support groups, and organising events ranging from author readings to panel discussions.

- Chelsia Tan

Situated at the end of a cavernous corridor in an industrial building, Pelangi Pride Centre (PPC) is housed in an unremarkable unit, save for a small pride flag plastered on the glass door.

For many in the queer community here, the library and resource centre is a familiar name. PPC “pelangi” means rainbow in Malay – was set up in 2003 by LGBTQ+ activists Benedict Thambiah, Roger Winder, Charmaine Tan, Eileena Lee and Dinesh Naidu, who wanted to create a daytime venue where people could gather for free. At its current location in One Commonwealth, PPC is hosted by Free Community Church, an inclusive Christian congregation known for openly welcoming LGBTQ+ individuals.

“It was primarily focused on creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals. At that time, such spaces were significantly lacking, particularly those not centred around alcohol, parties, or nightlife. Essentially, there were no public community spaces catering to this demographic,” says Jordan Tang, a social worker who has been the lead volunteer at the centre since 2015.

PPC, which marked its 20th-year last month, has been entirely volunteer-run and community funded – a remarkable feat considering that queer issues and causes have been considered taboo in conservative Singapore for decades.

While examples like the repeal of Section 377A, and Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam discussing LGBTQ+ related issues in parliament, seem to suggest shifting mindsets, there remain those who feel that the move would go against their personal values.