Singaporean lawmakers are set to debate proposals on Monday that repeal a longstanding legal ban on sex between men and ensure only parliament has the right to define marriage that is currently that between a man and a woman.
The government in moving to finally strike the controversial law from its books is seeking to control a divisive issue in Singapore’s multicultural society through a balance between members of the LGBTQ community advocating for greater acceptance and the conservative groups pushing back. The repeal may also help the city-state attract top foreign talent at a time it wants to bolster its status as a regional financial hub.
The proposed repeal of a colonial-era law criminalizing sex between men known as Section 377A was introduced in parliament last month after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong earlier announced the initiative amid changing sentiments among the population over the issue. The ruling People’s Action Party controls a super-majority in parliament, all but assuring the legislation will become law.
