"Today's the day we've all been waiting for!" exclaimed the Pink Dot SG organisers on their Facebook page.

Over the past few days, the online world has witnessed a contest of views on the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) event.

On one side, Pink Dot supporters continue to claim one's right for their "Freedom to Love", regardless of sexual orientation. On the other side, is the ideal of a family unit that comprises of a father, a mother and their children.

Many -- religious groups, Pink Dot organisers, politicians -- have spoken out on this issue. So, what will you be doing today?

Many Singaporeans would probably go on with their lives as usual. Because those most ardently engaged on both sides of this debate still do not constitute a majority of Singaporeans.

What if you happen to be asked for your opinion on this issue that is supposedly polarising Singapore society today? Fret not, below are five lines you can summon to get out of a potential clash with the pinkies or the whites.

1. Actually, many Singaporeans are interested in bread-and-butter issues and do not have a strong opinion either way on the gay rights issue.

The Straits Times interviewed analysts who made the following observations:

"Analysts whom Insight spoke to said that while most Singaporeans are conservative and think that gay sex is wrong, or indeed, repulsive, the majority would not take the "extreme" stance of championing or protesting against gay rights."

ST also made another good point.

"Perhaps the clearest indication that most Singaporeans sit on the fence is that neither of the main political parties -- the People's Action Party and the Workers' Party -- has felt the need to take a strong pro-gay or pro-traditional family stand as a key theme of their election campaign."

2. Let's have a mutual respect for both sides and appreciate one's freedom of expression and speech. 

As Singaporeans living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society, we should always respect the right of others to differ, that we will never lose sight of our own fallibility, and that we will view ourselves and others with a sense of perspective.

It is the right of LGBT Singaporeans to organise an event that highlight their "freedom to love", regardless of sexual orientation.

It is also the right of any religion to have an opinion and to issue guidance to their followers.

But religious or non-religious Singaporeans do not want to see faith being used as a tool to attack or divide Singaporeans.

I mean, Article 14 of the Constitution of Singapore guarantees to Singapore citizens the rights to freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly without arms, and association.

3. The crowds at the Pink Dot SG event continues to be larger and larger every year. 

It started out in 2009 with about 1,000 people attending the event.

Then the attendance grew over the years -- 4,000 (2010), 10,000 (2011), 15,000 (2012) and 21,000 (2013).

With so much online publicity, the event has experienced the largest turnout in six years, with 26,000 people attending.

4. Dialogue the best way forward

The LGBT groups and the religious organisations could go the way of the inter-faith dialogues in Singapore.

The Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) had its beginnings as the Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore and Johor Bahru in March 1949. It is now the key platform to handle any differences between religious groups. IRO also regularly conducts inter-faith prayers and blessings at launching ceremonies of public and private institutions.

The Pink Dot spokesperson mentioned earlier that they welcome the opportunity to meet with any parties who wish to engage with them in thoughtful and constructive discussion. However, they revealed today that they had yet to make contact with the Wear White organisers. Let's do more before next year's Pink Dot event.

5. Finally, Singapore is an expression of diversity and we should not let our differences divide us. 

A person can have strong religious faith, along with tolerant politics.

As economist and author Amartya Sen noted in his book Identity & Violence (2006):

"The frantic Western search for 'moderate Muslim' confounds moderation in political beliefs with moderateness of religious faith. Person can have strong religious faith, along with tolerant politics. Emperor Saladin, who fought valiantly for Islam in the Crusades in the 12th century, could offer, without contradiction, an honoured place in his Egyptian royal court to Maimonides as that disntinguished Jewish philisopher fled an intolerant Europe."

Let's accept, even celebrate the differences that divide us in our daily lives.

Ex Foreign Minister George Yeo once said:

"To be a human being is to be different. The whole logic and driving force of biological life is diversification. An imposed unity is a false unity. It's a contradiction in terms. To me, that is a core position, and Singapore is an expression of that core position".

Our main hope of harmony lies in the plurality of our identities, which cut across each other.

Yeo paraphrased Pope John Paul II and said that "it is only because we are many that we are one".

May Singaporeans and Singapore express this ideal well in the future.

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Photos from Pink Dot Sg Facebook.

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