SINGAPORE - A counter petition in support of American singer Adam Lambert performing at Celebrate 2016, MediaCorp's New Year countdown concert, was launched on Thursday (Nov 26), and garnered more than 6,000 signatures in one day.
The petition titled "We want Adam Lambert performing in Countdown 2016" has 6,392 signatures as of 10.20am on Friday morning.
It is in response to an online petition launched on Nov 25, asking organisers to remove the openly gay singer from the show. The earlier petition called Lambert an "inappropriate choice" to "send off our historic Jubilee Year or to usher in the New Year". It has more than 11,700 signatures as ofFriday morning.
Both petitions are on website iPetitions.
Those who started the counter petition call themselves "the moral majority of Singapore". They "utterly denounce and condemn the obvious sexual orientation discrimination demonstrated by the other petition on this site that is against Adam Lambert performing in Countdown 2016".
It adds: "Please allow Adam Lambert to perform in Countdown 2016 to demonstrate to the whole world that Singapore is a country that shuns discrimination and promotes diverse inclusive points of view."
Messages of support in the comments include those by commenter Soh Yu Da, who says: "Singapore is an inclusive and secular society. Bigots do not speak for me."
Kuhan Mani, says: "His music has nothing to do with his sexual preferences. And even if it did, I don't see why it should matter. If you don't like him or his music, Don't Watch It! Stop ruining it for other people."
In a statement, Ms Debra Soon, MediaCorp's Head of Family (English) and Premier Segments, said: "Celebrate 2016 will be suitable for family audiences and conform with broadcast regulations."
Lambert released a statement through his label Warner Music Singapore that reads: "My performance at Celebrate 2016 will not only be a spectacular one, it will celebrate the entire human family in all its diversity. I am a uniter, not a divider, and I believe in celebrating the human heart and spirit."
