Singapore: Law criminalizing homosexuality repealed

The law that criminalized same-sex sexual relations in the Singaporewhich was cancelled.

This law, which the LGBTI community had denounced as discriminatory and stigmatizing homosexuals, it carried a maximum sentence of two years in prison, although it was never implemented.

“I’m glad it finally happened,” said Justin, a member of the LGBTI community, who did not want to give his last name. After the repeal of this “outdated” law I have “one less reason to hide who I am,” he added.

“But it is only the first step in eliminating social and religious prejudices against our community due to outdated beliefs and media censorship,” he noted, according to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, citing information from Reuters and AFP. .

However, in a blow to the community LGBT, Singapore’s parliament amended the Constitution to explicitly state that marriage means only the union between a man and a woman. “We will try to maintain the balance (…) to ensure a stable society with traditional, heterosexual family principles, but with space for homosexuals to live their lives and contribute to society,” said Home Affairs Minister K. Sanmugam.