Singapore abolishes colonial-era law criminalizing sex between men

Section 377A will be abolished by Singapore. Gay sex will be decriminalized in the city-state where advocacy groups have been fighting for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community.

When Singapore was a British colony, the Penal Code was written. Sex between men with prison sentences could be punished by the law.

"I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most people in Singapore will now accept," Lee said.

The section could not be used to prosecute men according to the Court of Appeal. A survey done in June found that less than half of Singapore's population supported Section 377A, a decrease from the previous year.

In his National Day Rally address, Lee said we need to find the right way to reconcile and accommodate both the traditional mores of our society and the aspiration of gay Singaporeans. It wasn't clear when the repeal would happen.

Other parts of Asia, like India and Taiwan, have made progress when it comes to the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community.

The government's decision came after a lot of advocacy from the LGBTQ groups, who are now celebrating this step in the right direction, but are disappointed that the city-state's laws still discriminate against them.

Same-sex marriage won't be legalised in Singapore because the "traditional" definition of marriage will be in the constitution. The repeal of Section 377A is opposed by religious groups in Singapore, and this move seems to be an attempt to appease them.

"We believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, that children should be raised within such families, that the traditional family should form the basic building block of society." Sex education in schools will be sensitive to the multiracial and multi- religious make-up of our society, according to the Education Ministry of Singapore.

The news of decriminalisation of sex between men has been widely celebrated in Singapore.

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Sayoni, a feminist organisation that works to protect the rights of queer women, expressed deep regret about the proposed changes to the constitution on the protection of heterosexual marriages. This will make lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people less equal members of society.

The co- founder of Sayoni called on the government to fulfill its promise of equality and non- discrimination.

The government's aim of promoting a secular and democratic society that prioritised the sanctity and equity of all human lives is something that we look forward to further partnership with.

A statement written by a coalition of 22 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LPL) organizations called the repeal a win for humanity. The group stressed that this is the first step in a long road towards full equality for the people of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer community in Singapore.

"As we celebrate this historical milestone, we urge the community, and indeed all Singaporeans, to continue to imagine and work towards a better future for all." A society without Section 377A is more progressive than one without it. Everyone is free before anyone else.

The path forward for LGBTQ rights in Singapore will require continued rejection of stigma and bigotry, as well as additional support from groups like Sayoni and Oogachaga, according to the organisation.

In the face of possible backlash, we must strengthen ties within our community and look out for each other.