377A: LGBT+ activists hail Singapore’s decision to lift ban on gay sex
IndependentAug 21, 2022
Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong announced on Sun. that the nation is set to decriminalize sex between men. However, the reforms will stop short of legalizing marriage between homosexual couples.
The city-state plans to repeal a colonial era law, known as Section 337A, that criminalizes homosexual relations between men and is considered by many to effectively ban homosexuality. Although those who violate the law can technically face up to two years in jail, it isn't currently actively enforced.
This is a positive step for LGBTQ rights in the Asia-Pacific. Societal norms have changed considerably since these laws were put in place and it's only right that the law changes to keep up with the times. Although there is still a long way to go, this is a hard won victory of love over bigotry and fear.
Repealing this law may be a necessary and important step in bringing equality to a marginalized community, but doing so risks starting down a slippery slope. Traditional family and marriage are the very bedrocks of Japanese society, and these must be protected at all costs.