Singapore: Repeals law criminalizing sex between men

The LGBTI+ community is talking about a landmark decision.

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Singapore is set to repeal a colonial-era law criminalizing sex between men, a landmark decision hailed by LGBTI+ community groups as a "victory for humanity".

In a national address on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the repeal of Section 377A of the penal code would bring the law into line with today's social perceptions and "provide some relief to gay Singaporeans," the Guardian reported.

However, Lee added that the government does not want "society-wide changes", including changes to the legal definition of marriage.

“Even when we repeal 377A, we will preserve and safeguard the institution of marriage. By law, in Singapore only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized"He said.

What did the law 377A provide

Article 377A, which was introduced under British colonialism, criminalizes "any act of gross lewdness with another male person". The law beckons imprisonment for up to two years, although it is believed not to have been implemented for more than a decade.

For years, activists have repeatedly challenged Article 377A in the courts, but have been unsuccessful.

"Triumph of love over fear"

In a joint statement they issued 22 LGBTI+ groups, expressed their relief that the law would finally be changed, describing the news as "our hard-won victory, a triumph of love over fear".

"The repeal of Article 377A, although it has been delayed for a long time, constitutes important milestone and a strong statement that state-sanctioned discrimination has no place in Singapore," said the statement, which is signed by several groups, including Pink Dot Sg, a non-profit movement supporting the LGBTI+ community. The decision was "a victory for humanity," it said.

"For everyone who has experienced the types of bullying, rejection and harassment that this law allowed, the repeal allows us to finally begin the process of healing. For those longing for a more equal and inclusive Singapore, repeal signals that change is indeed possible," it said.

However, they say, the repeal of the law came too late for many. "For the previous victims of section 377A and its knock-on effects, including those who faced threats of police imprisonment, raids and criminal prosecutions, repeal will never be able to fully right the historical wrongs they faced."

The groups also expressed disappointment that Lee said he intended to change the constitution to prevent future legal challenges to the existing definition of marriage.

More supportive of same-sex relationships than in the past

Polls have shown that Singaporeans are done more supportive of same-sex relationships. An Ipsos poll, published in June, found that just under half of respondents, 44%, agreed with section 377A – up from 55% in 2018.

Religious groups, however, expressed opposition to the change and said it could lead to further calls for equal marriage.

Lee said during his speech at the national anniversary rally on Sunday that most people do not want changes to the definition of marriage, nor to "what we teach children in schools, what is shown on free-to-air television and in cinemas or what is generally acceptable behavior in public”.

Under Singapore's broadcasting codes, content promoting the LGBTQI+ "lifestyle" is restricted and has often even led to censorship of high-profile figures, such as Barack Obama's 2016 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in which he the presenter as a role model. Recently, the Disney and Pixar movie Lightyear was featured not suitable for children under 16 because it features a lesbian couple.

Benjamin Xue, co-founder of LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group Young Out Here, said the announcement that section 377A would be repealed was a key juncture that he hoped would "increase empathy and understanding for future policy changes".

Article 377, a legacy of colonialism, still exists in some form in many Asian countries, including Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei.

In all of Asia, only Taiwan has legally recognized same-sex marriage.

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