“Singapore is basically a conservative society... The family is basic building block of this society. And by family in Singapore we mean one man, one woman, marrying, having children and bringing up children within that framework of a stable family unit,” says Prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong. LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people in Singapore encounter challenges not faced by non-LGBT residents due to overly broad and unfair laws.
Section 377A of the penal code in Singapore is a legislation which criminalizes sex between mutually consenting adult men. This legislation is extremely oppressive and tyrannous towards the LGBT community restricting some of their human rights, such as the right to free speech and freedom of expression. In 2017, Singapore once again tightened the limits for public assembly.
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal, even consensual and privately. The penalty is up to 2 years in jail, fines and canings. In Singapore every male is required to go for NS (national service) but openly gay men are restricted to limited duties. In 2007, sexual relations were legalized for heterosexual and lesbians making them no longer offenses. Sexual relations between men still remains a criminal offense, there are still no protection against discrimination.
Throughout the history of Singapore, not a single protest has been conducted for the rights of LGBT members, the laws about public assembly are so strict there only 3 protests have been conducted. All of them were charged under Section5(4)b chapter 184 of the Miscellaneous Offenses (Public and Nuisance) act. Now people are only allowed to congregate in the Speaker’s Corner, an area created and designed for such events, one would also need a police permit before beginning.
However there are some spots in Singapore where no permit is required for public assemblies, such as Hong Lim Park, every year thousands of people gather in Hong Lim Park to celebrate the Pink Dot festival, it is a parade which happens every year over 26,000 LGBT members congregate to celebrate gay pride, this is the closest thing Singapore has to a gay pride parade. This celebration has slowly helped the community as over the past 5 years, Singapore has changed to a more accepting society, now Chinatown now hosts a great variety of LGBT bars, clubs and saunas.
There are some activists in Singapore who have been making a stand against gay oppression in Singapore. 4 years ago, marketing professional Nicholas Lim, made a Facebook account called “GLBT Voices Singapore”. It was a safe haven for LGBT members and space for closeted people to share stories and confessions anonymously. He shut down the account, and he says due to “personal losses”. He closed down the account in 2017, July 1st. He says that, “he has spoken to hundreds of readers” and “have personally written over 40,000 stories”. In his final Facebook post he ends it in an inspiring finale
“So to my fellow readers, the many of you who have been silent, the time has come to step up. To be heard, to be seen. It's time to stop letting others fight on your behalf, because even the most stalwart need support and may flag from fatigue.” -Nicholas Lim, July 1, 2017
On September 6, 2018, a veteran Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh challenged the laws against gay sexual relations, he called upon the gay community to help him. He filed a class action lawsuit but sadly was shot down as the majority of Singaporeans votes to keep the law, he then addresses the people who votes against the law as a “growing majority”. Even the Chief of Government Communications Janadas Devan supported the cause by saying “it is a bad law” and “Sooner or later, it will go. Pray sooner than later.”
Cite this paper
LGBT Freedom of Expression in Singapore.
(2022, Jun 29). Edubirdie. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/lgbt-freedom-of-expression-in-singapore/
“LGBT Freedom of Expression in Singapore.” Edubirdie, 29 Jun. 2022, edubirdie.com/examples/lgbt-freedom-of-expression-in-singapore/
LGBT Freedom of Expression in Singapore. [online].
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LGBT Freedom of Expression in Singapore [Internet]. Edubirdie.
2022 Jun 29 [cited 2024 Apr 24].
Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/lgbt-freedom-of-expression-in-singapore/
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