Christians will be dressed in white this weekend for their church services in support of the traditional family unit, a move that many see as a statement of opposition to the gay-rights themed annual Pink Dot, which takes place tomorrow.
A group of Muslims will likewise wear white when they go to the mosques next week for Ramadan prayers.
According to Muslim religious teacher Noor Deros, he started the Wear White campaign last year as a symbol of "purity" and to signal the community's opposition to homosexuality. He again urged Muslims o wear white on 17th June to mark the first evening prayer of the fasting month of Ramadan.
"It's not a counter-reaction to Pink Dot. Wear White is about returning to fitrah (Arabic for natural) and this year we are focusing on educating Muslims on the concept of freedom and love according to Islam."
Last week, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association put up a statement on its Facebook page to remind Muslims that "Islam has clearly outlined the prohibition of attending any event that supports or approves transgression".
Meanwhile, the Love SIngapore network has asked its 100 or so member churches to encourage their members to wear white for their services over the weekend.
"It's a powerful statement of our belief. The natural family is a universally accepted norm and a public good," says Love Singapore network chairman and Faith Community Baptists Church senior pastor Lawrence Khong.
Last year, over 10,000 congregants attended churches all around Singapore in white. this year, at least 15,000 people from 15 churches are expected to do the same, Mr Khong says. Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) church expects about 3,000 people to turn up in white.
Last year, voluntary welfare organisation Touch Family Services had wanted to hold a "Red Dot Family Moment" event at the Padang, where supporters would wear red on the same day as the Pink Dot picnic on June 28.
But its application to hold the event was rejected. Touch Family Services is a non-profit group under Touch Community Services, whose board Mr Khong chairs.
"Every human being is precious and loved by God and hence we extend our love for all. However, we will continue to stand firm as one to express our support for pro-family values and the preservation of our moral norms for the well-being of our society," says senior pastor Daniel Foo of Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) church.
Pink Dot was first organized in 2009 with about 2,500 attendees. It had a turn out of about about 26,000 last year. Several businesses will be participating in this year's Pink Dot by selling Pink Dot merchandise and giving out freebies along North Canal Road on the day of the event.