TNP: It's all about equal rights (Oct 19)

The Electric New Paper :

IT'S ALL ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS

Don't speculate about me, focus on issue, says NMP in gay-rights fight

NOMINATED MP Siew Kum Hong is 32, a lawyer and a young activist.

By Leong Ching

19 October 2007

NOMINATED MP Siew Kum Hong is 32, a lawyer and a young activist. He has spoken on CPF reforms, discrimination against NSmen and ministers' pay in Parliament. Now, however, he could be most remembered as the NMP who brought the gay issue to Parliament. Mr Siew is tabling a petition in Parliament to repeal a law that makes gay sex a crime. And it has led many to wonder: Is he gay? 'I am not. I have a girlfriend,' Mr Siew told The New Paper. 'But I have been staying clear of this question - because that is not the issue. It has nothing to do with whether I am gay or not. 'So I have deliberately refrained from volunteering that I am straight. But since you asked, I responded.' BIGGER ISSUE His is not an agenda on behalf of gay rights. There is a larger issue. 'I truly do believe that Section 377A is unfair, unjust, and plain wrong,' he said. 'It is contrary to principles of equality and non-discrimination, and it seeks to use the criminal law to enforce a specific moral view which is contrary to accepted fundamental precepts of criminal law.' The Parliamentary Petition will be filed ahead of Parliament's sitting on Monday. MPs are slated to speak on the amendments to the Penal Code, which governs most criminal offences here. The proposed changes are many, as the law has not been amended since the mid-1980s. However, they do not include Section 377A, under which it is a crime for men to have sex with each other, even in their own bedroom. Mr Siew said earlier that the idea for the petition was suggested by its two lead signatories, lawyer George Hwang and gay media company Fridae.com's chief executive Stuart Koe. On his blog, in public comments and in interviews, Mr Siew has avoided declaring his sexuality - until now. 'For the record, I am decidedly straight. I am in a serious and committed relationship with a wonderful woman,' he said. 'But I have always been loathe to mention that because I did not want to dignify this sort of speculation with such a disclaimer. 'Whether I am gay or not should really have nothing to do with the merits of the debate. 'After all, this is not a gay issue but an issue of equality and non-discrimination. 'It is an issue for all Singaporeans. The debate, he stressed, 'is about the public, the people, heterosexuals and gays, who believe that Section 377A is wrong and should be repealed, and are willing to put their names down in writing to stand behind it.' His girlfriend, he said, also signed the petition. He declined to give further details about her, save that 'she supports me in doing this'. He admits that there will be 'perceptions and suspicions' that he is tabling the petition because he is himself gay. 'That really speaks volumes about the level of debate in Singapore,' he said. His actions, he said, were motivated by his long-held personal views, 'views which I must add are held by a broad spectrum of Singaporeans regardless of sexual orientation', he said. 'I felt an obligation to agree to present the petition to Parliament,' he said, adding that he was 'completely overwhelmed' by the response the petition has generated - both positive and negative. More than three newspaper forum letter writers have argued against repealing the law. One also questioned Mr Siew's right to raise the issue in Parliament. While Mr Siew did not want to talk about the outcome he is hoping for, he added that he is happy the petition 'has generated a useful discourse'. 'It is important to have a debate on the concepts of equality and non-discrimination in Singapore. 'It was a diverse group of people who signed the petition - straight, gay, male, female, young, middle-aged, old. Even religious people signed the petition. 'So that shows that these issues cut across lines and resonate universally,' he said. But the petition is unlikely to move the Goverment. It has already said that it would not amend the law. At a forum last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explained that the Government's view was that it should not push forward on this issue, but follow society's views. And the majority of Singaporeans, he said, was not ready. Earlier, the Government had said that it would maintain the status quo, as Singapore is generally a conservative society. But authorities would not actively prosecute people under Section 377A. Constitutional lawyer Kevin Tan said he, too, did not think the petition would lead to any change in legislation. 'The Government has stated its stand, and since the arguments in the petition are not new, I can't see the Government back tracking,' he said.