Boycott DBS Bank For Funding Anti-gay Equality Group!

[tennis_uncle]

Take a lookie Here

[Guest Guest]

November 28, 2008

LGBTs protest Singapore bank's charity drive for anti-gay Focus on the Family

By Sylvia Tan (Fridae)

News of Singapore's largest bank's S$15,000 Christmas present to the anti-gay Focus on the Family group has spurred gay and lesbian credit card holders to act.

Leave home without it, or better yet, cut it up. That is what some members of Singapore’s gay community are saying in response to a credit card promotion by a Singapore bank in which up to S$15,000 will be donated to the infamous Focus on the Family (Singapore).

articlepic

Picking up on the Focus on the Family brand name which is synonymous with the anti-gay, rightwing Christian agenda, some gay and lesbian credit card holders have reportedly started to cancel their cards and/or sent protest letters to the bank.

In a letter posted on an email group, Dominic Chua, an educator, has written to the bank to say that he is “thoroughly disappointed to learn that DBS is supporting a right-wing Christian organisation as part of its corporate social responsibility drive this Christmas” and that it “could do better than support an organisation that wilfully perpetrates misinformation about and prejudice toward gay persons.”

In a full page advertisement in the Straits Times on Nov 13, DBS Bank declared that it would contribute up to S$15,000 towards Focus on the Family, “a charity dedicated to helping children and families thrive” when DBS/POSB credit card members spend S$300 on their cards from now till Dec 21 at selected malls.

The bank, which is Singapore and Southeast Asia's biggest with branches in 16 countries and territories in Asia including Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and US, is said to have about 1 million cards in circulation in Singapore.

Headquartered in Colorado, Focus on the Family is at the forefront of numerous anti-gay initiatives in the United States and most recently contributed US$600,000 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign in California which overturned the state Supreme Court ruling that legalised same-sex marriage.

The group made the headlines worldwide in 2005 when its founder James Dobson accused the cartoon Spongebob Squarepants of promoting homosexuality as Spongebob was often holding hands with Patrick Starfish!

Focus on the Family also stages Love Won Out, a 10-year-old ex-gay ministry that seeks to “cure” gays of their homosexuality, despite the contrary opinion reached by the American Psychiatric Association that reparative therapy is dangerously misguided and risks “depression, anxiety and self-destructive behaviour.”

In Singapore, Focus on the Family has on numerous occasions made their anti-gay stance known in the press. In a 19 December 2004 article (Gay party no-go 'a signal not to push limits) in Singapore’s Sunday Times, Tan Thuan Seng, the then president of Focus On The Family Singapore, agreed with the ban on gay events in Singapore saying, "We don't want them to encourage young people who have some degree of gender confusion to make the mistake of going into a gay lifestyle."

In 2003 the group organised "Homosexuality: Myths and Truths," a conversion/reparative therapy seminar with sessions on 'Preventing Homosexuality,' 'Recovery Therapy' and 'Unwanted Homosexuality: Steps to Early Detection and Prevention.' Due to protests by People Like US, a gay advocacy group, that highlighted the claims purported by the seminar organisers to be contrary to the beliefs held by the mainstream medical community, the state run and funded National Council of Social Services withdrew its training grant originally offered to participants on grounds of the speaker's lack of qualifications.

Focus on the Family Singapore currently distributes a series of "Love Won Out" booklets published by its parent organisation to promote conversion or reparative therapy to change one’s sexual orientation. In Straight Answers (or Straight Talk), it asserts that despite safer-sex campaigns, “an estimated 30 percent of all 20-year-old homosexual men will be HIV positive or dead by the age of 30.”

The literature continues to misquote psychiatrist Dr Robert L Spitzer to say that gays and lesbians are able to “make changes toward becoming heterosexual” despite his protest that his study has been misquoted by proponents of conversion therapy.

In a May 23, 2003 Wall Street Journal commentary, he wrote: “I did not conclude that all gays should try to change, or even that they would be better off if they did. However, to my horror, some of the media reported the study as an attempt to show that homosexuality is a choice, and that substantial change is possible for any homosexual who decides to make the effort.”

The booklet further lists details for Choices, a local ex-gay ministry linked to Church of Our Saviour and Exodus International, for those who are "seeking to overcome homosexuality."

While the group in Singapore bills itself as a non-religious organisation with no mention of its Christian affiliation on its web site, it links to its parent web site and in two clicks readers are presented with its mission statement: “To cooperate with the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible by nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide.”

Focus on the Family (US) has also been referred to as an “evangelical Christian group” by major media including the Washington Post and the New York Times among others, and “one of the pillars of the Christian right” by United Press International, a newswire service.

When contacted by Fridae, the bank declined to say if they are aware of Focus on the Family’s international reputation as an anti-gay Christian rightwing group.

A DBS spokesperson however told Fridae that the donation is in line with DBS' corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and will be “directed towards building a new learning centre for children… with various learning disabilities.”

She further added that “it is not the intention of the Bank to discriminate against any group through the choice of FOTF as our beneficiary."

Miak Siew, a prominent member of Singapore’s gay community and postgraduate student in Berkeley, California, wrote on his blog: “Yes, one can defend DBS by saying they might not have known about the darker side of Focus on the Family. My view is this - before you pick a charity, do your homework.”

He has appealed to his friends to not use their POSB/DBS cards and added that he is planning a mass action to protest the bank’s decision when he returns to Singapore for the Christmas holidays.

While many applaud the bank’s charity initiatives such as for The Children’s Society as cited by the bank as the beneficiary of its Christmas in 2006, many object to raising funds for an organisation that spreads disinformation about gay men and lesbians.

Focus on the Family’s founder James Dobson has written in his books and other literature that homosexuality is a mental disorder caused by family problems and bad parenting, and that the "homosexual activist movement has sought to implement a master plan that has had as its centerpiece the utter destruction of the family.”

Chua said in this letter: “If it is a deliberate policy on DBS' part to support institutions that are so opposed to the well-being and happiness of gay people everywhere, I will ask my friends, both straight and gay, to consider switching their accounts to banks that affirm and support social diversity.”

Ovidia Yu, a novelist and playwright, who is a DBS card member said she phoned the bank to register her complaint and that she would not be using her card and will be looking around for another bank.

Another irate customer Irene Oh told Fridae that she intends to stop banking with DBS and will tell her friends to follow suit. “It is important for us to respond so that companies will sit up and take notice,” Oh said in an email to Fridae. “They are likely to be more aware that they cannot get away with supporting homophobic organisations without generating a backlash from their gay and lesbian customers.”

When asked by Fridae, a gay finance and banking journalist with 10 years experience, who declined to be named for this story, advises gay and lesbian consumers who object to the bank’s alliance to not use the card for the time being and to think twice before cancelling the card.

"If members of the gay community want to express unhappiness with DBS, the best way to do it is to take your DBS or POSB credit card out of your wallet and leave it at home for this festive shopping season. This way, you won't use it. Don't cancel the card, because you may eventually need the credit facility and it will be a hassle to re-apply.”

But don’t forget to tell the bank why you are leaving your card(s) at home this festive shopping season. Send DBS a message through General Customer Feedback Form or the Consumer Banking department.

[oralb]

guys... it is time for you to act.

this action does not require you to expose yourself, or extra effort. Simply take out your DBS and POSB credit cards out of your wallet. If possible stop using other facilities provided by the bank.

let them know that before endosing any organization that's anti any groups, do their homework.

[fortysumthing]

Are they being insensitive, ignorant or deliberately trying to chase away customers?

I am not sure if it is technically feasible but would be good if it is possible to send online protest to the bank's website or collect online signatures to be sent to their CEO with a click of a button. Many of us will definitely be clicking the button ..

[oralb]

know who are they

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_on_the_Family

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Won_Out

Focus on the Family's Love Won Out ministry's mission is to exhort and equip the church to respond in what they claim is a Christ-like way to the "condition" of (non-biological) homosexuality from, "a biblical point of view." They work with Exodus International and NARTH to work with people who believe they have an ego-dystonic homosexual orientation to be healed and those who have participated in homosexual behavior to achieve forgiveness for what they consider a sin. It teaches that "The foundation of society for the family is marriage of a man and a woman for life" and that "Scripture is very clear in its condemnation of homosexual conduct, for such sin is a deviation from God's creation and design.". However, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association among other groups claim that conversion therapy for gays and lesbians is not only ineffective but can be dangerous to the mental health of patients. Focus on the Family has been criticized by the APA, gay rights activists, PFLAG and others for their attempt to "cure homosexuality".

in short, they are saying you are a disorder, what you are doing is a sin and you can be cured!

do you endose that?

DBS is donating money to an organization that will “directed towards building a new learning centre for children… with various learning disabilities.” what disabilities?

This is the christmas season, where the best time for banks to clock in the credit card milage. Hit them at where it hurts the most. Stop using your DBS and POSB cards. Let them question their decision to openly support a group that's against us.

[Guest GUEST]

Sorry, I would like to amend my previous message to be as follows, can the moderators help me to remove my previous post please (i do not wish for my previous message to be misconstrued as a rant against the christian faith):

I think if we want to garner mass support against DBS and pressure them to withdraw support, we must frame the issue as a protest against a commercial bank's support of a group with religious and evangelical affiliations, ie, raise questions in the public's eye as to why DBS is using money earned from non-Christian customers to support a movement with right-wing Christian and evangelical affiliations. Write to the various newspapers, forums, talkshows etc and raise doubts as to whether it is right for the Bank to openly fund an outfit with obviously pro-Christian and evangelical affiliations.

[enjoylife77]

Dont make it sound so simple. Many employer have long standing instruction that salary will only be credited into POSB account. Not easy to alienate them. Doubtful that many forumer here even qualified for a credit card.

[Guest GUEST]

OralB/Moderators: can you help me delete my first message (the one posted at 12.50am) please? THanks!

OB: Done

[oralb]

Dont make it sound so simple. Many employer have long standing instruction that salary will only be credited into POSB account. Not easy to alienate them. Doubtful that many forumer here even qualified for a credit card.

it is your choice, you can choose to do what you want. you can be as negative as you want. you can choose to pretend none of this affects you. you have nothing to do with it. so be it.

The fact is the bank is using your credit card spending to sponsor them. you have the choice to endose or condem that.

and please dont under estimate the income power of our readers here, and for every visible posting here, we have many more silent readers.

[enjoylife77]

Try to live in the real world.

[Guest Guest]

I think the most viable action to take is to not use their credit cards for this entire Christmas period, because whenever you use it, you are pledging your support to FOTF group.

For those whom feel more or very strongly, write in a letter to them to express your disapproval, ask them to withdraw their support or you will close all accounts with them. Don't just close your account, let them know why you are closing it and show it to them that you mean business.

[Guest koguma28]

Try to live in the real world.

you can help by spreading this news to all your friends >> create awareness.

even if you cannot close your bank account, you can play a part by taking out all your DBS's card from your wallet and put inside your locker.

just don't use them .....

is just so simple ...dun have to make it until so complicated

[night listener]

Try to live in the real world.

The real world is what you believe it to be and make of it.

You make your choices.

I'll leave my DBS credit card at home. Oh wait...I don't have one.

I have other banks'.

Oh well...DBS one debacle after another.

[oralb]

Try to live in the real world.

sorry to say this...

Try to have some backbone.

they are bullying to your doorsteps, saying your preference, your orientation is a disorder, what you like and doing is a sin, and you can be "cured"! and all you can say is to ask others "live in the real world?" "let's move on?"

I am not not even asking you do a strike in Hong Lim park, put on petition, I am saying vote with your feet (or in this case your wallet) Christmas is the time of spending and all banks cherish this period. Keep their credit cards at home, let them know that if they openly support a group that's against us, then they are not worthy of our business.

As for what you said companies insisted on depositing money into POSB/ DBS accounts, you always have a choice to open another account with other banks and wired the money over. With the convenience of Internet banking, you can even do it at the comfort of your home.

Ultimately as I have advocate, it is your choice. You can remain to be passive and pretends you dont care. You can also do something proactive and let them know you have a say also.

seriously i do wonder whether are you a staff of POSB/ DBS that such an action would affect your year end bonus.

[erection day]

I dont know why people still bank with DBS/POSB. I have stopped banking with them for years. Main reason? Have you seen the queues at the terminal at most shopping areas? While people are frustrated especially during weekends queuing to withdraw their cash, I just stroll to my OCBC terminal and withdraw my cash in no time at all. Most of the times hardly any queues. And why bank with DBS??? Better interest??? I dont think so. Somemore OCBC opens on Sundays.

In fact this morning I was reading the papers and someone wrote to the forum and question why DBS/POSB are putting up hiring advertisement weeks just after they had their massive retrenchment exercise???

[oralb]

It is good to take this opportunity to create more awareness, both on the world we are living in and the people that're against.

I got this from Fridae.

Falsehoods spread by Focus on the Family

The information below is extracted from A False Focus on My Family. The 32-page booklet is published by Soulforce, an American civil rights and social justice organisation whose vision is “freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.”

The booklet can be downloaded online from www.soulforce.org .

A False Focus on My Family: Why every person of faith should be deeply troubled by Dr. James Dobson's dangerous and misleading words about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community

The Psychology Of Fear

Five false and spiritually violent claims by Focus on the Family

VIOLENT CLAIM ONE: Homosexuality is a mental disorder caused by family problems and bad parenting.

Response to Claim One: Forty years of research concludes that gay men and lesbian women are as healthy, stable, and functional as their heterosexual friends.

VIOLENT CLAIM TWO: Gay people want to destroy marriage and the family.

Response to Claim Two: America’s health and mental health associations and scientists say that same sex couples have the same hopes and dreams as any other family.

VIOLENT CLAIM THREE: Same-gender parents are unfit and seek to hurt children.

Response to Claim Three: Numerous studies show that children raised by same-gender parents grow up to be just as healthy as children raised by heterosexual parents.

VIOLENT CLAIM FOUR: Homosexuality can be prevented by parents and “cured” through “reparative therapy.”

Response to Claim Four: America’s major health and mental health associations warn that “reparative therapy” is ineffectual or even psychologically damaging.

VIOLENT CLAIM FIVE: Gays and lesbians are sick, ungodly people who want “special rights” not civil rights.

Response to Claim Five: The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., other civil rights heroes, and distinguished biblical scholars say that homophobia is like racism and other forms of bigotry.

[StockyMature]

sign a petition to DBS Ceo ! let them know we are part of this society, not easily t o be bully! wake up their ideas! :swear:

[Guest evil]

Just spread rumor that DBS is going to bankrupt, and people will flock to redraw their fund from DBS like what happened in the case of AIG. By the way, this rumor is easier to believe now as they were hit very bad by the stupid fund investments and lots of retenchments. I think their reptutation of people's bank has long gone. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[oralb]

please dont do illegal things... do note that spreading such rumors is an offence

use the official means, channel your funds out of their bank, stop using their credit cards, take your loans out of their bank (it maybe to your benefits also as there maybe other banks offering better rates now)

[Guest ~Orcale~]

Ok guys.

I have taken out my DBS Gold Mastercard from my wallet.

Didnt cut it up. But I have left it inside my drawer le.

It apppears to me that DBS has recently been hitting news headlines, for the wrong reasons! I'm sad.

[Guest Gay power]

I am lucky I didn't have any dealing with DBS Banks and didn't quite trust the institution. My credit cards are from other financial instituation. I also kept my savings very little in DBS or POSB.

[Panda_9791]

Ha... i didn't even bother to sign up for a DBS/POSC credit card... there are literally no noticeable shopping/dining discounts for the average joes like me... :smokin:

[oralb]

read what this blogger had to say about the case

http://ovidiayu.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/w...-like-from-dbs/

http://ovidiayu.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/d...elated_content/

I went to the DBS site on credit card promo, couldn't find the part that says contribution to FoTF. either i miss that or they have quietly taken that down.

What you can do:

1. Stop using POSB/ DBS cards, there are plenty to choose from

2. Look for alternative banks to park your money, there is no point to use POSB as it is no longer tax exempted, in short our national bank functions the same as any commercial banks

3. If your salary is automatic wired to the bank, transferred out, you can do so via Internet banking

4. Feedback to the banks, if you prefers to downplay the gay portion of FoTR, do note that FoTR also against abortion

5. Cancel your GIRO

6. Look for re-finance of your loans

[taxme7]

No problem... i will cancel my DBS credit card...

[Guest another]

could anyone post the link from DBS/POSB where they say that they are donating to FOTF? the original post is a non-existing facebook - a blog???

[Guest Guest]

Previously there was a paragraph at the end which goes like this

"Most special of all, we're extending the joy of giving to the community. For every set of limited edition bears redeemed, DBS will contribute a sum towards Focus on the Family, a charity dedicated to helping children and families thrive."

I think they have deleted that paragraph, but I believe the money is still being donated to FOTF.

They have resort to being shady tactics to prevent further backlash.

[Tight Ass]

Is he the guy who announced retrenchment? I am going to rock him with my Tight Ass to wake him up.

Edited November 30, 2008 by Tight Ass

[Guest benga_boi]

hi all, i think we should do our part in showing DBS who are the bigger spender under their consumer banking customer. I do agree that we may not be a large group, but if majority of us were to close our savings a/c. FDs a/c (not wise to close FD a/c cos will lose out on interest) and etc, it would surely create an impact on them given their current position now (retrenchment and etc) i m sure other banks will be more happy to receive us.

anyway wat so good bout the bloody bank, just talking bout their basic convenience of an atm machine, it is always having long queue. look at other banks like OCBC/UOB and etc, theirs never seem to have long queue.

their credit card also do not have much attractive deals as compared to other bank like citibank. dun forget that majority of us uses our credit cards quite freely due to our spending ability/power. imagine majority of us transfering our credit card spending to other banks? i think the stupid bank will lose out a lot.

sisters/brothers, its time we unify our small little rights that each of us have, i m sure we can impact them negatively and show them the power of the pink dollar. for those who are discreet or in the closet, this is also the time to contribute to the circle discreetly, cos no one will question you on why you are transferring your banking facilities to another bank cos you could just say you are not satisfied with their service.

this is the time where we do not need to sign our name, show our face or public speak at hong lim to show our unhappiness, so please do help. Thanks

[Guest GUEST]

Dear all, you may click on the link below to directly post your complaint and protest to DBS :

https://www.dbs.com/contact/feedback/

[eric6363]

Here's my exchange of feedback/emails with DBS.

DO074708: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint‏

From: Customer Service Feedback (customerservice@dbs.com)

Sent: 02 December 2008 10: 39AM

To: Xxxx Xxxxx

Dear Mr Xxxxx

We rerer to your email of 1 December 2008.

We would like to reiterate that it was never the intention of the Bank to discriminate against any group throught his initiative. Nonetheless, given the feedback received and to demonstrate that DBS believes in diversity and inclusion, we will be removing the Christmas charity campaign with immediate effect.

DBS will continue to play its part to support the community at large and we hope to have your understanding and support.

We thank you once again for your feedback.

Yours sincerely

Xxxxx Xxx

Customer Care & Feedback Management

Consumer Banking Group

DBS Bank Ltd

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Xxxx Xxxxx

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 8:05 PM

To: Customer Service Feedback

Subject: RE: DO074708: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint

Hello Xxxxx,

One only need to do a quick search on the internet to understand

what Focus on the Family is all about :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_on_the_Family

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Won_Out

Did DBS do any research before committing and associating with FOTF?

Of all the charity organisations that DBS can choose from,

DBS choose one that is so blatently anti-gay.

Please keep in mind that with the internet, it is very easy for information to flow.

Like I said, if DBS chooses to associate itself with FOTF,

then DBS is choosing to support an organisation that is anti-gay.

All these crazy Christians fundamentalists should be isolated on an island

with equally crazy Islamic fundamentalists. They deserve one another.

They are the preachers of hate, not love, using God as an excuse.

FOTF is preaching hatred to children with learning disability in Singapore,

and DBS is supporting this program.

You now understand why I can no longer support DBS/POSB.

Yours faithfully,

eric6363

> Subject: DO074708: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint

> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 13:07:36 +0800

> From: customerservice@dbs.com

> To: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com

>

> Dear Mr Xxxxx

>

> Thank you for your feedback of 29 November 2008 and we appreciates your

> concerns.

>

> Please allow us to explain that in line with DBS corporate social

> responsibility efforts that are geared towards supporting children and

> learning, several welfare organizations that support such similar causes

> were short listed. Focus on the Family, Singapore is a non religious and

> non political voluntary welfare organization, supported and endorsed by

> the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. The funds DBS

> contributes will be directed towards building a new learning centre

> which is schedule to open next March for children with various learning

> disabilities. As this tie in with the Bank's corporate social

> responsibility efforts to empower children through learning, Focus on

> the Family, Singapore was thus selected as our beneficiary.

>

> It is never the intention of the Bank to discriminate against any group

> through the choice of Focus on the Family, Singapore as our beneficiary.

>

> DBS will continue to play its part to support the community at large and

> we hope to have your kind understanding and support.

>

>

>

> Yours Sincerely

> Xxxxx Xxx

> Customer Care & Feedback Management

> Consumer Banking Group

> DBS Bank Ltd

>

> This message and the attachments transmitted with it, if any, are

> privileged and/or confidential, and are subject to legal and/or

> litigation privilege. It should not be disseminated or distributed to

> parties outside DBS. No part of this document may be reproduced in any

> form outside DBS without an authorized release.

>

>

>

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com

> Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 1:31 PM

> To: Customer Service Feedback

> Subject: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint

>

>

> The following is submitted by xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com on Sat Nov 29

> 13:31:29 2008...

>

> ==================Start of Message===================

>

> Type of Feedback: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint

>

> Salutation: Mr

>

> Name: XXXXXXXX

>

> NRIC/Passport No: XXXXXXXX

>

> Email Address: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com

>

> Country: Singapore

>

> Preferred Contact Phone Number: XXXXXXXX

>

> DBS Bank customer?: Yes

>

> Comments: Hello DBS/POSB,

>

> I have been a POSB customer since I was a child.

> I am very disappointed that you have decided to support Focus on the

> Family, because, God knows, I am born gay.

>

> As such, I can no longer support DBS/POSB, and I will be closing all my

> DBS/POSB accounts next week. I do not want to do business with a bank

> that lets crazy religious people influence their way of doing business.

> Instead, I will work with a bank that embraces diversity.

>

> eric6363

[hornyme]

now TKL want to advance his political interest.

[Guest Guest]

now TKL want to advance his political interest.

And what has TKL's intention got to do with this topic? If you have nothing to say, my advice to you is, shut your trap.

[Lungker]

Here's my exchange of feedback/emails with DBS.

DO074708: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint‏

From: Customer Service Feedback (customerservice@dbs.com)

Sent: 02 December 2008 10: 39AM

To: Xxxx Xxxxx

Dear Mr Xxxxx

We rerer to your email of 1 December 2008.

We would like to reiterate that it was never the intention of the Bank to discriminate against any group throught his initiative. Nonetheless, given the feedback received and to demonstrate that DBS believes in diversity and inclusion, we will be removing the Christmas charity campaign with immediate effect.

DBS will continue to play its part to support the community at large and we hope to have your understanding and support.

We thank you once again for your feedback.

Yours sincerely

Xxxxx Xxx

Customer Care & Feedback Management

Consumer Banking Group

DBS Bank Ltd

Thank you Eric. :thumb:

[oralb]

tks Eric, good to see our guys been proactive and takes action.

On DBS original template reply

Focus on the Family, Singapore is a non religious and

> non political voluntary welfare organization, supported and endorsed by

> the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

NON religious? oh my, didnt DBS even do research? or just pick a charity out of a lucky draw box? Either that or the person replying to eric is plain liar...

Now is to see how DBS do damage control, i have known the stop using DBS info has spread around the circle. A few of friends had remove their DBS/ POSB cards from their wallet, and they are the big spenders.

Giving the reputation issue, DBS would not want to publicise the U-turn fearing the general public outlash on them.

incidentally I just received my DBS statement (zero amount one) and the FoTF promotion is printed on it.

[Guest guest_guess]

Here's my exchange of feedback/emails with DBS.

DO074708: Feedback for Customer Service - Complaint‏

From: Customer Service Feedback (customerservice@dbs.com)

Sent: 02 December 2008 10: 39AM

To: Xxxx Xxxxx

Dear Mr Xxxxx

We rerer to your email of 1 December 2008.

We would like to reiterate that it was never the intention of the Bank to discriminate against any group throught his initiative. Nonetheless, given the feedback received and to demonstrate that DBS believes in diversity and inclusion, we will be removing the Christmas charity campaign with immediate effect.

DBS will continue to play its part to support the community at large and we hope to have your understanding and support.

We thank you once again for your feedback.

Yours sincerely

Xxxxx Xxx

Customer Care & Feedback Management

Consumer Banking Group

DBS Bank Ltd

So...can we use our POSB/DBS credit cards now?

I am eyeing some promotion from them leh...

How? Can?

[Guest -touch-]

guys... it is time for you to act.

this action does not require you to expose yourself, or extra effort. Simply take out your DBS and POSB credit cards out of your wallet. If possible stop using other facilities provided by the bank.

let them know that before endosing any organization that's anti any groups, do their homework.

Cool it man: At XXX, they believe in presenting gifts from their hearts.

[Dioscuri]

So...can we use our POSB/DBS credit cards now?

I am eyeing some promotion from them leh...

How? Can?

I like your posting! Very funny and cute.......I can imagine you eyeing those attractive items yet "tormented" because you "can't" act as yet (waiting for "instructions" or Green Light).

[Guest Quest]

DBS is just fooling with all of you.

They have merely stopped marketing the event, but truth is THEY WILL STILL BE DONATING TO FOTF. See how cunning they can get?

tsk tsk.....

Unless DBS release an official statement stating that they will not donate to FOTF, we should continue to boycott them.

[taxme7]

It's actually very simple. If you are holding a DBS credit card, cut it or put it inside your drawer.

Anyway, I dun find DBS perks attractive.

[Guest Guest]

Dont just put your DBS card away or cut it up QUIETLY. Do it and let them know. If not, your action is just useless.

Cut up the card and send it back to DBS with a simple note on why you did it. Ah, that will be more effective.

[Guest kk, uni student]

From the latest news, it seems that they have react to it by withdrawing the campaign. Although they didn't explicitly apologize. I guess we should be forgiving and move on. we gay can be very drama and yet rational & reasonable. yep! Chill~ dun over react. Just what I thought we should behave. peace

[Guest koguma28]

From the latest news, it seems that they have react to it by withdrawing the campaign. Although they didn't explicitly apologize. I guess we should be forgiving and move on. we gay can be very drama and yet rational & reasonable. yep! Chill~ dun over react. Just what I thought we should behave. peace

withdrawing the campaign is one thing, continuing donating the money to FOTF is another.

unless they inform us that they will NOT donate the money to FOTF, i don't consider this issue close.

do spare sometime to read the posting date Nov 29 2008, 12:47 AM. It explain why the reaction by some of us are behaving in such manners.

for those planning to cut the card and send to them, i would suggest that you enclose the following in the envelope

1) the email which DBS claimed FOTF is "Our charity partner, Focus on the Family (Singapore) is a non religious and non political organisation"

2) the mission statement of FOTF parent website

also, even if we leave out the gay issue, i will also stop using all DBS cards for the reason below (extracted from a forum)

Focus on the Family laid off 148 members of staff in November 2008, the largest job cut in the evangelical Christian group's 31-year history (The Associate Press, Nov 17 2008). The retrenchment took place after the group reportedly spent USD$500,000 to support Proposition 8 in California. Why should we support an organization that trumpets its social conscience yet spend 500k on a political agenda while retrenching 148 faithful and loyal staff. Many of these individuals have families of their own, and may now be spending their Christmas without any cheer.

[akated]

I closed my POSB account on 2nd dec at 1900 hours after the teller informed me that yes, DBS/POSB still support the charity (FOTF) they are committed to. Just that they have pulled all publicity material from their site.

I'm not sure if they have changed their stance since then.

[alvin_walensa]

Hmmmm

Non-religious??? So funny lah...DBS think we are stupid!!! so ridicolous

Anybody write to the newspaper? Gay/ Lesbian is not disease lah, why they must support that kind of Orgz..

[Guest guy]

Brothers and Sisters...

do unite and show DBS that we r not stupid and easy cheated by their surface acting(just withdraw publicity but still donatation). Do call DBS and CANCEL all our DBS/POSB credit cards which can be easy replaced by other bank

credit cards! As most of our salary goes thru DBS/POSB account, therefore not advisable to close our saving/current accounts.

Try to do our parts as we are one 'family'.

[TopChinese]

Already out in Straits Timestoday . DBS will continue to support FOTF and their learning center.

'Focus on the Family is a voluntary welfare organisation endorsed by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, and the National Council of Social Services,' said a DBS spokesman.

'We will still be supporting the cause of children and learning by contributing to the building of the children's learning centre.'

Focus on the Family Singapore's president Joanna Koh-Hoe said: 'We are deeply concerned that a small group of activists has successfully intimidated a major financial institution like DBS in such an unwarranted fashion that maligns a well-intended collaboration for the cause of children and families.'

[Guest Guest]

Already out in Straits Timestoday . DBS will continue to support FOTF and their learning center.

"Intimidated"? Who has threatened to pee in front of DBS this time around?

By not using DBS/POSB card is a form of intimidation? Bullshit.

[oralb]

i can only say my DBS and POSB cards are happily siting inside my drawer as I do not want ms Joanna to be "deeply concerned" with my action.

there are other banks that i will use during this Xmas season.

[Guest -RICHARD-]

I JUST HOPE ALL THESE SO CALLED GAY ACTIVIST'S VOCIFEROUS OPPOSITION TO DBS WOULD JUST BLOW UP ON THEIR FACES.

THEY ALL LIKE TO LOOK HIGH AND EDUCATED ABOUT THE ISSUE WHEN DBS CAN JUST TO IGNORE THEIR COMPLAINTS AND WRITE SOME CONCILIATORY REPLY AND THAT IS THAT CASE CLOSED.

THESE ACTIVIST LIKE FOR EXAMPLE OVIDIA YU MAKE THEM SELVES OUT TO BE LIKE BARKING DOGS BARKING AT AN ELEPHANT (dbs) , IT WILL CONTINUE TO EAT ITS GRASS AND LEAVES, WHILE THE ACTIVIST GET RED FACES AND BARK LIKE MAD DOGS.

fIRSTLY, THEY THINK SINGAPORE IS A WESTERN COUNTRY , WHERE THE RIGHTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL IS AGREED BY SOCIETY AND PROTECTED.

dbs CAN JUST CHOOSE TO IGNORE AND ISSUE A NON LOGICAL ANSWER AND STILL CONTINUE TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS OF LENDING MONEY AND MAKING MONEY.

OVIDIA YU HAS THESE ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR THAT IS HEIGHT OF CONCEIT.

WHAT IS SHE ANYWAY?? A POET, A PLAYWRIGHT AND A WOMAN.

SHE IS NOT WELL CONNECTED TO ANYONE OF ANY CONSEQUENCES.

AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO INSTIGATE PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING TO DBS BANK

IT IS ENOUGH THAT SHE ALONE CALLS AND CONFRONT HER BANK ABOUT HER HAPPINESS ABOUT HER BANK BUT INSTIGATE TSK TSK SO SO LOW CLASS

[night listener]

look who's barking like a mad dog with CAPS.