Source: Compiled by seaQwa's Qnews from reports in Today Newspaper, AFP, and The Advocate

Jason and deMarco publicity photo

Today newspaper called the move "a sign that authorities are prepared to work with civil society groups to tackle the HIV problem."

The Los Angeles-based Christian gay couple Jason and deMarco has given approval to perform next month as part of a concert to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

The duo's planned 2005 concert had been sponsored by Safehaven, a gay-affirmative Christian support group, as part of an event called Action for AIDS. Safehaven is co-sponsor of this year's concert.

MDA explained its ban in 2005 by insisting, “Based on the duo’s Web site and reports of their performances in the United States, it is assessed that their performance will promote a gay lifestyle, which would be against the public interest.”

Explaining its change of heart about the duo this year, the MDA said that the organizers of this year's HIV Outreach, Prevention and Empowerment (HOPE) Concert concert had assured the authority that the aim of the Dec 13 concert is Aids education and HIV prevention.

"The organiser for this concert has rated the performance R18 and has given the assurance to MDA that the concert is targeted at the high-risk group," said Ms Amy Tsang, MDA's Deputy Director (Arts & Licensing) of the Media Content Division in an email reply to Today newspaper.

But, according to The Advocate, Safehaven had offered MDA similar assurances in 2005. The group said that its planned concert had aimed to raise funds for AIDS programs and increase awareness about HIV among gay people. “We invited Jason and deMarco because they are a monogamous couple for the past five years and we wanted to send forth the message to the gay community that a monogamous relationship and responsible attitude toward sex should be the approach to take,” said Peter Goh, a coordinator at the time from Safehaven.

“We did not intend, and still do not intend, for this to be a gay concert,” he said at the time.

The HOPE concert will have as its guest of honor, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts).

Today notes that the scheduled attendance at the concert by a government minister "is not surprising since he had earlier touched on the need for the authorities and non-governmental organisations to work together in tackling the spread of HIV."

Although Singapore has one of Asia’s lowest levels of HIV infection, the rising number of new infections has been of concern in the city. 357 new HIV cases were reported in Singapore last year, up from a record high of 311 cases in 2004. About a quarter of the new cases in Singapore were gay men.

After a study trip to Sydney in August, Dalaji noted in an interview with Today newspaper the number of HIV cases reported each year had been dropping over the past decade in the Australian state of New South Wales.

Referring to the Sydney trip, Mr Paul Toh, director for fund-raising and programmes for Action for Aids (AFA), said yesterday: " I guess the Government has learnt from other developed Western countries how they can cope in terms of managing the epidemics within the alternative lifestyle community."

Mr Toh said while everyone has a role to play in addressing the HIV problem, the Government "bears more weight" because it has the "political will to move things at a faster pace".