Singapore gays allowed a step forward, but pushed two back
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Singapore to keep anti-gay legislation
By John Burton in Singapore
Published: September 22 2007 07:30 | Last updated: September 22 2007 07:30
Earlier this year, Lee Kuan Yew, SingaporeÂ’s elder statesman, raised hopes among the city-stateÂ’s gay community that a long-standing law banning homosexual acts would be abolished.
Mr Lee acknowledged that some people were “genetically born a homosexual” and “can’t help it. So why should we criminalise it?”
The about-face by one of SingaporeÂ’s most powerful politicians did not seem motivated by politics, although Mr LeeÂ’s parliamentary constituency does contain the largest number of gay bars in the city.
Instead, Mr LeeÂ’s mellowing attitude appeared linked to SingaporeÂ’s ambition of becoming a global city with a buzz that attracts highly skilled foreign talent.
However, as it completed the most extensive revision of the country’s penal code since 1984 this week, Singapore decided to keep the Victorian-era law, inherited from British colonial rule, that makes it an offence for any male to “commit an act of gross indecency”.
The ministry of home affairs said a public consultation had found a majority of Singaporeans wanted to retain the law.
“We are generally a conservative society” and “we should let the situation evolve”, it said, although it promised it would not actively prosecute people under what is known as Section 377A.
The government has often cited public attitudes for retaining the law.
In conjunction with the ministryÂ’s decision, the state-guided press published a survey by a local university that revealed that 69 per cent of those questioned held negative attitudes towards homosexuality.
Criticism of homosexuality has formed part of the ideology of the People’s Action party since it came to power in 1959, with “sexual deviationism” portrayed as a symbol of western decadence in contrast to Singapore’s “Asian values”.
Gay activists complain that official attitudes have hardened since Mr LeeÂ’s son, Lee Hsien Loong, became prime minister in 2004.
Shortly after he came to power, officials cancelled what had been an officially sanctioned “gay rave” party on the resort island of Sentosa, claiming it increased the chances of spreading the HIV/Aids virus.
Authorities have enforced rules banning films seen to promote a gay lifestyle, causing HBO not to broadcast Brokeback Mountain in Singapore when it recently aired the Oscar-winning film in Asia.
Police last month cancelled a lecture by Douglas Sanders, a Canadian academic, because of concerns that he would speak on behalf of decriminalising Section 377A.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ab347a00-685a-11dc-b475-0000779fd2ac.html -
New petition to keep section 377a following the repeal377a petition
http://keep377a.com/
Is it a genuine petition ?
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With double the number of signatures...the gay community have made a terrible mistake...watch out for the backlash.Originally posted by Trump_Card:New petition to keep section 377a following the repeal377a petition
http://keep377a.com/
Is it a genuine petition ? -
Firstly, there is no such thing as an anti-gay legislation.
There is just this law making it an offence for a man to have sexual relations with another man.
Now it is already clear, what a person does within the privacy of his bedroom is his own business. Provided there is no complaint.
This goes the same for heterosexual relationships.
What is it that the homosexuals really want, with the repeal of Section 377A?
To put it bluntly, they want freedom to screw backside.
It ought to be impressed on these buggers that the anus is for defecating faeces
And if homosexuality isn't about anal intercourse, why be very particular about its repeal.
Two men can be buddies, and how far this buddyship goes is up to them.
But they want their mutual fetish to be the norm, when it is actually a perversion.
Same sex weddings, all have this common aim.
The family unit is what that keeps the world sane. Break up the family, and there will be greater anarchy looming up ahead. Already the family unit is deteriorating, and the world is in the sad state it is now. It is, and will be, the family unit that will hold the world together.
Gays are just one factor that is hastening the onset of anarchy. -
The gay community is not the only one leading the push for the repeal.
Get your facts right, especially about the number of signatories. -
this thread is alive again ... -
keep377a.com with 10427 signatures now that the website has been reported in the newspapers. Watch the backlash...the muslims will call for a new jihad. They wouldn't want their children to be taught by gay teachers. This hare brained move by homosexuals will only serve to invite antagonism against them.
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one of them is mine ....
it's a good lesson for all .... that a small vocal minority cannot and should not hijack the mainstream with their agenda ... -
Homos have a right to *ahem too ...They should also be entitled to the same rights as heterosexual would have ... As for the repeal377a petition , not all who signed are gay .Originally posted by oxford mushroom:keep377a.com with 10427 signatures now that the website has been reported in the newspapers. Watch the backlash...the muslims will call for a new jihad. They wouldn't want their children to be taught by gay teachers. This hare brained move by homosexuals will only serve to invite antagonism against them. -
all this petition thingy.... will the govt even care?
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One thing's for sure.
The state of citizen advocacy and lobbying has improved a fair bit overnight. -
*ahem*Originally posted by Trump_Card:Homos have a right to *ahem too ...They should also be entitled to the same rights as heterosexual would have ... As for the repeal377a petition , not all who signed are gay .
Are homos deprived of their votes?
Heterosexuals can drive cars, homos cannot?
What right are you thinking of?
Don't be swayed by their "don't discriminate" ploy.
They have an perversion that they want to indulge in. -
Is two-timing, sleeping with multiple partners a crime under the Penal Code?Originally posted by mancha:*ahem*
Are homos deprived of their votes?
Heterosexuals can drive cars, homos cannot?
What right are you thinking of?
Don't be swayed by their "don't discriminate" ploy.
They have an perversion that they want to indulge in. -
heheh.. LHL say..... leave the penal code alone...
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Not just the garment, the PEOPLE has spoken.Originally posted by mhcampboy:heheh.. LHL say..... leave the penal code alone...
Rights comes with responsibility.
So far, what has occurred in other "liberal" society with regard to homo/lesbo issue is deeply worrying.
You have gay priests, gay marriages, gay bars, gay gangs/clubs, gay media and even gay soldiers.
Something indeed is very "wrong" not just from perspective of traditional human social behavior, but from a biological/evolutionary POV....
Is part of the side effects from climate change or increasing genetic defects due to industrialized pollution?
We don't see empires or historical events that was driven by gay-issue until the later 20th century. -
The PAP decisions are guided by expediency rather than principles.
Just look at the method chosen to control the population of stray animals.
Culling is the preferred method while there are other more humane methods available. -
yah yah!!Originally posted by googoomuck:The PAP decisions are guided by expediency rather than principles.
Just look at the method chosen to control the population of stray animals.
Culling is the preferred method while there are other more humane methods available.
i was talking to a bangla at town council once... i asked him... we chatted till a topic of his previous employment....
he was given the task to kill all strays!!
all the strays will be put in a room.. and the floor will produce electricity.... with a push of a button.
he cant take it anymore.. so he asked for transfer...even though as a cleaner... -
i am in agreement with oxford mushroom that Singapore society in general does not accept the idea of gays and lesbians. Or at least, the public affection of same-sex couples. As such, I feel although the section is really a non issue ( since it is not enforced actively), I feel changes can be made to criminalise PDA of same sex, but let's not criminalise what they do in private. This is a protection of the welfare and rights of the public, and is in line with the current perspective of the population.
We have progressed pretty far, but laws are made to protect the rights of the people, and it is fair to respect the rights of the majority -
Giga.
the law hates us wor.
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Go read up more on the hidden history of homosexuality.Originally posted by Gun:Not just the garment, the PEOPLE has spoken.
Rights comes with responsibility.
So far, what has occurred in other "liberal" society with regard to homo/lesbo issue is deeply worrying.
You have gay priests, gay marriages, gay bars, gay gangs/clubs, gay media and even gay soldiers.
Something indeed is very "wrong" not just from perspective of traditional human social behavior, but from a biological/evolutionary POV....
Is part of the side effects from climate change or increasing genetic defects due to industrialized pollution?
We don't see empires or historical events that was driven by gay-issue until the later 20th century.
Just because you don't hear of it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
The above is a classic case of someone taking things at face value and not reading enough alternative sources. -
Originally posted by LazerLordz:Go read up more on the hidden history of homosexuality.
Just because you don't hear of it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
The above is a classic case of someone taking things at face value and not reading enough alternative sources.
okay.
Name just one ancient civilization that prosper such practice under the legal/moral/religious acceptance. Greek? Romans? Babylonian? Egyptians? Mayans?
I am all ears. -
Greek and Chinese.Originally posted by Gun:
okay.
Name just one ancient civilization that prosper such practice under the legal/moral/religious acceptance. Greek? Romans? Babylonian? Egyptians? Mayans?
I am all ears.
There's a lot of academic stuff that you can research, that illustrates the prevalence of these activities in these two civilisations, throughout different dynastic periods.
Just because it ain't known in the mainstream and by laymen does not mean it doesn't exist. So beware the broad assumptions made.
I'm not an expert on the Near East though. -
Ok, I'll fill in the Chinese part. The Chinese civilisation traditionally do not discriminate against homosexuality. A number of Emperors including Han Wu Di had official history records in which they engage in homosexual activities. The Chinese Idiom of Long Yang Zhi Pi or Ge Xiu Zhi Pi all derived from incident in which rulers engaged in homosexual activity. Homosexual activities were only seen as a problem if the ruler engage in it excessively, but that applies to heterosexual too. The above idioms were no doubt negative in their meanings, but were mean to criticise the rulers for over-doing it rather than just doing it.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Greek and Chinese.
There's a lot of academic stuff that you can research, that illustrates the prevalence of these activities in these two civilisations, throughout different dynastic periods.
Just because it ain't known in the mainstream and by laymen does not mean it doesn't exist. So beware the broad assumptions made.
I'm not an expert on the Near East though.
Among the people, gay prostitues were common activities, if you read Dream of Red Chamber, you could see that boy prostitutes and occasional homosexual activities were common among the society. In fact, people don't tend to classify gay as a separate issue and most people who engage in homosexual activities see no meaning to the word gay. They are just largely Bi-Sexual as Xue Pan, Jia Bao Yu and most other male characters in the novel are. You might think that a novel is not a good source of reference, but it is rather the way which the novel was written in which the writer himself, do not seem to think that homosexuality was an issue that provided the clue to the society then.
Gay, rather than being "imported" from "demoralised" western society as often perceived was actually being "discriminalised" by western society. The current 377 code was a product of Victoria Era British penal code. The Chinese throughout their 5000 years of history had not even think of discriminating against homosexuality. They almost don't even differentiate it. Modern China's stand against homosexuality was also likely to be an import along with Marxism. -
Not unless you do it like many homosexuals do...with other menOriginally posted by LazerLordz:Is two-timing, sleeping with multiple partners a crime under the Penal Code?