Diversity is not an intrinsic good

This letter was sent to Voices@TODAY but was not published.

Diversity is not an intrinsic good; a good to be sought after for its own sake. Each demand for diversity should be carefully considered based on its merits ("Extend value of S'pore's growing diversity to include gender and sexuality"; 1 Feb; "Protection of more diverse groups can benefit Singapore"; 8 Feb).

Last year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) analysed 206 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Sexual transmission accounted for 94 per cent of the 206 cases. 61 per cent were from homosexual and bisexual transmission while heterosexual transmission accounted for 32 per cent of all cases. 

This is a great health concern, considering that a small population engaging in such high-risk sexual behaviour accounted for more than half of the HIV cases. The society is paying for the health costs and consequences of such irresponsible behaviour. Is there merit in encouraging such "diversity"?    

Our Government protects every citizen, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation from the threat of violence. This cannot be seen as special rights attributed to any group since every citizen is protected under the law.

Everyone has equal worth but not every behaviour is equally worthy. 

In the Parliamentary debates in 2007, the Singapore government said ,"While homosexuals have a place in society and, in recent years, more social space, repealing S377A will be very contentious and will send the wrong signal that Government is encouraging and endorsing the homosexual lifestyle as part of our mainstream way of life." 

Every appeal to "diversity" should be carefully weighed and simplistic appeals to it is not the rational way.