PC: The Diplomat

The government will repeal the colonial-era Section 377A of Singapore’s Penal Code, decriminalizing homosexual activity there. However, same-sex unions will still be prohibited in the city-state, according to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who made the announcement on Sunday.

“Sex between willing males shouldn’t be considered illegal. There is no reason to bring legal action against anyone or declare it a criminal, “He said this during his yearly policy speech at the National Day Rally, which was broadcast live on television.

“I think repealing the law is the proper course to take, and most Singaporeans now agree. This would update the law to reflect modern social norms and, perhaps, offer some respite to Singapore’s LGBT community “the Prime Minister remarked.

“Like any human community, ours includes LGBT people. They are Singaporeans just like us. They are our family members, friends, and coworkers. They also wish to lead independent lives, engage in our society, and completely contribute to Singapore “he added.

Lee implied that laws would be reinforced to defend the country’s legal definition of marriage, which is that it is between a man and a woman, and that the government would not change that definition.
“We will defend the Interpretation Act’s and the Women’s Charter’s definition of marriage from legal challenges based on constitutional law. To defend it, we must modify the constitution, and we will do so “According to his official Twitter account, he stated.

The anticipated decriminalisation of sex between men was hailed as “long overdue” and “a huge milestone and a powerful declaration that state-sanctioned discrimination has no place in Singapore” in a statement by more than 20 LGBTQ organisations in Singapore.

The declaration emphasised that when it comes to the concept of marriage, “It is frustrating when the government makes efforts to pass new laws or modify the constitution in a way that treats LGBTQ+ persons as second-class citizens. We implore the government to ignore recent requests from conservative religious groups to write the definition of marriage into the constitution.”

Colonial Law
The British colonial administration of Singapore issued Section 377A of the Penal Code in 1938 while Singapore was still a British colony. Gay sex is punishable by up to two years in prison, even if it occurs consensually, between adults, and in a private setting.

Similar laws were enacted in areas under the control of the British empire, such as India, although some of these nations have since repealed these laws. Singaporean LGBTQ activists have long demanded the repeal of the prohibition.

After a thorough examination, the Singaporean government removed portions of Section 377 of its penal statute in 2007 but kept 377A.

The clause would remain in the law, but it could no longer be used to prosecute men for engaging in homosexual relations, according to a February 2022 decision by Singapore’s Court of Appeal.

Speaking in Malay, Mandarin, and English, the trilingual Prime Minister’s speech reflected Singapore’s diverse population.
Regarding other relevant problems like same-sex marriage, which is not currently permitted in the nation, Lee addressed long-standing worries raised by conservative religious organisations and leaders.

The goal of LGBT Singaporeans to be acknowledged and welcomed needs to be balanced with the traditional mores of our society, according to Lee.

“The majority of Singaporeans favour maintaining this social structure. The government also has this view “added he. Through numerous national initiatives, “We have upheld and reinforced the importance of families, and we will continue to do so,” he declared.
The government was “evaluating the best way forward” on the concerns, activists claim, even though Singaporean society is still predominantly conservative.

The subject of same-sex marriage has recently made progress in some regions of Asia. Taiwan, an independent island, became the first nation in Asia to legalise same-sex unions in 2019. When four different measures to give homosexual couples more rights, such as the opportunity to adopt children and manage assets jointly, were passed by parliament in June, Thailand moved one step closer to being the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex unions.