Singapore To End Law Criminalising Gay Sex but Says 'No' to Same-Sex Marriages

"We can finally begin the process of healing," a Singapore LGBTQIA+ rights group said, in a statement.

In an announcement that preceded years of debate, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday, 21 August, that the country will decriminalise Section 377A – a colonial law that penalised sex between men.

However, in the same announcement, he added, that the city-state has "no plans to change the legal definition" of marriage – which the law currently 'allows' only between the conservative definitions of man and woman.

In his National Day rally speech, Lee said that Singapore, as a society, was "becoming more accepting of gay people."

"I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept," he said, reported BBC.

While there is no clarity on when exactly the law will be repealed, Singapore now joins other Asian countries like India, Taiwan, and Thailand that have decriminalised gay sex.

What is 377A?

Like India's Section 377, Singapore too inherited 377A from the British when they were a colony.

However, the country, like many others, chose to retain it after its independence in 1965. While the law, in verbatim, criminalises sex between men, it is seen as a blanket ban on homosexuality.

According to the BBC, the law also led to any content deemed as "promoting homosexuality" being banned from broadcast in Singapore, and TV shows and films with same-sex characters censored.

'A More Equal, Inclusive Singapore'

In a statement, several LGBTQIA+ rights groups welcomed the repealing of 377A, stating that members of the community can finally 'begin the process of healing'.

"For everyone who has experienced the kinds of bullying, rejection, and harassment enabled by this law, its repeal finally enables us to begin the process of healing. For those that long for a more equal and inclusive Singapore, the repeal signifies that change is indeed possible."

LGBTQIA+ Rights Groups, reported by Reuters

Singapore has just repealed s377a, the law that has criminalized sex between men since British colonization. Tears flowing over here for all the queers who grew up in this homophobic society, and so much gratitude to the activists have been fighting for this for decades.

— Charmaine Chua (@CharmaineSChua) August 21, 2022

“377 reflected the prevailing colonial attitudes at the time. Many countries including several Asian countries have since repealed it. But so far not Singapore. (The last time we debated this) We decided to leave 377A but not enforce it. It would have been divisive then”

— Adrianna Tan (@skinnylatte) August 21, 2022

NEVER THOUGHT I’D LIVE TO SEE THE DAY ITS NO LONGER ILLEGAL TO BE GAY IN SINGAPORE 🎉🎉🎉🎉

— lou is on hiatus, will post fics again soon!! (@humanlouboutin) August 21, 2022

WE WON. Finally being gay is no longer criminalised in Singapore!! I really thought I would never live to see this happen in my lifetime :')https://t.co/urOFz0slik pic.twitter.com/3MerPFiiN4

— Keanne 🌸✨️ (@Centaurscore) August 21, 2022

However, many pointed that Singapore's promise to make constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage furthered their discrimination in society.

Reminder that the repeal of #377A in Singapore has been accompanied by a promise to make constitutional amendments that will prevent queer couples from accessing equal rights (from marriage to next-of-kin benefits).

This cannot be uncritically celebrated.

— Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) August 21, 2022

An alliance of more than 80 churches expressed "strong disappointment" over the announcement, Reuters reported.

"The repeal is an extremely regrettable decision which will have a profound impact on the culture that our children and the future generations of Singaporeans will live in," the alliance said in a statement.