Singapore news

LGBT+ activists have dismissed Singapore's decision to repeal a law banning sex between men as “window dressing” that fails to substantially soften the ...

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After a long period of deliberation and consultation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday the government will abolish a colonial-era law that prohibits ...

That’s important because during the pandemic and its aftermath, Singapore did convey a sense that it wasn’t entirely open to the rest of the world. “These are matters for Singaporeans to discuss and come to a consensus on how to move forward,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement. And what of visas for partners of the talented executives and entrepreneurs Singapore is trying hard to attract? The local LGBTQ scene wasn’t underground by any means; each year a park on the edges of the financial district played host to a vibrant pride festival. Lee signaled a limited appetite for further liberalization: His speech stopped short of embracing same-sex unions and officials foreshadowed legal changes that would protect the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. That’s one way to interpret the scrapping of a contentious law outlawing gay sex — in addition to moral arguments for its abolition.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Sunday during a televised National Day Rally speech that his government would repeal the law that ...

In a [February 2022 case](https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/28/singapore-repeal-section-377a-singapore-penal-code-uphold-lgbtq-human-rights#:~:text=Section%20377A%20of%20the%20Penal%20Code%20criminalises%20acts%20of%20%E2%80%9Cgross,up%20to%20two%20years'%20imprisonment.), the Singapore Court of Appeal held that the law cannot be used to prosecute consenting partners engaged in private sexual activity. Similar colonial-era laws still exist in [at least 67 other countries](http://internap.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/). Court challenges in recent years have demonstrated the resolve of They are our kith and kin.” But he stopped short of supporting repeal. Section 377A of the criminal code, a relic of British colonialism introduced in 1938, is discriminatory and inconsistent with rights to nondiscrimination, privacy, and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention. [said](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ndr-2022-section-377a-repeal-constitution-1974206) he wanted to “repeal Section 377A in a controlled, carefully considered way,” explaining that the government will also put forward constitutional amendments that would prevent future legal challenges to the current definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

“This colonial era law has more broadly impacted and stigmatised the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people as a whole”, said ...

Decriminalisation is not the end point in tackling stigma and exclusion, but is a vital step forward, the agency added. Lee added that the Government would not seek any changes to the legal definition of marriage in Singapore, which will continue to be recognized only between a man and a woman. This vital change will save lives and benefit everyone, and will inspire other countries to follow. Furthermore, he said he would move to change the constitution to prevent any further challenges to the definition. “UNAIDS welcomes this as a significant step towards respecting the human rights of LGBT people in Singapore and creating a more open, tolerant and inclusive society where people can be who they are and love who they want without fear of being imprisoned. [#Singapore]announcement to decriminalize consensual sexual conduct between men.

Singapore's key consumer price gauge in July rose again at its fastest pace in more than 13 years, official data showed on Tuesday, mounting pressure on the ...

It typically publishes two scheduled monetary policy statements a year, in April and October. The core inflation rate — the central bank's favoured price measure - rose to 4.8% in July on a year-on-year basis. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

SINGAPORE: Singapore's core inflation rose further to 4.8 per cent in July, driven mainly by stronger increases in the prices of food, electricity and gas, ...

Meanwhile, prices of retail and other goods registered a slower pace of increase, coming in at 2.8 per cent in July, as inflation for telecommunication equipment, medicines and health products declined. “But the basic reality is that international economic conditions have shifted." "On the domestic front, the labour market remains tight, keeping wage growth strong. Hence, upward pressures on Singapore’s import prices could persist, said MAS and MTI. Labour markets in many major economies also remain tight. For the full year, overall inflation is expected to come in at 5 per cent to 6 per cent, while MAS core inflation is projected to average at 3 per cent to 4 per cent. Inflation for electricity and gas rose to 24 per cent in July, compared to 20 per cent in June, on the back of a larger increase in electricity and gas tariffs. Services inflation rose to 3.5 per cent in July as the costs of outpatient services, airfares, as well as recreational and cultural services recorded larger increases. Food inflation came in higher due to steeper increases in the prices of both food services and non-cooked food, hitting 6.1 per cent in July. Advertisement "Apart from higher core inflation, both private transport and accommodation inflation also increased in July," said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a joint media release. SINGAPORE: Singapore's core inflation rose further to 4.8 per cent in July, driven mainly by stronger increases in the prices of food, electricity and gas, official data on Tuesday (Aug 23) showed.

SINGAPORE'S core inflation rose to a new high of 4.8 per cent in July, the second straight month in which it exceeded the 4 per cent rate last breached ...

Singapore's key core inflation measure climbed to the highest level in almost 14 years last month, heaping pressure on monetary policy makers to do more to ...

After almost a century, the nation is done with criminalizing sex between men. It's the right thing to do, but it's hard to separate the move from the ...

Leaders acknowledged [attitudes have evolved](https://www.ipsos.com/en-sg/attitudes-towards-same-sex-relationships-shift-towards-greater-inclusivity-singapore), but were wary of a potential backlash from religious groups. That’s one way to interpret the scrapping of a contentious law outlawing gay sex — in addition to moral arguments for its abolition. Survival meant nothing less than being a haven for foreign corporations — and, with some caveats, the talent they require.

Joy over the historic decision turns to anxiety as a new frontline looms in the fight for LGBT rights.

They don't want it be a 'I win and you lose' situation as it would result in division." We have not felt very protected for a long time," says 44-year-old content manager Jeremy Gopalan. In some countries, such as the US, gay marriage had become a reality through landmark court decisions. Just a few decades ago, LGBT rights was still a taboo topic in tightly-controlled Singapore. They have called for marriage to be enshrined in the constitution as solely a heterosexual union, as they fear the constitutional amendment will not do enough. LGBT activists say the 377A repeal is "the first step on a road to full equality" and they would immediately focus on fighting discrimination at home, schools, workplaces, housing and healthcare. On Monday night a top minister rejected the idea, saying it was "not their intention" to insert the definition of marriage into the constitution. They see this repeal as giving up ground to the LGBT community, so there's a pushback." "The repeal of 377A should have been a joyous moment of liberation, and instead it is now merely going to be the stepping stone for discrimination against sexual minorities being enshrined more fully in law," "They want to be seen as giving something to the LGBT community, but also not give a defeat to the conservatives. "It's a very emotional moment. Since most Singaporeans do not want a "drastic shift", he said, his government would also "protect" the definition of marriage as one between a man and a woman - effectively ruling out the possibility of marriage equality for now.

Singapore's gay community says the government's plan is "a triumph of love over fear" but warned there's still a long way to equality.

"We seek the government's assurance that the religious freedom of churches will be protected as we continue to teach against same-sex sexual acts and highlight such acts," the National Council of Churches said in a statement. They called it a "hard-won victory, a triumph of love over fear" that will finally enable victims of bullying, rejection and harassment to heal. Taiwan became the first Asian government to legalize gay marriage in 2019, and Thailand recently approved plans allowing same-sex unions. Getting rid of Section 377A would bring Singapore's laws in line with "current social mores, and I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans," Lee said. Though the law technically only criminalizes sex between men, it is seen as a general ban on homosexuality, the BBC reported. But Lee said societal norms have shifted considerably and many Singaporeans will now accept decriminalization.