Introduction[]
The documentation and chronicling of gay venues in Singapore form an important aspect of the human geography of a significant segment of the population. It was extremely difficult to find or record such information in the past as the social activities conducted in these areas were sometimes at loggerheads with official policy and even considered illegal. It is a testament to the gradual loosening of the social, legal and political reins by the Government in the past years, abetted by the development of the Internet, worldwide progress in human rights and economic necessity that such information has become widely available.
Non-commercial/non-sexual venues[]
The Free Community Church, located since June 2014 at #02-01, One Commonwealth, is a congregation of diverse individuals and families gathering to worship and grow as a Christian community.
Its first three locations were at:
- The Attic, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, just above Mox Bar.
- Pearls Centre-Yangtze Building, #04-02/04, 100A Eu Tong Sen Road. The unit housing the church at Pearls Centre lay at the end of a corrider branching out from the vestibule of Yangtze Cinema itself and should not have been but was often confused with the same unit number at Pearls Centre which sold Chinese religious artifacts.
- Level 3, Century Technology Building, 56 Lorong 23, Geylang.
A Singaporean Christian church which welcomes all people regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or economic status. It conducts Sunday services at 10:30 am.
- Pelangi Pride Centre (PPC)[2]
Set up by activists to inculcate pride in being gay and in staying HIV negative, it initially commenced operations at 22A Rowell Road, above the AFA headquarters, in the Serangoon or Little India area. It held its opening party on Saturday, 6 December 2003 from 6pm to 9pm in its premises at Rowell Road[3]. The event featured live tribal drumming & flame throwing, food and drink, music, a film screening as well as safer-sex demonstations. Opening hours of the resource centre during the early years were on Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm and Saturdays from 3pm to 7pm.It is currently housed in the Free Community Church (see above). It underwent many location changes since it opened it doors at Rowell Road. These included Bianco, one floor above Mox Bar & Cafe at 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #04-01, Singapore 088444, in a member of the gay community's home also along Rowell Road near The Post Museum and in both locations of DYMK, at Kreta Ayer Road and Neil Road. It operates an extensive library of location and international gay literature as well as non-fiction books whose catalogue can be searched online on its website, it also has an archive of Singapore gay history and culture. Open once a week on Saturdays from 4 to 8pm. For more information, please email contact@pelangipridecentre.org
Its current office, the fifth to date, is located at 57B Pagoda Street. Its former locations were a volunteer's flat along Tanjong Katong Road, a building at Mount Emily, in The Office Chamber along Jalan Besar and on level 2, 40A Mosque Street. OC is a counselling and personal development organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. They are a non-profit organisation under the umbrella of SPACES Counselling and Community Limited. SPACES (Registration No. 200402955N) is a company limited by guarantee with registered charity status in Singapore (Charity no. 01812). Oogachaga services are supervised by credible professionals and agencies in the fields of psychology, therapy and counselling in Singapore who are familiar with issues facing LGBTQ individuals.
- Proud Spaces - an LGBT community centre in Singapore which opened in 2024. It is the second such venue after Pelangi Pride Centre. It is located at #05-03, 243 Alexandra Road, just next to Kwan Yam Theng Buddhist Temple.
Arts venues[]
The following list consists of exhibition and performance venues where many works dealing with LGBT themes or by LGBT arts practitioners have been held. However, they are not exclusively used for such purposes.
45 Armenian Street, tel: 6337- 7535, fax: 6337-2729, box office: 6337-7800.
Founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun, it is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre, centrally located in the civic district. Its sub-sections include a black box theatre, a gallery, a dance studio, the Blue Room and two multi-function classrooms. It was the venue for the nascent PLU Sunday meetings in the early 90s. The historic PLU 2 pre-registration discussion was also held in the Blue Room in 2003.
It is currently located at its second premises so far, at level 2, 229A South Bridge Road (above Teck Soon Medical Hall, opposite the Sri Mariamman Temple, Pagoda St Entrance) Singapore 058778; Tel: 6226 2605 Fax: 6226 2645208. It was formerly located at 208A South Bridge Road, Level 2 (above Xpose), Singapore 058757. Tel: 6226 2605, fax: 6226-2645, e-mail: utterlyart@pacific.net.sg. It is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 11:30am to 8pm, and on Sundays from 12 noon to 5:30pm. It is closed on public holidays, but open on Christmas and New Year's Eve till 5:30pm.
It provides exhibition space and management services to a diverse and vibrant range of local and Asian artists, and internationally-renowned photographers. The most active gallery on the Singapore art scene, it is a leading showcase of works by established painters like Martin Loh and Chng Seok Tin, as well as popular young artists like Trina Poon.
It was the venue for the very first event of IndigNation, Singapore's historic, inaugural, government-approved gay pride month celebration in August 2005. This was an exhibition of paintings by artist Martin Loh entitled Cerita Budak-Budak, meaning 'children's stories' in Peranakan Malay. The event was followed up with Contra/Diction - A Night with Gay Poets held on 4 Aug 05, Singapore's first public gay poetry reading session which was attended by over 70 people, with standing room only. The popular Oogachaga-Looking Glass gay and lesbian relationship seminars were also conducted here.
Grey Projects (GP) is a platform for activity and dialogue which includes LGBT issues. Our programming focuses on residency and exchange, publication, as well as exhibition.
They are looking for art experiments, design propositions, new writing, and curatorial practices. They are located in a rented unit at 6B, Kim Tian Road (tel. 66556492) in Tiong Bahru, a public housing estate in Singapore known for its architecturally distinctive flats. Our space includes two galleries, a library, a working studio, and a live-in residence. GP is looking to be a lively contribution to this estate, but more than that, they aim to be a place where they gather people and make things happen together.
Bars, pubs and karaoke joints[]
- Main article: Singapore gay bars
(For drag queen performance bars such as the Boom Boom Room and Gold Dust, see the article Transgender people in Singapore).
Map of Tanjong Pagar Road with the red strip having a high concentration of gay bars along it from the 1990s to the 2010s. Other gay establishments are also located along Neil Road and nearby areas.
From the 1990s to the 2000s, most of Singapore's gay bars were located in the Tanjong Pagar constituency, through the heart of which runs Tanjong Pagar Road. This earned it the nickname of Singapore's Castro Street after its legendary namesake in San Francisco. However, with the closure of many gay establishments along Tanjong Pagar Road and the sprouting up of new ones along Neil Road in the 2010s, the latter usurped the title for a decade. Gay establishments were found interspersed along Tanjong Pagar Road and adjoining thoroughfares such as Tras Street, Craig Road,Neil Road, Duxton Hill, Ann Siang Road, as well as nearby districts such as Chinatown and Telok Ayer.
- Backstage Bar
- Main article: Backstage Bar
Situated at 13A Trenggannu Street (at the corner with Temple Street), Chinatown, tel. 6227-1712.
A cozy, uniquely decorated, gay-owned bar, with a balcony for flirting with passers-by. Fridays and Saturdays are particularly jam-packed. The staff are very hospitable and drinks are reasonably priced. It is located close to multiple clubs and gay saunas, opening daily from 7pm until the wee hours.
- Tantric
- Main article: Tantric
78 Neil Road (across from Taboo), tel: 6423-9232. It is a gay-owned and managed bar, the first to drape a rainbow flag above its main entrance. It has an open courtyard and a great atmosphere with a world music ambience. Weekends groove to the deepest "deep house". It opens daily from 8pm to 3am. The crowd is gay but gay-friendly straights are also welcome.
- May Wong’s Cafe[10]
Located at 78A Neil Rd, Singapore 088841. It is owned by Tantric Bar, providing a newer to chill out. It is located on level 2 of the same building as Tantric. It is a good hangout during weekends when one wants to avoid the peak period crowd at Tantric.
Situated at 57 Neil Rd, tel. 6324-2802. Classy gay karaoke bar with nice crowd and friendly staff. Beverages are reasonably priced. On the eve of public holidays, the bar sometimes converts to a disco with cool house music after midnight. Open from Monday to Saturday, on holidays and the eve of public holidays, 8 pm to 3 am. Free shot for birthday guys or gals with proof of date of birth.
Situated at 43 Neil Rd, tel. 62242865. A new day & night venue. Set in a Chinatown shop house this Buddha-inspired outlet offers you a relaxed atmosphere where the bistro/bar menu offers a wide selection of food and drinks at very reasonable prices. The 'happiest happy hour' in town meaning great drinks at great prices - Introducing our 1 for 1 housepour from 4-9pm Mon thru Sat. This is the place for that after work gathering with colleagues, or simply come down early with friends and stay late for the entertainment on offer. Open from 12 noon to 12am (Monday) 12 noon to 1am (Tuesday to Friday) and 2am on Saturday & Public Holiday. It underwent a makeover in 2013and was renamed OUT Bar.
- OUT Bar[13] - a chill out gay bar located at 43 Neil Road designed in the iconic 1960s Hollywood era style to cater to today's divas. Its focus is entertainment with regular events, performance and a guest deejay. Open from Monday to Saturday, it's the perfect place to unwind, at happy hour prices, after a day's work. Promotions from 5pm to 9pm daily with any 2 beers at $14 nett and house red/white wine at $8 nett. Don't miss its infamous mojito cocktails at a very reasonable price. OUT Bar is available for private events, be it personal or commercial during the day.
Karaoke bar located at 145 Telok Ayer Street, exactly where OSO Bar was. "Lluvia" means "rain" in Spanish. The unit is directly across from the magnificent Thiam Hock Kheng Temple in a large, old style Chinese house. The clientele is many bears, chubs and their chasers.
- Flavours Bar[15]
Located at 80A Neil Rd, Singapore 088842.
- Fry Rooftop Bistro & Bar[16]
Located at 96B Club St, Singapore 069464.
- Good Luck Beerhouse
Located at 9 Haji Lane, Singapore 189202
- Intermission Bar @ The Projector[17]
Located at 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00, Singapore 199589
- Lime House Carribean[18]
Located at 2 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089260
- My Awesome Cafe[19]
Located at 202 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068639.
Lesbian bars[]
Numerous bars catering solely or partly to lesbians have opened and closed over the years.
Party organisers[]
- Hypertainment[20]
Organises parties for mainly gay cisgender men, and occasionally drag wars.
- Man About Town
Organises events for mainly gay cisgender men.
- Herstory[21]
Organises parties for LBTQ women every first Saturday of each month.
- Two Queens
Organises parties for LBTQ women. It is a long-time sponsor of Pink Dot.
Clubs/Discos[]
A pub-cum-disco originally located in Tanjong Pagar on the left half of where Happy today stands, it was one of the most popular with the trendy young crowd for 7 years since 1997 and attained quasi-icon status.
It closed in August 2004, only to be reincarnated at 65/67 Neil Road (opposite Tantric Bar and near where Rairua sauna used to be). Tel: 6225-6256. The proprietor Addie Low, his management and waiters (almost all straight due to hiring policy) are very friendly. It occasionally features internally renowned DJs such as DJ Shigeki who took up a residency there and hosted its Flirt party in 2008[24]. Cruising in the facilities happens, but it is best to be discreet. It is a good place to pick someone up and head home or to a sauna. Its patrons are a mixed crowd, including lesbians. All races party here, so it's extra fun. Busiest on Friday and Saturday nights with many clubbers coming on both days.
- Peaches
Saunas[]
- Main article: Singapore gay saunas
- 10 men's club[25]
Located at its second premises at Pagoda Street, near Chinatown MRT. The entrance is only accesible by a lift beside the "XIANG" barbecue meat shop and beside the overhead bridge of the Chinatown MRT.. It was formerly situated one floor below Mox Bar in the same building, at 21 Tanjong Pagar Road when it opened in mid-2007. Its main attraction there was its central location, smack in the middle of the gay disco district.
Located on level 2, 51A Pagoda St, tel. 6221-0367, SMS 9758-7514. This is its third premises in the heart of Chinatown. Shogun started off as The Box at 182 Telok Ayer Street. The Box was a "cruise club" which meant that patrons could cruise for sex indoors, with their clothes on. However, it proved an unpopular concept leading to its rebranding as Shogun, a gay sauna. Entry is gained by heading up the staircase from Trengganu Street, on the corner opposite Absolute. The reception desk is located on level 2 up a flight of steps from the street level entrance. Level 2 has lockers, TV lounge, dark maze, and a very clever glass-enclosed smoking room so that you can still cruise those taking a cigarette break. Level 3 has a large lounge with futons, dark rooms, cabins, outdoor shower and a BJ bench. It is one of the most popular gay saunas because of the reasonable entry charge of $10, welcoming staff and friendly crowd which tends towards the macho, mature, bears and their admirers. it open 24 hours daily and there are theme nights. No membership fee required.
Located at 790 North Bridge Road (at the southwest corner intersection with Jln Klapa), tel. 6299-4121. The entrance is right at the corner on North Bridge Road. Be careful not to mistake the door with the "Spa" sign right next to it as the entrance (this goes to a two-storey straight spa, not to Keybox). Gay sauna located at the quieter end of North Bridge Rd, a short walk from Bugis and Little India or the Lavendar MRT Station. This secluded and quiet sanctuary for relaxation is attracting a regional crowd (Chinese, Pinoys, Malay, Thai, Indonesian, etc.) as well as locals and international visitors of all ages. Facilities include TV lounge with Net stations, hot tub, steam room, gym, designated smoking room, private cabins and dark areas. Check their website for theme nights.
- Hook Club[28] - Taking over the premises of Cruise Club which closed down in late 2019, it opened in January 2020 and advertises itself as a "private gentlemen's club serving the discerning few" with facilities including a gym, lockers, a maze, steam room, networking arena and a cosy cafe.
Outdoor venues[]
Being frequented mainly at night by a stigmatised minority in fear of running afoul of the law every time they congregate for social or sexual intercourse, outdoor gay hangouts have remained largely unknown to the mainstream public. It was only in the mid-90s that police harassment of homosexuals at these venues stopped, although sporadic complaints by members of the public may still be investigated. The following list, which includes cruising areas some conservative gays may feel does not cast a favourable light upon the Singaporean homosexual image, has been drawn up for the sake of academic comprehensiveness and as a record of the collective local gay memory.
(For transgender (transvestite/transsexual) venues such as Bugis Street, Johore Road and Changi Village, see the article Transgender people in Singapore.)
- Main article: Hong Lim Park: gay aspects
Also officially known as Hong Lim Green, it was the first and formerly the most famous Singaporean gay venue listed in the premiere international gay tourist reference, the Spartacus Gay Guide. It was affectionately code-named "Honolulu" or "Hollywood" in the early years by some English-educated gay men.
Cruisy at night for more than half a century, its dim lighting and tall shrubbery provided ideal conditions for quickies between gay men, especially elderly Chinese-educated ones, until the bushes were pruned and bright lights installed in the early 90s to deter such activities. The rectangular plant receptacles along the periphery of the park where gay men could sit, chat and perhaps fondle each other have also since been removed. Nightly cruising and sex also took place in a small 2-storey shopping centre which was demolished and replaced by the present car park.
In the 1980s, casual strollers were shocked to see young boys holding hands at night and wrote letters to the newpapers to complain. In spite of several police patrols in which these boys were questioned, no one was charged as nobody was caught flagrante delicto. The setting-up of the Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post in an old building (which formerly housed a post office) next to the car park was also considered a measure to curb late-night cruising. Policemen would ride out on their bicycles in the 1990s to comb the entire Boat Quay-OCBC building area at night to scare away thrillseekers.
Noctural cruising activity is now sparse and mainly confined to the toilet located next to the Kreta Ayer community centre.
Since May 2009, Hong Lim Park has been the venue for the annual, massively attended, public LGBT-supportive event organised by Pink Dot SG. This was possible after the Government legalised the holding of demonstrations at Speakers' Corner on 1 September 2008.
Cruisy at night since the early 1990s, but much less so since a landscaped sanctuary named Ann Siang Hill Park was built in 2004 with adequate illumination so that clandestine activities are not so convenient.
- Back alleys in the Central Business District and Tanjong Pagar
Less popular after the sprouting of numerous gay saunas since the late 1990s and the development of well-lit commercial complexes like China Square which replaced the dark, dank, derelict shophouses where night-time cruising took place.
- Telok Ayer vicinity
The current street cruising hot-spot is the Telok Ayer area, especially around Boon Tat Street, where the back alleys have not had lighting installed yet. However, the available length of cruisable pathways is much less than in the Ann Siang area during its heyday. Also, more owners of the food and beverage establishments lining the alleys are gradually starting to install lights at their posterior facades.
The previous toilet which was completely enclosed by 4 brick walls was a hive of activity. The new toilet, built in 2003 during a major redesign of the park, whose interior is visible from the outside via large gaps in the slotted timber walls is much less conducive to cruising, although some still takes place. Most homosexuals prefer to stroll in the fresh air along tracks traversing and skirting the perimeter of the park.
- Tanjong Beach, Sentosa
- Changi Business Park vicinity
- Car parks
The most active is the huge trailer car park at Fort Road at night. Lesser known ones include the upper levels of Pearls Centre and Shaw Towers.
Enclosed/Indoor public venues[]
More comprehensive and up-to-date listings can be found at the Utopia website's Singapore pages:[29]
- Toilets
It is thought that in the early days of immigrant Singapore, homosexual cargo coolies began to have clandestine sexual encounters in the public toilets along the Singapore River, especially at Boat Quay. This may explain how Hong Lim Park developed into the earliest and most well known nocturnal rendezvous for homosexuals - because of its proximity to Boat Quay. In contemporary Singapore, there is cruising activity is found in most public toilets - particularly those of shopping centres and MRT stations.
- Swimming Pools
- Shopping Centres
(For a discussion of places no longer extant where homosexuals used to socialise or cruise such as Le Bistro, Pebbles Bar, Treetops Bar, Vincent's lounge, Niche, Marmota/Shadows, Legend, Spartacus, Rairua, Boat Quay and Esplanade Park, see the articles Singapore gay venues: historical and Singapore gay venues: historical, minor).
See also[]
References[]
- Russell Heng, "Where queens ruled! - a history of gay venues in Singapore", Yawning Bread, August 2005 [30].
- Fauzi Aziz, "9 Gay-Friendly Nightspots In Singapore For A Different And Totally Fun Experience", The Smart Local, 16 March 2015[31].
- Utopia's Singapore listings:[32].
- Cruising Gays, City Hookup Guide, Singapore:[33].
- Inter-University LGBT Network, "Queer(in) Spaces: A Guide to LGBTQ+ Friendly Spaces in Singapore":[34]
- https://dearstraightpeople.com/2024/03/01/singapore-gay-guide-2024/
External links[]
Photo albums of gay cruising venues in Singapore: [35]