Sgapore repeals gay sex ban but lims prospect of legalisg same-sex marriage | Rters

Contents:

• HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE FN A NCERN FOR GAY SGAPOREANS
• HOMOSEXUALY TO BE LEGAL IN SGAPORE, BUT GAY MARRIAGE WILL HAVE TO WA
• SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALIZG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
• SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALISG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE FN A NCERN FOR GAY SGAPOREANS

SINGAPORE, Aug 22 (Rters) - Sgapore's cisn to lift a lonial-era ban on sex between men is long overdue and will not end discrimatn of LGBT groups the nservative cy-state, rights activists and members of the gay muny said on Monday.The announcement by Sgapore's prime mister to repeal the so-lled 377A law on Sunday me as he also said the ernment would take steps to prevent legal challeng that would allow same-sex marriag to be regnised. REUTERS/Edgar Su Acquire Licensg RightsThe treatment of LGBT groups has long been a ntent subject Sgapore, a multi-racial, multi-relig society of 5.5 ln.Even though Sgapore's 377A, unr which offenrs n be jailed for up to two years, has not been enforced on nsentg adult mal for s, some relig groups wanted the statute to stay, fearg that s repeal may promote homosexualy and challenge tradnal fay stctur.In a move to assuage some of those ncerns, Prime Mister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday his ernment would protect s fn of marriage, that of beg between a man and a woman, om beg challenged nstutnally the urts."It's a well-stck balance," Daniel Poon, a 55-year-old lol rint, told Rters on Monday morng.Others didn't see that way."Some people do feel that a lot more n be done," said Bryan Choong, chair of LGBTQ advocy group Oogachaga, addg that the 377A repeal was "long overdue".Marriage equaly is important to many Sgapore's lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer (LGBTQ) muny, and "the doors to that possibily should not be closed", Choong said.Around 30 untri worldwi have legalised same sex marriage, wh Taiwan the only place Asia to do so.Reportg by Chen L Sgapore; addnal reportg by Travis Teo; Edg by John Geddie and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Rters Tst Prcipl. Readg Time: 11 mutLbian, gay, bisexual and/or transsexual (LGBT) persons Sgapore may face legal obstacl unr Sgapore law.

HOMOSEXUALY TO BE LEGAL IN SGAPORE, BUT GAY MARRIAGE WILL HAVE TO WA

This was the se a recent cisn by a Sgapore urt, which rejected a gay man’s applitn to adopt a child that he fathered through surrogacy. “We need to fd the right way to rencile and acmodate both the tradnal mor of our society, and the aspiratn of gay Sgaporeans to be rpected and accepted, ” he said.

Read More: Homophobia Is Not an Asian Value Home affairs mister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam told the Stras Tim Monday that the Southeast Asian cy-state’s nstutn will be amend to give the legislature the right to fe marriage.

Asia’s nservative backlash To be sure, the repeal of law 377A—which ma gay sex punishable by up to two years prison—is beg weled.

SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALIZG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

“We believe that is not only a blow to the gay muny, but Sgapore as a whole, ” Clement Tan, a spokperson for the nonprof Pk Dot SG, tells TIME. ” The anizatn wants the ernment to guarantee the eedom of church to preach agast gay sex. The ntuatn of a heterosexual fn of marriage is likely to leave gay Sgaporeans long-term relatnships unable to accs social benefs such as public hog, which are available primarily to upl who are married.

People cheer as Sgapore’s Prime Mister Lee Hsien Loong announc that Sgapore will crimalise sex between men a step forward for gay rights the cy-state [Boo Junfeng/via Rters]. Sgapore has long sought to lim reprentatn of the LGBTQ muny public life, and films, televisn shows, books and mercials seen as “promotg homosexualy” risk a ban. Along wh the crimalisatn of nsentg sex between men, advot argued that the law stoked homophobia wh society and led to the nial of rights for same-sex upl.

SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALISG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

“I believe this is the right thg to do, and somethg that most Sgaporeans will now accept, ” said the prime mister whose nephew me out as gay 2018 and married the followg year South Ai.

“This will brg the law to le wh current social mor, and I hope, provi some relief to gay Sgaporeans.

For many gay people the cy-state of nearly six ln, will take some time to overe the effect of 377A. Lbian, gay, bisexual and/or transsexual (LGBT) persons Sgapore may face legal obstacl unr Sgapore law.