KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore will decriminalize sex between men by repealing a colonial-era law but amend the constitutional charter to ban same-sex marriage, the city’s head of state said Sunday.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he believed repealing the law was “the right thing to do now” as most Singaporeans would now settle for decriminalisation.
“Private sexual behavior among consenting adults does not pose any public policy issues. There is no justification for prosecuting other people for this or making it a crime,” Lee said. “This will align the law with existing social customs and I hope to bring some relief to gay Singaporeans. “
In his speech at the annual National Day rally, Lee promised that the repeal would be limited and would not undermine Singapore’s classic circle of relatives and social norms, adding the definition of marriage, what is taught to young people in schools, which is shown on television. and the conduct of the general public.
He said the government would amend the charter so that there simply is no challenge to allowing same-sex marriage.
“Even if we repeal Section 377A, we will do so and protect the establishment of marriage,” Lee said. “We want to amend the statute to protect him. And we will. This will help us repeal segment 377A in a controlled and prudent manner. “
Section 377A of the Penal Code came under British colonial rule in the 1930s. British rule over the island ended in 1963 when Singapore became a state of Malaysia. He became independent two years later, but maintained the Penal Code, which made sexual relations between men punishable by up to two years in prison.
Since 2007, when Parliament last debated whether to repeal Article 377A, its position has been to uphold the law but apply it.
But homosexuals say the law weighs on them and discriminates against those who oppose them. Thousands of activists hold a rally each year in the city-state known as the “Pink Dot” for the LGBTQ community.
Lee said he hoped the government’s resolution would reconcile and address the considerations of devout Conservative teams and the wishes of gay Singaporeans to be respected and accepted.
“All teams will have to exercise in moderation, because this is the only way forward together as a nation,” he said. “I hope the new balance will allow Singapore to remain a tolerant and inclusive society for many years to come. “”
One of Lee’s nephews, Li Huanwu, is gay. The son of Lee’s younger brother, Lee Hsien Yang, married his wife in South Africa in 2019. Li Huanwu attended Pink Dot events with his wife and parents.
Other former British colonies still retain similar legislation criminalizing sex between men, including neighboring Malaysia, where a former deputy prime minister was twice jailed for sodomy. He was convicted in 2000 and 2014, in instances critics say were politically motivated.
In 2018, India decriminalized people of the same sex after its Supreme Court in a landmark ruling overturned Article 377 that punished people of the same sex with up to 10 years in prison. Some Asian governments also have to legalize same-sex marriage, with Taiwan being the first. Thailand also recently approved plans to allow same-sex unions.