ST: Decriminalising Gay Sex (Oct 23)

Oct 23, 2007
DECRIMINALISING GAY SEX

Take views of majority into account, say four MPs
Most S'poreans do not condone homosexual acts, so Section 377A should
be retained

By Keith Lin

FOUR MPs of the People's Action Party yesterday spoke out against
repealing a law that makes gay sex a crime.

Their main point is that the majority of Singaporeans do not condone
homosexual acts.

MPs like Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) also argued
that scientific studies that tried to prove a genetic basis for
homosexuality are now called in question.

He also warned that repealing the law will have damaging implications
on society.

'How will we cope in Singapore where traditional definitions of
'family and marriage' have been the bedrock of HDB policies?' he asked.

The PAP MPs were attacking a citizens' petition read in Parliament by
Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong.

The petition called on the Government to repeal Section 377A, which
makes it a crime for men to have sex with each other, whether in
public or private.

In opposing it, Mr de Souza said such a move will be seen as an
endorsement of the homosexual lifestyle.

'As a result, homosexual lifestyles no longer remain private, but
travel into spheres traditionally reserved for heterosexual couples.'

This, he warned, will have far-reaching consequences, such as rocking
the institution of marriage and paving the way for same-sex couples to
adopt children.

'Do we want our family-centric culture and the traditional definition
of 'family' to be threatened?' he said.

Ms Indranee Rajah (Tanjong Pagar GRC) noted that most Singaporeans
still view homosexual acts as wrong.

She noted that Mr Siew had made the point that such acts as slavery
and discrimination against racial and religious minorities are often
legitimised by prevailing notions of public morality.

This, said Ms Indranee, 'exactly proves the point' that societies
evolve with time.

For instance, racial and religious discrimination are regarded as
wrong in Singapore. But there are societies that continue to view them
as correct practices.

'The point is, what does our society want for itself? In this case,
the public reaction has shown that the majority of Singaporeans do not
agree with or accept homosexual behaviour.'

For every person who had supported the petition, there were many
others who had thanked her and other MPs for keeping the law intact,
she said. Hence, laws in a secular state like Singapore have to
reflect the majority's view, she added.

Expressing similar views, Mr Alvin Yeo (Hong Kah GRC) pointed to a
recent Straits Times report on a Nanyang Technological University
survey. It shows seven in 10 people here frown on homosexuality.

'The law stands not just as a boundary line of what conduct will or
will not be prosecuted, but as a moral compass of what we stand for,'
he said.

'It is a benchmark of our values and our beliefs, not just a reference
book to determine when we can sue and when we can be sued.'

To Mr Siew's point that repealing Section 377A is a sign of equality,
Mr Yeo argued that equality 'cannot be looked at in vacuum'.

One's rights must be measured against the values and beliefs held in
society, he said.

Mr Yeo urged gay lobbyists to be patient and give the issue more time,
instead of letting it divide society.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC), who spoke in Malay and English, warned
against allowing the debate on Section 377A to overshadow the 360
offences covered by the Penal Code review.

He urged MPs to spend more time examining other issues related to the
Code's review, so that most Singaporeans may stand to benefit from the
entire package of proposals.

klin@sph.com.sg