Men Can Legally Have Sex With Each Other In Singapore But Marriage Is Still Off The Table
Singapore has repealed the law under Section 377A of the penal code which criminalises gay sex. In February, 2023, there were attempts by advocates to overturn the colonial-era law that were ultimately unsuccessful.
It was announced on Sunday, August 21 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Section 377A would be repealed, but there is still no plans for the government to legalise same-sex marriage, reports ABC News.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF SECTION 377
Singapore may be one of the latest countries to repeal the British colonial-era law that criminalises gay sex, but it is far from the only country to have had to do so. The law makes it illegal for two men to perform sexual acts “against the order of nature”.
The countries where Section 377A is still in their penal code are Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is widely recognised that Section 377A was designed to criminalise homosexuality. Singapore’s high court decided against repealing 377 earlier this year claiming that it was rarely enforced.
THE GAYS CAN GET IT ON BUT WHAT ABOUT MARRIAGE
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke on Sunday in a national address and says, “Even as we repeal 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.”
In response to Loong’s statements, a joint statement was released by 22 LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups expressing their relief at the decision, reports The Guardian. “The repeal of section 377A, while long overdue, is a significant milestone and a powerful statement that state-sanctioned discrimination has no place in Singapore,” the statement says.
“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.”
Despite the relief that comes with Singapore’s repeal of 377A, gay marriage is still a long-shot for LGBTQIA+ individuals as the government is expressing their intention to maintain definitions of marriage being exclusively between heterosexual couples, reports The Guardian.
So, for now, gay sex is legal in Singapore but equal marriage may be a long way off.
