undefined | Better HN

0 points_t9ow1y ago0 comments

The law -- a relic from British colonialisation -- criminalising homosexuality between men (not women, by the way) was never enforced anyway.

0 comments

eqvinox1y ago

I am aware of that, but the fact that it was still on the books matters. For one, it has psychological impact, and for another if some police officer in a bad mood doesn't like your face geometry or number of thumbs, things like this can become 'power trip utilities' even if they're thrown out a few hours later.

_t9owOP1y ago

Those are very fair points. I too am glad that the law was repealed.

I frequently get the impression that the policymakers in Singapore are more progressive than they reveal, but are extremely cautious about loosening up because they don't want to antagonise certain voter groups (e.g. people of certain religious persuasions). It is quite telling that the law was repealed in its entirety only in 2023, one year before the former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stepped down from his position.

defrost1y ago

It's true that since 2007 charges have been laid by the police in a few cases, these have been challenged, and variously overturned or thrown out from court.

So, enforcement was certainly attempted and people were certainly detained for periods of time and forced to defend against charges that were laid.

It's not readily clear how often charges under Section 377 (1860-) or Section 377A (1938-) were laid in Singapore prior to 2007 (or of the charges laid how many cases came to trial and how many convictions occurred).

~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_(Singapore)#Const...

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse