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Singapore: Yes to gays, no to gay sex
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Section 377A criminalizes gay sex and has been under review. Stirred up some shit on the island, and despite all the protests, petitioning and discussion, the government has decided to keep the law.
What's really pissing me off is reading on the front page this morning, Prime Minister Lee claiming that Singapore needs to maintain its conservative, heterosexual family values while giving gays the space to live. That gays are part of, and contributing ,members of society but we need to strike a balance with a conservative straight society. Also that the government is ready to recognize that homosexuality is perhaps inborn, and natural.
Oh and BTW, the law won't be proactively enforced. WTF?
How does a government claim these things while telling the same people, we'd love to have you around, but yeah it's illegal for you to have sex. But we probably won't persecute you, this is just a 'law' to maintain some sort of imaginary balance among conservative members of society. Conservative being a completely arbitary standard that the government here loves to bandy about as an excuse to maintain the status quo.
All this while Singapore continues its middle-child syndrome, dreams of being a first-world country, and be recognized by the world.
I'm flabberghasted at how the national paper can print such contradictory statements. This is only the second time I'm throwing a fit over local shit, the first time being the go-ahead of integrated resorts (casinoes!) development, against local public opinion.
Sorry I'm just ranting, nobody on my MSN seems to give a fuck about this
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday weighed in on the two-day parliamentary debate over Section 377A, which criminalises sex between men.
Stating his own position and the Govermment's position, Mr Lee explained why the status quo must remain, despite the 'legal untidiness and ambiguity'.
Quoting Stuart Koe from Fridae.com, an initiator of the Repeal 377A petition who called on the Government to either 'put the gun down' or 'pull the trigger', Mr Lee pointed out it will be 'unwise' to do so.
'If we force the issue and settle the matter definitively one way or the other, we will never reach an agreement... Instead of forging a consensus, we will divide and polarise our society', he explained.
Mr Lee pointed out that many who oppose homosexuality, do so in deeply held religious convictions, especially Christians and Muslims.
Abolition of Section 377A, he pointed out, will not give gay rights activists what they really want - more space and full acceptance by Singaporeans.
The more gay activists push their agenda, he said, the stronger will be the push back from conservative forces in society.
Mr Lee pointed to the current wave of support shown by those who want to keep Section 377A. 'The result will be counterproductive, as it will lead to less space for homosexuals in Singapore,' he said.
The Prime Minister also believes that if Section 377A was repealed, 'gay activists will push for more' - for example, changing what is taught in schools, advocating same-sex marriages and parenting.
Stressing yet again that Singapore is still a conservative society that values the conventional family unit, Mr Lee said what's needed is to 'strike a balance'.
'We will stay one step behind the frontline of change... Watch how things work out elsewhere, before making any irrevocable moves.
'We were right to uphold the family unit when Western countries went for experimental lifestyles in the 1960s. We are right to accomodate homosexuals in our society, but not to encourage activists to champion gay rights the way they do in the West.'
His bottomline: 'Let us keep this balance and leave S377A alone.'
Stating his own position and the Govermment's position, Mr Lee explained why the status quo must remain, despite the 'legal untidiness and ambiguity'.
Quoting Stuart Koe from Fridae.com, an initiator of the Repeal 377A petition who called on the Government to either 'put the gun down' or 'pull the trigger', Mr Lee pointed out it will be 'unwise' to do so.
'If we force the issue and settle the matter definitively one way or the other, we will never reach an agreement... Instead of forging a consensus, we will divide and polarise our society', he explained.
Mr Lee pointed out that many who oppose homosexuality, do so in deeply held religious convictions, especially Christians and Muslims.
Abolition of Section 377A, he pointed out, will not give gay rights activists what they really want - more space and full acceptance by Singaporeans.
The more gay activists push their agenda, he said, the stronger will be the push back from conservative forces in society.
Mr Lee pointed to the current wave of support shown by those who want to keep Section 377A. 'The result will be counterproductive, as it will lead to less space for homosexuals in Singapore,' he said.
The Prime Minister also believes that if Section 377A was repealed, 'gay activists will push for more' - for example, changing what is taught in schools, advocating same-sex marriages and parenting.
Stressing yet again that Singapore is still a conservative society that values the conventional family unit, Mr Lee said what's needed is to 'strike a balance'.
'We will stay one step behind the frontline of change... Watch how things work out elsewhere, before making any irrevocable moves.
'We were right to uphold the family unit when Western countries went for experimental lifestyles in the 1960s. We are right to accomodate homosexuals in our society, but not to encourage activists to champion gay rights the way they do in the West.'
His bottomline: 'Let us keep this balance and leave S377A alone.'
Section 377A criminalizes gay sex and has been under review. Stirred up some shit on the island, and despite all the protests, petitioning and discussion, the government has decided to keep the law.
What's really pissing me off is reading on the front page this morning, Prime Minister Lee claiming that Singapore needs to maintain its conservative, heterosexual family values while giving gays the space to live. That gays are part of, and contributing ,members of society but we need to strike a balance with a conservative straight society. Also that the government is ready to recognize that homosexuality is perhaps inborn, and natural.
Oh and BTW, the law won't be proactively enforced. WTF?
How does a government claim these things while telling the same people, we'd love to have you around, but yeah it's illegal for you to have sex. But we probably won't persecute you, this is just a 'law' to maintain some sort of imaginary balance among conservative members of society. Conservative being a completely arbitary standard that the government here loves to bandy about as an excuse to maintain the status quo.
All this while Singapore continues its middle-child syndrome, dreams of being a first-world country, and be recognized by the world.
I'm flabberghasted at how the national paper can print such contradictory statements. This is only the second time I'm throwing a fit over local shit, the first time being the go-ahead of integrated resorts (casinoes!) development, against local public opinion.
Sorry I'm just ranting, nobody on my MSN seems to give a fuck about this
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