Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced this Sunday that his country it will repeal a colonial law that criminalizes sexual relations between menalthough the government will continue to “defend” that marriage is between a man and a woman.

“The government will repeal [la ley] and decriminalize sexual relations between men. I think it’s the right thing to do and something most Singaporeans will accept now, “he said in a political speech.

Lee added that habits have changed for 15 years, when the government decided to leave the law in effect.

homosexual men “now they are more accepted” locally, especially among young Singaporeans, he said.

“Truce”

The repeal “will bring the law in line with current social customs and i hope it gives singapore gays a breakLee said.

The law, a legacy of the British colonial era, criminalizes sexual relations between men with up to two years of imprisonment.

Gay rights activists have long argued that the law clashes with the culture of the increasingly modern city-state and in the past have filed two lawsuits to overturn it, to no avail.

However, Lee noted that the government is aware that “the majority of Singaporeans do not want repeal [de la ley] lead to a drastic change in our social norms“including the definition of marriage and how this institution is taught in schools.

“Therefore, even if we repeal [la ley], we will defend and protect the institution of marriage“, he said, recalling that, under current law, Singapore” only recognizes marriage ties between a man and a woman “.

The government will change the Constitution protect the current definition of marriage to be questioned constitutionally in the courts, added the president.

Equality

The first attempt to quash the law was rejected in 2014 and last February the Court of Appeal rejected a second appeal.

Gay rights advocates voiced Sunday his “relief” by government decision.

“The repeal of Section 377A is the first step on the long road to full equality for LGBTQ + people in Singapore,” they said in a joint statement signed by more than 20 groups.

But “the real impact of the repeal will be determined by how Singaporeans respond to it, and treat each other over the next few days and months“, they added.

Activists also referred to the government’s plans to enshrine the definition of marriage between a man and a woman in the Singapore Constitution.

“Any move by the government to introduce more laws or constitutional amendments that identify LGBTQ + people as unequal citizens It is disappointingthey said.

Prior to Lee’s decision, an alliance of Protestant churches had warned Friday of the repeal of the rule, described as an “indicator of many social and moral considerations.”

In 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized gay sex, a decision that prompted activists in Singapore to renew their efforts to repeal the law.

The following year, Taiwan decided to legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the first Asian country to do so.

Source: AFP and AP

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