By Terence Lee

It all started with a story on Yahoo! Singapore about how Ben & Jerry’s, a world renowned ice-cream brand, is showing support for gay marriage equality in the UK by depicting a gay couple on its Oh! My! Apple Pie! ice-cream favor.

What resulted was gay bashing in the comments section from some rather irate Singaporeans. Some even threatened to boycott the ice-cream brand.

Seriously, all that rage just over a cartoon of a gay couple? And it’s not like Ben & Jerry’s is launching their campaign worldwide — which makes the said Singaporeans’ anger even more puzzling.

Some of the comments range from hateful to just borderline insane. I’m not making this shit up. They’re real.

Sukhbir said: “Gays should remain celibate, go about living their lives quietly and not encourage gay marriage. Gay sex is not natural.”

Right, so gays should become monks then? I would like Sukhbir to try being celibate for one year to see how that feels like. As for his comment on how gay sex isn’t natural, he should really look at the animal kingdom — monkeys suck off one another too. So “what’s natural” isn’t necessary what’s right — cannibalism occurs naturally as well, but is it justified?

Asia Michael said: “Ben and Jerry, I just throw out your ice cream – it taste like shit after gay sex is shit hole sex. the world like yours will be worst than sodom and gormorrah in the past.”

How Christian of Asia Michael to bring up Sodom and Gormorrah. Maybe he should belong with its inhabitants in the rain of fire.

Simply Moi said: “To show support that i’m against same sex marriage, I’m NOT going to support B&J anymore.”

Simply Moi should get a life. Really.

Aces said: “Are they promoting another form of enjoying “ice cream” ? This is sick man!!!”

His/her imagination is quite sick too.

Lim D said: “God created Adam and Eve so that they can mutiply all over the world..otherwise He would have name them Adam and Steve..lol..”

Not everyone believes in Adam and Eve.

Jiangjuajee said: “BJ stands for Blow Job or Butt Job……. it makes the ice-cream so distasteful.”

I’m amazed he only just noticed now.

Said Zaki: “NOT a drop of Ben & Jerry in my blood ANYMORE! MUSLIMS IN SINGAPORE…PLEASE STOP CONSUMING BEN & JERRY!! ITS HARAM”

I can’t say anything about his comment, otherwise the police will knock on my door. But if a gay B&J employee scoops an ice-cream for him, I wonder if he’ll accept it.

And the anti-gay comments go on and on.

I thought Singaporeans are more enlightened than that.

What’s also interesting is that all of these comments are anonymous. I wonder if anyone of them will openly say what they wrote, staking their identity on it?

Or are they just spineless cowards?

To be fair, there are many Singaporeans who defended Ben & Jerry’s decision as well, urging tolerance and respect of each other’s beliefs.

But seeing such remarks coming from my countrymen is a stark reminder for me that probably a majority of Singaporeans have not caught up with the rest of the world when it comes to respect for different beliefs and lifestyles.

I respect people with different views, even those who are against gay marriage.

But to go to the extent of boycotting Ben and Jerry’s? Come on…

Get a tub of Ben & Jerry’s to show them our support! Take a picture of it and post and Twitter with the hashtag #bjforgays. Winks.