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Singapore is an Asian Tiger. It is modern and cosmopolitan, and after gruelling conflicts and partitions, it has recently celebrated its 53rd birthday as an independent country. Naturally, one would assume that a nation filled with such innovation and development would be rather progressive; and we are, to an extent. However, how often is the topic of LGBTQ+ rights brought up in the news? How many people can confidently assert that they know the laws that affect the LGBTQ+ community in this country?
Singapore's laws are slightly more complex than one may initially predict. In Singapore's Penal Code, sections dictate that sexual activity between two men is considered illegal, and lesbianism is considered illegal as it supposedly classifies as 'indecent.' Furthermore, same-sex couples are not acknowledged by the government and do not have the right to marry, nor do they have the right to adopt a child. If caught, people may suffer lashings and jail terms of up to two years; the most recent ruling in favour of the harsh laws was as recent as 2014, as the criminal justice system tends to only arrest a few and make an example out of them.
Indisputably, it is unfair for members of the community to live in some dazed, perpetual state of fear. There are no laws that provide any support for LGBTQ+ citizens, and no laws that protect them from discrimination. This is a potent problem in the workplace, as well as among households; children are too afraid to embrace their true selves for fear of being kicked out of the house. Singapore Civil Services prevents an LGBTQ+ community member from holding a position of high ranking. From up to 75% of the Singaporean population oppose same-sex marriage, and this is noticeable as programmes that contain LGBTQ+ content are often censored. The category 'LGBT' on Netflix remains empty. Movies and TV series that show same-sex relations are either rated R21, or simply not screened, such as the breakthrough movie 'Disobedience,' a movie portraying a lesbian relationship.
To add insult to injury, homosexuality is often treated as a medical condition, and homosexuals/transvestites are given the same classification as paedophiles, according to Category 302. To top it all off, the severity of (specifically male) homosexuality is ranked on a scale of effeminate behaviour, with extreme effeminate behaviour treated as a pejorative condition as opposed to self-expression. Their medical health classification is downgraded to a C-rank instantly, regardless of the state of their physical health, and they are referred to a psychiatrist. Effeminate men are refused into the NS Reservist programme, and non-effeminate homosexual men are placed in special units when called upon for reservist training - this is a form of segregation.
There are still more discriminatory laws left to examine; lesbians are not allowed to have access to IVF. Gay couples are not allowed to use a surrogate. In terms of trans rights, it is still illegal to change one's gender. Gay men are not allowed to donate blood to a blood bank. There are dozens more of these laws that impact such a vulnerable community on a daily basis.
Laws against homosexuality have been around since colonial times - under British rule, sexual relations between men were banned. The first recorded enforcement of this law was in 1938 when Lim Eng Kooi and Lim Eng Kok were the first to receive seven months of jail time for being in a homosexual relationship. Despite radical international changes and a new wave of acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community, Singapore has still not moved to change its laws.
However, not all is dismal and hopeless. The Pink Dot hosts annual pride rallies in Singapore, and attendance is peaking at a record 28,000 people, consisting mainly of a youthful demographic. There has also been an increase in tolerance - less people are getting prosecuted for embracing their identity. In 2005, the first article on civil unions was published in Singapore, albeit based on the laws of the UK, which is a radical change from the previous censoring. As younger people find themselves in positions of power, the tide will turn; more and more people are accepting the validity of LGBTQ+ identities on a daily basis. Progress is being made. In the meantime, the least we all can do is vocalise our support for an otherwise unsupported community, and speak out against the unwarranted harassment and repression that they face.