Singapore debates decriminalizing gay sex

Singapore, Nov 28 (EFE).- The Singapore Parliament on Monday debated the repeal of Section 377A, a colonial era law criminalizing homosexual sex, while also discussing a constitutional amendment to define marriage as an exclusively heterosexual union.

“The time has come for us to remove Section 377A. It humiliates and hurts gay people,” Law Minister K.Shanmugan said while addressing the parliament.

The voting is not expected to throw surprises, with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) holding 83 of the 93 elected seats. In August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke in favor of decriminalizing sex between men.

While constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of the parliament, other legislative changes, such as the repeal of 377A, only require a simple majority.

Under Section 377A, in force since 1938, gay sex is punishable with up to two years in prison, although for years it has not been enforced.

The decriminalization of homosexuality would follow a similar move by India in 2018, although it still remains illegal in other former British colonies, such as neighboring Malaysia and Myanmar.

At the same time, lawmakers in the city-state also discussed a constitutional amendment to protect the status quo definition of marriage, by reinforcing the Parliament’s right to define marriage, making it more difficult to contest it in court.

While the LGBT community has welcomed the repeal of 377A, it has underlined that there is still a long way to go when it comes to equal rights in the Asian city-state. EFE

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