Following the outcry by Singapore's LGBT community over gay-friendly furniture retailer IKEA being an official partner for an upcoming magic show held by vehemently anti-gay pastor Lawrence Khong, the company announced that they'll be reviewing their support for the event.
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Dear IKEA fans, we at IKEA Singapore recognise that the promotional collaboration with the Vision show has raised...
Posted by IKEA Singapore on Monday, 20 April 2015
With the partnership, members of the IKEA Family membership programme can get discounted rates for Khong's $2 million production — Vision —which is slated to take place at the Esplanade Theatre this July.
The gay rights community here take particular offense to the Swedish furniture company publicly supporting Khong, as IKEA has been known to be longtime supporters of equal rights for the LGBT community, ever since they became the first company to feature a same-sex couple in one of their commercials back in 1994.
Khong however, is a public figure for anti-gay sentiments in Singapore, repeatedly making remarks against homosexuality and organised a number of initiatives against its community. Aside from being a pastor, he is also a highly successful magic performer together with his daughter Priscilla — but his shows have been known to be have evangelistic overtones.
In the comment section of IKEA's latest Facebook post itself, there seems to be a heated flame war going on between Khong's supporters and... everyone else.
Khong has yet to comment on the issue.
Photo: Vision website screengrab
Following the outcry by Singapore's LGBT community over gay-friendly furniture retailer IKEA being an official partner for an upcoming magic show held by vehemently anti-gay pastor Lawrence Khong, the company announced that they'll be reviewing their support for the event.
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Dear IKEA fans, we at IKEA Singapore recognise that the promotional collaboration with the Vision show has raised...
Posted by IKEA Singapore on Monday, 20 April 2015
With the partnership, members of the IKEA Family membership programme can get discounted rates for Khong's $2 million production — Vision —which is slated to take place at the Esplanade Theatre this July.
The gay rights community here take particular offense to the Swedish furniture company publicly supporting Khong, as IKEA has been known to be longtime supporters of equal rights for the LGBT community, ever since they became the first company to feature a same-sex couple in one of their commercials back in 1994.
Khong however, is a public figure for anti-gay sentiments in Singapore, repeatedly making remarks against homosexuality and organised a number of initiatives against its community. Aside from being a pastor, he is also a highly successful magic performer together with his daughter Priscilla — but his shows have been known to be have evangelistic overtones.
In the comment section of IKEA's latest Facebook post itself, there seems to be a heated flame war going on between Khong's supporters and... everyone else.
Khong has yet to comment on the issue.
Photo: Vision website screengrab