Singapore’s government announced it would repeal a law banning gay sex, formally legalizing same-sex relationships.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the decision in a televised message, trying to defuse years of intense debate.
Singaporean LGBT activists welcomed the news, saying the move was a “win for humanity.” It makes Singapore the latest country to support LGBT rights, after Taiwan, India, and Thailand.
While the city-state is known for its conservative values, a growing number of people have called on the government to abolish the old 377A law, which bans sex between men, in recent years.
The government supported the decision to keep 377A but also said it was considering abolishing the law to appease both sides.
However, Mr. Lee announced Sunday night that the law would be repealed, saying he believed “this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will accept.”
The prime minister stated that gay people are now “better accepted” and claimed that abolishing 377A would bring Singapore laws in line with “current social mores.” He also said that he hoped the law would also provide some relief to the gay Singaporean community.
However, some activists also expressed concern about a second announcement made by Mr. Lee during the speech.
The prime minister said the government would ensure better legal protection for marriage between a man and a woman, explaining that the city-state remains traditional and the society hopes to uphold family and social norms.
However, protecting the definition of marriage between a man and a woman would effectively make it harder to legalize same-sex union, something the LGBT community seeks.
LGBT activists called it “disappointing” and warned it would further entrench discrimination.
After gaining independence from the British in 1965, Singapore decided to keep 377A as part of its legal system. Although it indicates that it is technically illegal for men to have sex, the legislation is seen as outlawing homosexuality.
While the law has not been actively enforced in recent years and the LGBT scene in Singapore has been thriving and visible, activists have called for scrapping 377A, arguing that it perpetuates social stigma against gay people and is against that Singaporean law that prohibits discrimination.
