#Singapore #repeal #colonialera #antigay #sex #law
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Sunday that the country would repeal a colonial-era law criminalizing gay sex, although he claimed the government would continue to “uphold” marriage between men and women.
Inherited from the British colonial era, Section 377A of the Singapore Penal Code punishes sex between men with up to two years in prison.
Gay rights activists have long said the law clashes with the prosperous city-state’s increasingly modern and vibrant culture and have launched two unsuccessful legal actions.
During a key policy speech on Sunday, Lee said attitudes had changed since 15 years ago, when the government decided the law should remain in place, despite not being actively enforced.
Gays are “more accepted locally now,” especially among younger Singaporeans, he said.
“It’s time to ask the fundamental question again: should sex between men in private be a criminal offence?” said Lee.
“The government will repeal Section 377A and decriminalize sex between men. I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept.”
He added: “This will bring the law into line with current social mores and I hope to bring some relief to gay Singaporeans.”
However, the repeal of Section 377A stops short of full marriage equality.
Lee said the government recognizes that “most Singaporeans do not want the repeal to trigger a drastic change in our societal norms across the board,” including how marriage is defined and how it is taught in schools.
“Hence, even if we repeal Section 377A, we will uphold and protect the institution of marriage,” he said.
He stressed that under the law, “only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized in Singapore”.
The government will amend the constitution to protect the existing definition of marriage from constitutional challenge by the courts, Lee added.
– “Long road to equality” –
The first attempt to repeal the law was rejected in 2014. The appeals court dismissed the second lawsuit last February.
Gay rights activists expressed “relief” at the government’s decision on Sunday.
“Repealing Section 377A is the first step on a long journey towards full equality for LGBTQ+ people in Singapore,” they said in a joint statement signed by more than 20 groups.
But “the true impact of the lifting will depend on how the people of Singapore react to it and treat each other over the coming days and months.”
Ahead of Lee’s speech, a coalition of Protestant churches in Singapore warned on Friday against repealing the law, which it described as “a marker for many social and moral considerations.”
In 2018, India’s Supreme Court decriminalized gay sex by overturning laws from its time under British rule – a decision that spurred activists in Singapore to renew efforts to challenge the law.
The following year, in May, Taiwan made the unprecedented decision to legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the first place in Asia to do so.
Social Tags:
#Singapore #repeal #colonialera #antigay #sex #law
