Sgapore repeals gay sex ban but sets new l to block marriage equaly - CBS News

Contents:

• SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALISG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
• SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALIZG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
• SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT SETS NEW L TO BLOCK MARRIAGE EQUALY
• FOR SGAPORE’S GAY MEN, REPEAL OF SEX BAN BRGS HOPE AFTER YEARS OF PA
• SGAPORE’S LATT RULG ON GAY SEX IS ‘COLD COMFORT,’ ACTIVISTS SAY
• END OF SGAPORE'S GAY SEX BAN A 'SMALL STEP' FOR SOME LGBT UPL
• SGAPORE KEEPS LGBTQ CONTENT CURBS DPE GAY-SEX BAN REPEAL
• SGAPORE PASS LAWS TO CRIMALISE GAY SEX, PROTECT FN OF MARRIAGE AGAST LEGAL CHALLENGE

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

But back the 1980s, before the age of the ter and Grdr, was a popular meetg spot for gay men a untry where homosexualy was effect crimalised. Authori argued that reflected Sgapore society's view that homosexualy was not last week s parliament repealed the law, jt months after lear Lee Hsien Loong's surprise announcement they would scrap the ban bee of changg repeal of 377A turns the page on a dark chapter of Sgapore history that is rarely talked about the days, where gay men not only faced tense social stigma but were even actively targeted by Heng and the other men at Esplana Park that night were let off wh only a warng. For several s, the police would nduct so-lled "anti-gay" raids on nightclubs that gay men were known to equent, or cisg spots beach and parks.

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

Often this would clu the ntroversial e of entrapment, where policemen would pose as gay men at popular meetg spots and promptly arrt anyone who engaged wh them.

This was later overturned an appeal, wh the judge notg that the way the men were ught and charged was "disquietg" many gay men, the raids sent a clear msage that their existence was owned upon. While anti-gay vlence was not mon tightly-ntrolled Sgapore, many the muny were fearful of g out to their iends, fay and wir society. That was part of the stct of beg gay back then, " said Mr Heng, who is 71 years the 2000s the raids had creased, and the issue of homosexualy - once a taboo topic - beme creasgly openly discsed.

Recent surveys show that, while there is still a signifint number who thk homosexualy is "wrong", there is also risg support for gay cy-state has veloped a thrivg LGBT scene, wh an creasg number of LGBT-iendly tablishments and pani promotg diversy polici.

SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT SETS NEW L TO BLOCK MARRIAGE EQUALY

Activism has bee more proment wh more lobby groups and support muni emergg - a far cry om the days where gay rights anisatns found difficult even to exist.

The next stop was a nonscript office buildg, which ed to be Sgapore's first gay sna.

FOR SGAPORE’S GAY MEN, REPEAL OF SEX BAN BRGS HOPE AFTER YEARS OF PA

Later, they were taken to an upsle hilltop rtrant - a popular gay cisg spot the past, they were Tng told the BBC he cid to start givg LGBT history tours after realisg there was an "amnia", particularly among younger Sgaporeans. His tours have attracted a mix of both straight and gay oute of the lack of enforcement of 377A is that "there are people who don't really re bee they've never been subjected to , " he more attentn paid to 377A recent years, cludg legal attempts to overturn , "there's been greater tert and people are more cur now" about LGBT history, though "the rourc are still lackg", he source, BBC/Tsa WongImage ptn, Mr Tng's tours attract a mix of gay and straight attenWh 377A's repeal, the law is now officially a thg of the past.

Alongsi the repeal, lawmakers voted to amend the nstutn, which effect l out the possibily of gay marriage for now.

SGAPORE’S LATT RULG ON GAY SEX IS ‘COLD COMFORT,’ ACTIVISTS SAY

The vote also saw parliamentarians voicg ncern about "ant homosexuals" and the erosn of relig eedoms, which LGBT groups turn have lled "unsubstantiated rhetoric and fearmongerg". "I thk a gay iend put very well: 's like a nice, hot cup of ffee that got left on the table.

Sgapore’s Prime Mister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday said the untry will repeal the lonial-era Sectn 377A of Sgapore’s Penal Co, thereby crimalizg gay sex Sgapore, but add that same-sex marriage will ntue to be illegal the cy-state.

END OF SGAPORE'S GAY SEX BAN A 'SMALL STEP' FOR SOME LGBT UPL

This will brg the law to le wh current social mor, and I hope, provi some relief to gay Sgaporeans, ” said the Prime Mister. It punish gay sex – even if is nsensual, between adults, and tak place privately – for up to two years of imprisonment.

In Febary 2022, Sgapore’s Court of Appeal led that the sectn would rema the law, but nnot be enforced to prosecute men for havg gay sex. Lee said: “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. In June, Thailand edged closer to beg the first place Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex unns when lawmakers passed four different bills aimg to provi greater rights to gay upl, such as the abily to adopt children and manage assets jotly.

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTIn announcg the move, Prime Mister Lee Hsien Loong took a step long sought by gay rights advot, but he said same-sex marriage would ntue to be illegal. Wallace Woon/EPA, via ShutterstockPrime Mister Lee Hsien Loong of Sgapore said on Sunday that the ernment would repeal the untry’s lonial-era law crimalizg sex between men, a step long sought by gay rights advot, but that would propose a nstutnal amendment fg marriage as between a man and a woman.

SGAPORE KEEPS LGBTQ CONTENT CURBS DPE GAY-SEX BAN REPEAL

The law has not been enforced for 15 years but gay rights advot had long sought to overturn , argug that stigmatiz gay men and promot discrimatn.

”Sgapore’s gay muny has fought for years to repeal the law, cludg challengg the urts.

”Those advotg rights for gay people have long argued that 377A, even if is not enforced, perpetuat discrimatn at all levels of society, cludg schools, workplac, health re and the Lee acknowledged that a urt lg a se brought by three gay men challengg the law this year had put prsure on the ernment to Court of Appeal, the natn’s hight urt, cled to overturn Sectn 377A Febary, lg that the three men did not have legal standg bee the ernment had pledged not to enforce the urt said was Parliament’s rponsibily to ci the issue, notg that the high urt was “not a ont-nner for social change or an archect of social policy.

SGAPORE PASS LAWS TO CRIMALISE GAY SEX, PROTECT FN OF MARRIAGE AGAST LEGAL CHALLENGE

At the same time, he said, homosexuals should have a place society and were entled to their private liv. ”“We should strive to mata a balance: to uphold a stable society wh tradnal heterosexual fay valu, but wh space for homosexuals to live their liv and to ntribute to the society, ” he said at the the urt lg Febary, gay rights advot have stepped up their efforts to w repeal of the Su/RtersAt this year’s annual Pk Dot pri rally June, participants highlighted how the law’s prence the penal enuraged discrimatn agast members of the L.

”In recent weeks, bet misters have been nsultg relig and muny lears and gay rights advot on the bt way to crimalize gay sex while leavg tact the law that f marriage as beg between a man and a woman. REUTERS/Fele Lim/File PhotoSINGAPORE, Nov 29 (Rters) - Sgapore's parliament on Tuday crimalised sex between men, but, a blow to the LGBT muny, also amend the nstutn to prevent urt challeng that other untri have led to the legalisatn of same-sex mov e as other parts of Asia, cludg Taiwan, Thailand and India are regnisg more rights for the lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr (LGBT) muny. "We will try and mata a uphold a stable society wh tradnal, heterosexual fay valu, but wh space for homosexuals to live their liv and ntribute to society, " Home Affairs Mister K.