Singapore to decriminalise gay sex, says prime minister

euronews.com:

Singapore is to decriminalise sex between men by repealing a colonial-era law, its PM said on Sunday, while vowing to protect the city-state's traditional norms and its definition of marriage.During his speech at the annual National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he believed it is the "right thing to do now" as most Singaporeans would now accept it."Private sexual behavior between consenting adults does not raise any law and order issue.

There is no justification to prosecute people for it nor to make it a crime," Lee said."This will bring the law into line with current social mores and I hope provide some relief to gay Singaporeans."Lee vowed the repeal would be limited and not shake Singapore's traditional family and societal norms, including how marriage is defined, what children are taught in schools, what is shown on television and general public conduct.He said the government would amend the constitution to ensure that there could be no constitutional challenge allowing same-sex marriage."Even as we repeal Section 377A, we will uphold and safeguard the institution of marriage," Lee said. "We have to amend the Constitution to protect it.

And we will do so. This will help us repeal Section 377A in a controlled and careful way."The section in question was introduced under British colonial rule in the 1930s.

The British rule over the island ended in 1963 when Singapore became a state of Malaysia.It became independent two years later but retained the code, which made sex between men punishable by up to two years in jail.Since 2007 when Parliament last debated whether to repeal Section 377A, its position was to keep the law but not enforce it.But gay men say the law hangs over their heads and.