Pink is the New Gray: Events as Agents of Social Change

Abstract

Events become meaningful through the symbolism and affective outcomes associated with participation. They can become mediators of social change, inspiring thought and critique through participation, and changing society and social structures. Challenges to the norm are often characterized by the violence of wresting power, but other forms of peaceful change making are also achievable through planned events. This case study examines the myriad ways in which a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community event challenges Singaporean society's conceptualization of identity, extending the bounds of comfort and acceptance to enact social change. Pink Dot—a 1-day gathering in support of the LGBT community—grew out of the community's pursuit for openness and inclusivity. It champions social exchange and network building while asserting the LGBT community's legal right to equality. The case study made use of secondary data as a basis for examining Pink Dot's impact as a critical event in the realm of social change. It found that while Pink Dot was strong in enabling general acknowledgment of the LGBT community and broad social acceptance, the event was limited in its ability to influence the eradication of discriminatory laws, impeding progress toward equality. The findings contribute to the literature on social cause engagement, while extending understanding of critical events as agents of change. This article also develops a conceptual framework to evaluate the efficacy of using events as agents of social change and encourage further debates and modification of the framework in other contexts.