Singapore’s prime minister announced yesterday that a colonial-era section of their penal code will be repealed. This will end the city-state’s ban on gay sex. The ban itself was set in place by the British empire but continued even after Singapore gained its independence. Gay marriage however will continue to be illegal.
The prime minister called the move“the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept,” when announcing the legislative change. In the same speech, he also said that moves will be taken to ensure marriage stays between a man and a woman. Which many consider a move to pander to the state’s religious right, as they oppose granting freedoms to LGBTQ Singaporeans.
Section 377 of the penal code that banned Gay sex was put in place by the British empire in the 19th century and continues to exist in many parts of Africa, Asia and Oceania. Versions of the British law are currently still in place in Kenya, Myanmar and Malaysia. Singapore’s move on LGBTQ rights follows in the footsteps of other asian countries such as India, Taiwan and Thailand. India’s version of the law was abolished in 2018.
The city-state’s conservative groups have responded by calling for the definition of marriage as a unity between a heterosexual couple to be enshrined in the constitution. While also calling for a legislative ban on promotion of LGBT issues to children.