SINGAPORE – Singapore will decriminalise gay sex following the repeal of the colonial-era Section 377A in the Penal Code.
The repeal was passed today with a majority of 93 to three.
However, the House proceeded to protect the definition of marriage against legal challenge, reports CNA.
Workers’ Party (WP) MPs Dennis Tan and Gerald Giam, as well as Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Hoon Hian Teck, had stated in their speeches over a two-day debate that they would not support the repeal.
The ruling All People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs present voted for the Bills.
The party did not lift its whip, which meant its MPs had to vote according to the party’s position.
The constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage against legal challenge was passed with a majority of 85 to two votes.
Two WP MPs – Sylvia Lim and He Ting Ru abstained from the vote.
Non-constituency MP (NCMP) Hazel Poa had earlier stated that she and her Progress Singapore Party (PSP) NCMP Leong Mun Wai would vote against the proposed amendment because they believe a national referendum should determine the definition of marriage.
During the two-day concurrent debate on both bills, nearly 40 MPs from both sides of the House rose to speak, with several raising concerns about protecting traditional family structures and values, as well as social policies.
Others stressed the need to prevent discrimination against those who believe in the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
On the other hand, some also urged the government not to discriminate against those outside the traditional institution of marriage, such as people who are single, divorced or widowed.
In his wrap-up speech on Tuesday, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam reiterated that the constitutional change would protect the heterosexual definition of marriage along with laws and policies based on that.
“Just as we have been clear about repealing 377A – we took a clear position – we are equally clear, and this government is very clear – that we will protect the heterosexual marriage as a key institution in our society,” he said.
In his speech, the minister also noted that there were a “small” number of individuals who were convicted between 1988 and 2007 for consensual and private homosexual acts between adults. He said he had instructed his ministry to consider how their records could be rendered spent or removed. – The Vibes, November 29, 2022
