End of Sgapore's gay sex ban a 'small step' for some LGBT upl | Rters

Contents:

• SGAPORE TO DECRIMALIZE GAY SEX
• SGAPORE KEEPS LGBTQ CONTENT CURBS DPE GAY-SEX BAN REPEAL
• 377A: SGAPORE TO END BAN ON GAY SEX
• SGAPORE GAY SEX BAN: COURT REJECTS APPEALS TO OVERTURN LAW
• END OF SGAPORE'S GAY SEX BAN A 'SMALL STEP' FOR SOME LGBT UPL
• SGAPORE’S LATT RULG ON GAY SEX IS ‘COLD COMFORT,’ ACTIVISTS SAY
• GAY RIGHTS: THE TABOO SUBJECT SGAPORE'S ELECTN
• WHY SGAPORE’S GAY SEX LAW CHANGE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR LGBTQ ACTIVISTS
• SGAPORE REPEALS GAY SEX BAN BUT LIMS PROSPECT OF LEGALISG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

SGAPORE TO DECRIMALIZE GAY SEX

Sectn 377A has a legacy of drivg stigma and discrimatn agast lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) people Sgapore.

In a parliamentary bate on sectn 377A 2007, Lee acknowledged that “Homosexuals are part of our society. Lee said his speech Sunday that he wants gay people to “live their own liv, participate our muny and ntribute fully to Sgapore. When Sgapore announced this week would end a lonial-era law that crimalized sex between men, looked like a big victory for gay rights advot the Southeast Asian untry.

That’s bee as put an end to that law, the Sgapore ernment reerated s opposn to gay marriage. Soon after announcg that nsensual gay sex would no longer be illegal, Prime Mister Lee Hsien Loong said his annual Augt rally speech that his ernment would “uphold and safeguard the stutn of marriage” – fed the Constutn as a unn between man and woman. At the same time, the cy-state is home to var evangelil mega church that preach agast homosexualy.

SGAPORE KEEPS LGBTQ CONTENT CURBS DPE GAY-SEX BAN REPEAL

Lee noted his speech that gay rights remas “a highly sensive and ntent” issue to nservativ the untry. To gay rights activists, the ntug ban on same-sex marriage is a signifint blow.

So while activists the LGBTQ (Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, Queer) muny weled the repeal of the gay sex law, many were disappoted too. And that disappotment will only have epened wh the suggtn by some of Lee’s misters that not only would the ernment rema opposed to gay marriage – may even create extra hurdl to prevent people om seekg to challenge the marriage laws urt.

377A: SGAPORE TO END BAN ON GAY SEX

Law mister K Shanmugam said an terview wh state media that Parliament, rather than the urts, would hold the power to fe marriage – effectively makg harr for people to legally challenge the ernment’s polici as several gay men have attempted recent years. As associate law profsor Eugene Tan of the Sgapore Management Universy put : “Sgapore removed a law long regard as beg discrimatory towards gay men. In 2012, Gary Lim and Kenh Chee, a gay uple who had been together for 15 years, challenged the law agast gay sex at Sgapore’s High Court.

SGAPORE GAY SEX BAN: COURT REJECTS APPEALS TO OVERTURN LAW

“For , repealg (the gay sex law) was never about gay marriage,” the uple said. “I hope that the nservativ n one day see gay people are not dangero or a threat to them or their children. "This will brg the law to le wh current social mor and I hope provi some relief to gay Sgaporeans.

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

But gay men say the law hangs over their heads and discrimat agast them.

Lee said he hop the ernment's move will help rencile and acmodate both the ncerns of nservative relig groups and the sir of gay Sgaporeans to be rpected and accepted. " One of Lee's nephews, Li Huanwu, is gay.

In 2018, India crimalized gay sex after s Supreme Court a historic lg stck down Sectn 377 that punished gay sex by up to 10 years prison. Some Asian untri have also moved to legalize gay marriage, wh Taiwan as the first 2019.

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

While we believe gay travellers should be exced to vis this cy, ’s important to be aware of the suatn before travellg. The Legal Suatn Gay Sgapore.

Unlike India, Sgapore has not ma the cisn to repeal this law, meang that unr Sectn 377A homosexualy remas illegal (technilly, the law says nothg about same-sex relatns between two women).

Other parts of Sgapore’s Penal Co uld also potentially be terpreted to prosecute gay men, like sectn 354 on the ‘outrage of mosty’ or sectn 294A verg obscene acts public.

GAY RIGHTS: THE TABOO SUBJECT SGAPORE'S ELECTN

The media is even forbidn to promote “the glamorizatn of the homosexual liftyle” so the rare ocsn an LGBT character appears on TV they are portrayed as damaged and have to be ‘fixed’. The Social Suatn Gay Sgapore. While many members of the gay muny live their liv relatively unmolted, there is always a sense of a hammer wag to fall.

Public opn has gradually swung towards slightly more tolerance towards same-sex relatnships or even gay marriage, although is still not overwhelmgly favour. Pk Dot, the annual gay pri rally, started 2009 and grows year on year.

WHY SGAPORE’S GAY SEX LAW CHANGE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR LGBTQ ACTIVISTS

Proment celebri have e out and there is hope that this will provi spirg role mols for young gay people the closet. To be hont, spe the dire legal suatn for LGBT people Sgapore, ’s unlikely that gay travellers will be negatively affected.

After dark there’s a thrivg gay scene and of urse there’s more than enough to do durg the day to keep all travellers – gay, straight, unirn – by and happy.

It’s jt important to be aware that technilly homosexualy is illegal and so to be nsc of surroundgs and behavur public plac.

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

Plac to Go Gay Sgapore. In fact, the only thg that might lim gay travellers is the same thg that would lim straight on – budget! In and around Chatown is where most gay bars and clubs are based, so to feel totally ee and easy ’s a good ia to stay here or spend a lot of time here.

Often poorer areas (they do exist!) will be more nservative so gay travellers should be aware of any PDA or hand-holdg there.

Gay-Friendly Acmodatn Sgapore.