Barricades surrounding Hong Lim Park have failed to stem the pink tide as some 20,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents showed up for Pink Dot 2017.

Barricades were set up around the perimeter of Speakers’ Corner to comply with recent changes to the Public Order Act, but supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were not to be outdone.

This ninth Pink Dot had to hire 60 security guards and auxiliary police officers to deal with the crowd as bag checks were conducted for every attendee who had to produce a pink or blue identification card.

Some 500 volunteers helped out this year, an increase from the 400 last year.

The added security measures saw the security budget increase four times, to a “five-figure amount”, organisers said.

All seven entrances had long queues by 7pm, as Hong Lim Park had reached full capacity. Organisers only permitted people to enter when those inside exited.

Despite the new prohibitions barring foreign support, about 120 local companies stepped up to the plate to raise more than S$253,000 for the event.

The original target was S$150,000 from 100 companies.

The event was also streamed live on Facebook.

Top photo via Pink Dot