This article was published on September 6th, 2022

Singapore recently announced a lifting of its previous ban on sex between men but the move does not end discrimination against LGBTQ+ members. Although the announcement is considered progress, for those that live in the community, it doesn’t go far enough in the conservative country. Known as the 377A law, the repeal is a small victory and human rights activists are set to make challenges to the current laws that would allow same-sex marriages to be recognized as legal. 

The Announcement Viewed as Underwhelming

According to polls among queer people living in the small country, the decision was historic, yet a small step in advancing the rights of the community at large. For gay men that were married in other countries and relocate to Singapore, for example, their marriage is not considered legal there, making them ineligible for certain privileges that are afforded heterosexual couples, including housing subsidization.

LGBTQ+ people have had a difficult time in Singapore, a country with a population of nearly 6 million people. Although 377A has not been enforced for decades, many religious groups fought to keep the law intact, fearing it would promote homosexuality and challenge traditional family ties.

To calm those fears, the current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, doubled down on his government protecting the current definition of marriage and proclaimed to be willing to fight any constitutional challenges in the courts if necessary.  

The Singapore LGBT+ Community Is Demanding More Be Done

Not wanting the door to be closed to marriage in the future, Singapore residents living under the LGBTQ+ umbrella are working overtime for their rights to join other countries that have legalized same-sex marriage. Currently, there are approximately 30 countries in the world where marriage between the same sex is legal, with Taiwan the only Asian country on the list. 

As news in Singapore continues to unfold, HomoCulture will keep its international readers up to date on the latest in the country and surrounding regions.