Singapore will decriminalize sex between men, prime minister says

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Sun Aug 21, 2022, 11:03 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

SINGAPORE, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Singapore will decriminalise sex between men but has no plans to change the legal definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday. LGBTQ groups welcomed Lee's decision to repeal Section 377A of the penal code, a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men, but also expressed concern that ruling out same-sex marriage would help to perpetuate discrimination.

In his annual national day rally speech, Lee said Singaporean society, especially young people in the city-state, were becoming more accepting of gay people. "I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept," he said. It was unclear when exactly Section 377A would be repealed. Singapore becomes the latest Asian country to move toward ending discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community. In 2018, India's highest court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex, while Thailand has recently edged closer to legalising same-sex unions.

Under Singapore's Section 377A, offenders can be jailed for up to two years under the law, but it is not currently actively enforced. There have been no known convictions for sex between consenting adult males for decades and the law does not include sex between women or other genders. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) groups have brought multiple legal challenges attempting to strike down the law, but none has succeeded. On Sunday, several LGBTQ rights groups said in a joint statement they were "relieved" by Lee's announcement.

"For everyone who has experienced the kinds of bullying, rejection and harassment enabled by this law, repeal finally enables us to begin the process of healing. For those that long for a more equal and inclusive Singapore, repeal signifies that change is indeed possible," they said in the statement. But the groups also urged the government not to heed calls from religious conservatives to enshrine the definition of marriage in the constitution, saying this would signal that LGBTQ+ citizens were not equal.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-will-decriminalise-sex-between-men-pm-2022-08-21/?taid=63022a05398b3000011bd7c7

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Short article.

I guess a baby step?

Original article -

SINGAPORE, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Singapore will decriminalise sex between men, the prime minister said on Sunday, adding that society in the city-state was becoming more accepting of gay people.

But he added the government had no intention of changing the city-state's legal definition of marriage - that is, between a man and a woman.

"I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in the annual national day rally speech, adding the government will repeal Section 377A of the penal code, a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men.

"Even as we repeal Section 377A, we will uphold and safeguard the institution of marriage... Under the law, only marriages between one man and one woman are recognised in Singapore," Lee added.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. More from the BBC:

The decision, announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on national TV, comes after years of fierce debate.
...
The government's previous stance was to keep 377A but it also promised not to enforce the law, as a way to appease both sides.
...
But LGBT activists have long called for 377A to be scrapped, saying the law perpetuates social stigma against gay people, goes against Singapore's constitution which forbids discrimination, and has trickled down to influence other aspects of life.

For instance, any content deemed as "promoting homosexuality" can be banned from broadcast in Singapore, and TV shows and movies have in the past been censored.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62545577

[smb]

2. Reminds Me Of This Bit Of History

the law does not include sex between women

Apparently the Victorian-era law against homosexuality did not encompass lesbianism out of concern that bringing the concept into the public debate would encourage women to give it a try:

...you are going to tell the whole world that there is such an offence, to bring it to the notice of women who have never heard of it, never thought of it, never dreamed of it. I think that is a very great mischief, and I came here determined to do all I could to help my noble friend, Lord Malmesbury, to get this clause removed from the Bill.