🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa004)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_(Singapore)\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_(Singapore)\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_(Singapore)","crawl_time":1776328195,"first_indexed_time":1662461734,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,wikipedia!en,\/wiki\/Section_377A_(Singapore) s443","src_root_hash":"17790707453426894952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Section 377A (Singapore) - Wikipedia","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Section 377A\nwas a\nlaw in Singapore\nthat criminalised sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under\nBritish colonial rule\nin 1938 when it was added to the\nPenal Code\nby the colonial government. It remained a part of the\nSingapore\nbody of law after the Penal Code review of 2007 which removed most of the other provisions in Section 377. It was subsequently repealed in its entirety in 2023.\nPrior to the repeal, Section 377A, while retained\nde jure\nin the Penal Code, had been for many years\nde facto\nunenforced\n– there had been no convictions for sex between consenting male adults in decades.\n[\n1\n]\nWhile a small number of people were convicted under the law for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, enforcement effectively ceased outright following the Penal Code review, despite the law being formally retained until 2022.\n[\n2\n]\n[\n3\n]\n: 42–47 \nOn 28 February 2022, the\nCourt of Appeal\nof the\nSupreme Court of Singapore\nreaffirmed that 377A could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.\n[\n1\n]\nThat same year, an Ipsos survey found that 44% of Singapore residents supported retaining the law, with 20% opposing it and the remaining 36% being ambivalent.\n[\n4\n]\nOn 21 August 2022, Prime Minister\nLee Hsien Loong\nannounced during the annual\nNational Day Rally\nthat the government intended to repeal Section 377A, ending criminalisation\nde jure\n.\n[\n5\n]\n[\n6\n]\nOn 29 November 2022, the\nParliament of Singapore\npassed a bill to repeal Section 377A.\n[\n7\n]\nThe law was formally repealed after the bill was assented by President\nHalimah Yacob\non 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023.\n[\n8\n]\nThe Indian Penal Code\n[\nedit\n]\nLord\nThomas Macaulay\n, who chaired the commission that introduced laws such as 377A.\nThe\nBritish Parliament\nformed the\nIndian Law Commission\nin 1833.\n[\n3\n]\n: 10–11 \nLord\nThomas Macaulay\nwas appointed to chair the commission. The 1837 draft of the\nIndian Penal Code\nwas largely his work. It took 23 years for his work to be reviewed by the commission and the Supreme Court judges in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras. The code was adopted in 1860 and took effect 1 January 1862.\n[\n3\n]\n: 11 \nMacaulay's draft did not reflect existing Indian (or other Asian cultures) laws or customs. It was largely a rewrite of the British Royal Commission's 1843 draft code.\n[\n3\n]\n: 11 \nThe adopted draft included a Section 377 (quoted above), but there were many ambiguities in the section, including the question of what had to penetrate what. These in turn let future jurists redefine what these provisions actually punished.\n[\n9\n]\n: 18 \nUnder\nBuddhist\nand\nHindu law\nin most of Asia, consensual intercourse between members of the same sex was never an offence. In the new Indian Penal Code, however, Section 377 criminalised \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\", derived from words attributed to Sir\nEdward Coke\nin the seventeenth century.\n[\n9\n]\n: 14–15 \nSection 377A \"(Outrages on decency\" was added to the sub-title \"Unnatural offences\" in the\nStraits Settlements\nin 1938.\n[\n9\n]\n: 20 \nBoth sections were absorbed unchanged into the\nSingapore Penal Code\nwhen the latter was passed by Singapore's\nLegislative Council\non 28 January 1955.\nOriginal Section 377\n[\nedit\n]\nUnnatural sex or\nsodomy\nwas not defined in the Indian Penal Code drafted by the British. Legal records show that Indian legislators in the 19th and early 20th centuries interpreted \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\" between individuals (of all sexes – the law being non-gender specific with its use of the word \"whoever\") to include\nanal sex\n,\nbestiality\nand, often after much courtroom deliberation,\noral sex\nas well, i.e. any form of sexual penetration which did not have the potential for procreation.\nTherefore, both heterosexual and homosexual oral and anal sex were criminal offences. In this particular positive sense, Section 377 did not discriminate against homosexuals, although the permission of vaginal penetration left homosexuals exclusively prohibited from performing penetrative sex. The prohibition against oral sex was at odds with\nBritish sodomy law\n, whose case law did not cover oral penetration.\n[\n10\n]\nSection 377, however, in early cases tried in India mainly involved forced\nfellatio\nwith unwilling male children and one unusual case of\nsexual intercourse\nwith the nostril of a\nbuffalo\n.\nIn the Singaporean context, the\nCourt of Appeal\neventually held that\nheterosexual\nfellatio\nwas exempted if indulged in as\nforeplay\nwhich eventually leads to\ncoitus\n:\n[\n11\n]\nThis rationale explicitly confirmed that oral or anal penetration as a\nsubstitute\nfor vaginal-penile penetration was permitted, whereas oral stimulation - including penetration of the oral cavity - could be practised as an introduction (or even prerequisite) to heterosexual sexual penetration, and hence outside the scope of the law.\n[I]t is a fact of life, in humans as well as in animals, that before the act of copulation takes place there is foreplay to stimulate the sex urge. Kissing is the most common although there are several others...\nOf course, this form of contrectation [fellatio or cunnilingus] may not recommend itself to everyone for stimulating the sex urge. Even a man and a woman engaged in consensual sexual intercourse may draw the line at fellatio or cunnilingus. But the fact remains that it is practised by some. We note...that [there is] some statistical evidence...of these forms of oral sex being practised in Singapore. We cannot shut our minds to it.\n[W]hen couples engaged in consensual sexual intercourse willingly indulge in fellatio and cunnilingus as a stimulant to their respective sexual urges, neither act can be considered to be against the order of nature and punishable under s 377 of the Penal Code. In every other instance the act of fellatio between a man and a woman will be carnal intercourse against the order of nature and punishable under s 377.\nThe Singaporean margin note of the original Section 377 further explained that mere penetration of the\npenis\ninto the\nanus\nor mouth even without orgasm would constitute the offence. The law applied regardless of the act being consensual between both parties and done in private.\nSection 377 was repealed in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007\n[\n12\n]\nand replaced with a new Section 377 criminalising sex with dead bodies (\"Sexual penetration of a corpse\"), which was substituted in its place.\n[\n13\n]\nSection 377A was introduced into the Singapore Penal Code in 1938 to criminalise all other non-penetrative sexual acts. It is descended from the\nLabouchere Amendment\n.\n[\n14\n]\n[\nunreliable source?\n]\nIn the local context, \"\ngross indecency\n\" is a broad term which, from a review of past cases locally, has been applied to\nmutual masturbation\n, genital contact, or even lewd behaviour without direct physical contact. As with the former Section 377, performing such acts in private does not constitute a defence. The law does not criminalise sex between females, only between males.\n[\n15\n]\nAny male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.\n[\n16\n]\n— \nOutrages on decency\n, Section 377A, Singapore Penal Code\nIts original mother statute, Section 377 (since repealed), criminalised any sexual act that went \"against the order of nature\":\n[\n17\n]\nWhoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine.\nExplanation. Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.\n— Singapore Penal Code, Section 377\nThe\nMinistry of Home Affairs\n(MHA) was quoted in\nThe Straits Times\nof 18 September 2007 saying that public feedback on the issue had been \"emotional, divided and strongly expressed\", with a majority of people calling for Section 377A to be retained.\n[\n18\n]\nThe MHA also said that it recognised that \"we are generally a conservative society and that we should let the situation evolve\".\nOn 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the \"Repeal 377A\" website\n[\n19\n]\nto gather signatories for an\nopen letter\nto the Prime Minister calling for the repeal of Section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website \"Keep 377A\"\n[\n20\n]\nwas set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government's retention of the law. By 1:30 p.m. on 20 October, Keep377A had overtaken Repeal377A by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories.\n[\n21\n]\nAs\nonline petitions\n, both websites suffered the same doubts regarding the credibility of the numbers of their signatories. There was no mention of whether technical measures were taken to ensure that multiple-voting by the same person was prevented.\nIn 2018, an Ipsos survey found that 55% of Singapore residents supported retaining Section 377A.\n[\n22\n]\nShortly after the\nPenal Code\nreview report was released on 9 September 2018,\n[\n23\n]\na movement known as Ready4Repeal launched a petition to campaign for Section 377A to be repealed, even though MHA and\nMinistry of Law\nsaid there were no plans to do so. The petition attracted 44,650 signatures. Ready4Repeal also held a town hall meeting on 30 September 2018, which over 800 people attended. In contrast, a petition calling for Section 377A to be kept attracted more than 109,000 signatures after it closed on 24 September 2018.\n[\n24\n]\nIn 2022, Ipsos made another survey, noting that this figure had dropped to 44% compared to its 2018 survey, amid changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships.\n[\n4\n]\nConstitutional challenges\n[\nedit\n]\nSection 377A was repeatedly challenged before the\ncourts of Singapore\nas being\nunconstitutional\n. All challenges were chiefly based on\nArticle 12 of the Constitution of Singapore\n, which guarantees all persons\nequality before the law\n, and\nArticle 9 of the Constitution of Singapore\n, which guarantees all persons the\nright to life\nand the\nright to personal liberty\n.\nTan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General\n[\nedit\n]\nOn 24 September 2010, criminal lawyer\nM Ravi\nfiled an application in the\nHigh Court\nto challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting adult male in a locked cubicle of a public toilet.\n[\n25\n]\nOn 19 March 2011, Tan's case was thrown out of court by High Court justice\nLai Siu Chiu\n, citing \"a lack of a real controversy\" for the court to deal with.\n[\n26\n]\nThis is important, as according to the\nRules of Court\n(\nCap. 322 § 80, O 18 r. 19, 1996 Rev. Ed.\n), only cases which are not \"frivolous\" may be argued. However, on 21 August 2012, the\nCourt of Appeal\nreversed Lai's decision, ruling that 377A did \"affect the lives of a not insignificant portion of [Singaporeans] in a very real and intimate way\" and that the case would proceed once again in the High Court.\n[\n27\n]\nTan's case was finally heard on 6 March 2013,\n[\n28\n]\nand decided against him by justice Quentin Loh on 2 October 2013.\n[\n29\n]\nIn his ruling, Loh wrote that the issue was one of \"morality and societal values\" and if it were to be changed, it would have to be by Singapore's\nParliament\n. Tan appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and his case was joined at his request as an\nintervening party\nwith\nLim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General\n(below), which was also pending before the Court of Appeal, on 11 October 2013.\n[\n30\n]\nLim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General\n[\nedit\n]\nAfter Tan's successful appeal to be heard by the court, a separate constitutional challenge was filed on 30 November 2012 on behalf of Lim Meng Suang and Kenneth Chee Mun-leon, a gay couple of fifteen years, by attorney Peter Low.\n[\n31\n]\n[\n32\n]\nThe case was heard\nin camera\non 14 February 2013,\n[\n33\n]\nand decided against them by justice Quentin Loh on 9 April 2013, for much the same reasons as his decision against Tan (above).\n[\n34\n]\nLim and Chee appealed to the Court of Appeal on 30 April 2013.\n[\n35\n]\n[\n36\n]\nIn July 2013, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, they hired two highly esteemed lawyers: Deborah Barker, Senior Counsel at\nKhattarWong LLP\n, and British lawyer,\nDebevoise & Plimpton\npartner\nand former\nAttorney General for England and Wales\nLord Peter Henry Goldsmith\n.\n[\n37\n]\nGoldsmith had agreed to take the case\nwithout pay\n,\n[\n38\n]\nbut that September was disallowed from arguing the case before the court by Justice\nV. K. Rajah\n, as he believed that the legal issues were arguable by domestic lawyers, which is preferred by\nSingapore law\n.\n[\n39\n]\nOn 29 October 2014, more than four years after the original challenge by Tan, the Court of Appeal, the highest court in Singapore, rejected Lim and Chee's challenge, finally ending the case.\n[\n40\n]\n[\n41\n]\nThe court held that 377A was consistent with Article 9 as it is meant to protect against\nunlawful imprisonment\n, and that it was consistent with Article 12 as it only mentions\nreligion\n,\nrace\nand\nplace of birth\n—not\ngender\n,\nsexual orientation\n, or\nsex\n.\n[\n40\n]\nAs in all judgments before, the court held that any\nlegal remedy\nwould have to come about through an\nAct of Parliament\n.\n[\n40\n]\nCompared to news of\nLGBT rights\nin other nations such as\nRussia\nand\nthe United States\n, the case and final appeal received little attention outside Singapore.\n[\n42\n]\nThe Huffington Post\nfeatured Chee and Lim's story prominently under the headline \"How One of the World's Richest Countries Is Limiting Basic Human Rights\"\n[\n43\n]\nand\nBloomberg\nalso published an article on the ruling.\n[\n41\n]\nOng Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters\n[\nedit\n]\nOn 29 August 2018, Professor\nHo Kwon Ping\nin his talk questioned the need for Section 377A in Singapore.\n[\n44\n]\nAfter India's Supreme Court decriminalised sex between two people of the same sex, with Professor\nTommy Koh\nencouraging a constitutional challenge of Section 377A and chief of Singapore government communications Mr\nJanadas Devan\nhoping that Section 377A would go,\n[\n45\n]\nseveral constitutional challenges have been brought to the\nSupreme Court\n.\nThe first challenge after India's ruling was filed on 10 September 2018 by Johnson Ong, known by stage name DJ Big Kid, and was based on Article 9 of the\nConstitution\n.\n[\n46\n]\nThe second challenge was filed by\nLGBT rights\nactivist Choong Chee Hong in November 2018 and argues that Section 377A is inconsistent with Articles 9, 12 and\n14\nof the Constitution.\n[\n47\n]\nA third was filed by retired general practitioner Tan Seng Kee on 20 September 2019, also based on Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. In addition, he argued that although the Government will not enforce the law on acts done in private, the Public Prosecutor can decide whether to prosecute someone under Section 377A, which would be inconsistent with Section 14 of the\nCriminal Procedure Code\n, which requires the police to \"unconditionally investigate all complaints of suspected arrestable offences\".\n[\n48\n]\nOn 30 March 2020, justice\nSee Kee Oon\nconsolidated the three challenges into one case and ruled against them, arguing that the law was intended to safeguard morals and prosecute all forms of indecency between men whether in public or private, and not just male prostitution when the law was made in 1938. He also stated that there's no strong scientific evidence that a person's sexual orientation is unchangeable, and once again ruled that\nParliament\nis the proper venue for repeal.\n[\n49\n]\n[\n50\n]\nAppeals were filed on 31 March 2020.\n[\n51\n]\nOn 28 February 2022, it was ruled by the\nCourt of Appeal\nthat, because the law is not enforced, the constitutional challenges against it had failed.\n[\n1\n]\n[\n52\n]\nRepeal of Section 377A\n[\nedit\n]\nOn 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced during his 2022\nNational Day Rally\nspeech that Section 377A would be repealed by the government. Lee stated that \"I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social norms and, I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans.\" Laws to repeal 377A were introduced on 20 October, with a two-day debate that started on 28 November.\n[\n5\n]\n[\n6\n]\nEnglish\nWikisource\nhas original text related to this article:\nOn 29 November 2022, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which repealed Section 377A, passed in Parliament following a 10-hour debate that had begun the day prior. A total of 96 MPs voted on the topic of repeal, with all 83\nPeople's Action Party\n(PAP) MPs and three WP's MPs voting in favour, while two other WP's MPs, Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck, voted against.\n[\n7\n]\nAll members of the ruling party PAP voted according to the party's position as the party whip was not lifted, while WP lifted its party whip.\n[\n53\n]\nWith a vote of 85 to 2, a constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage from legal challenge was approved. Two Workers Party MPs,\nSylvia Lim\nand\nHe Ting Ru\n, abstained from the vote.\n[\n7\n]\nHazel Poa\nand\nLeong Mun Wai\n, both\nProgress Singapore Party\nnon-constituency Members of Parliament\n, declared that they would oppose the proposed amendment because they think a national referendum should be held to decide what constitutes marriage.\n[\n54\n]\nThe bill was assented by President\nHalimah Yacob\non 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023, thus Section 377A was struck off the books.\n[\n55\n]\n[\n56\n]\nThe Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, told Parliament in November 2022 that only a \"small\" number of people were convicted under the section for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, when enforcement effectively ceased outright.\n[\n2\n]\nThe Minister stated he would direct the Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) to consider how these records could be purged. Days after the repeal bill passed, the MHA added that the records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A during that time period could have their criminal records\nexpunged\nand rendered spent.\n[\n57\n]\nCriminal law of Singapore\nLGBT rights in Singapore\nParagraph 175 (Germany)\nPink Dot SG\nSodomy law\n^\na\nb\nc\nLum, Selina (28 February 2022).\n\"Court of Appeal rules Section 377A stays but cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Singapore.\n^\na\nb\nStrangio, Sebastian (30 November 2022).\n\"Singapore Repeals Archaic Law Criminalizing Sex Between Men\"\n.\nThe Diplomat\n. Retrieved\n9 December\n2022\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\nDouglas E. Sanders (2009). \"377 and the Unnatural Afterlife of British Colonialism in Asia\".\nAsian Journal of Comparative Law\n.\n4\n(1):\n1–\n47.\ndoi\n:\n10.2202\/1932-0205.1176\n. [D.E. Sanders: Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia; LL.M. Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Academic Committee Member, Doctoral Program in Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University].\nPDF available\n^\na\nb\nTham, Yuen-C (16 June 2022).\n\"Support for Section 377A drops as attitudes towards same-sex relationships shift, survey finds\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n28 June\n2022\n.\n^\na\nb\nOng, Justin (21 August 2022).\n\"NDR 2022: Govt to repeal Section 377A, amend Constitution to protect marriage definition from legal challenges\"\n.\nTODAY\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n21 August\n2022\n.\n^\na\nb\nTham, Yuen-C (21 August 2022).\n\"NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, but also amend Constitution to protect marriage from legal challenges\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n7 November\n2022\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nGoh, Yan Han (29 November 2022).\n\"Parliament repeals Section 377A, endorses amendments protecting definition of marriage\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n3 December\n2022\n.\n^\n\"S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. 3 January 2023.\n^\na\nb\nc\n\"\n\"This Alien Legacy: The Origins of 'Sodomy' Laws in British Colonialism\", Human Rights Watch, 2008\"\n(PDF)\n.\n^\nR v Jacobs (1817) Russ & Ry 331 confirmed that buggery related only to intercourse per anum by a man with a man or woman, or intercourse per anum or per vaginam by either a man or a woman with an animal. Other forms of \"unnatural intercourse\" may amount to indecent assault or gross indecency, but do not constitute buggery (see generally: Smith & Hogan, Criminal Law (10th ed.) ISBN 0-406-94801-1)\n^\nPublic Prosecutor v Kwan Kwong Weng\n[1997] 1 SLR(R) 316 at [29]–[31].\n^\n\"Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 - Singapore Statutes Online\"\n.\nSingapore Statutes Online\n.\n^\n\"Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online\"\n.\nSingapore Statutes Online\n. Retrieved\n23 August\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Romantic rabble v coy court\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. 21 November 2010\n. Retrieved\n18 October\n2019\n.\n^\n\"Section 377A in Singapore and the (De)Criminalization of Homosexuality\"\n(PDF)\n.\nNational University of Singapore\n.\nArchived\n(PDF)\nfrom the original on 20 September 2018\n. Retrieved\n1 June\n2019\n.\nSection 377A only criminalizes sex between males, but not between females.\n^\n\"Penal Code 1871\"\n.\nSingapore Statutes Online\n.\n^\nChua Kher Shing, Lynette J. (2003).\n\"Saying No: Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code\"\n.\nSingapore Journal of Legal Studies\n:\n209–\n261.\nJSTOR\n \n24868200\n.\n^\n\"Singapore Lawmakers Debate Petition to Abolish Gay Sex Ban\"\n.\nFox News\n. Associated Press. 25 March 2015\n. Retrieved\n18 October\n2019\n.\n^\n\"Repeal377A.com\"\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 11 October 2007.\n^\n\"Keep377A.com\"\n. 2007. Archived from\nthe original\non 16 May 2008.\n^\n\"keep377a overtakes repeal377a\"\n. Family&Freedom. 20 October 2007.\n^\nNg, Gilaine (10 September 2018).\n\"55 per cent of Singapore residents support Section 377A: Ipsos survey\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n28 June\n2022\n.\n^\nMokhtar, Faris (9 September 2018).\n\"Penal Code set to undergo overhaul, to better protect vulnerable victims against abuse and sexual crimes\"\n.\nToday\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n3 October\n2019\n.\n^\nChua, Alfred (30 September 2018).\n\"Activists submit online petition, but Govt has 'no plans' to repeal S377A\"\n.\nToday\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n3 October\n2019\n.\n^\nKeat, Leong Wee (29 November 2010).\n\"Lawyer challenges gay sex law\"\n.\nToday\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 29 November 2010\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nWaipang, Alex Au (19 March 2011).\n\"High Court waves away 377A controversy\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nAndrew Phang Boon Leong JA, V K Rajah JA and Judith Prakash J (21 August 2012).\n\"Tan Eng Hong v Attorney-General\"\n.\nsingaporelaw.sg\n. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from\nthe original\non 23 November 2016\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Second of two 377A challenges may have to wait a long time for a decision\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. 10 March 2013\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Singapore High Court upholds anti-gay law in Tan Eng Hong's case\"\n.\nFridae: Connecting Gay Asia\n. 2 October 2013\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Court of Appeal Does Right By Tan Eng Hong: Joint hearing for section 377A appeals\"\n. IonSG. 11 October 2013\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Singapore couple sue to end sodomy law\"\n.\nSan Diego Gay and Lesbian News\n. 1 December 2012\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nWaipang, Alex Au (2 December 2012).\n\"New constitutional challenge to Section 377A filed\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nLim, Leonard (14 February 2013).\n\"Legal challenge to Section 377A begins in the High Court; judgment reserved\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nWong, Tessa (9 April 2013).\n\"High Court upholds anti-gay sex law, dismisses legal challenge\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\n\"Gay Singaporean couple file appeal over ban on private consensual sex\"\n.\nLGBT Weekly\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nAndrewPhang Boon Leong JA, Belinda Ang Saw Ean J and WooBih Li J (28 October 2014).\n\"Lim Meng Suang and another v Attorney-Generaland another appeal and another matter\"\n.\nsingaporelaw.sg\n. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from\nthe original\non 20 December 2016\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nXin, Sia Ling (9 July 2013).\n\"S'pore gay couple hire top lawyers for Section 377A appeal\"\n.\nYahoo! News Singapore\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nKriegler, Yun (11 July 2013).\n\"Goldsmith to challenge Singaporean government on anti-gay laws\"\n.\nThe Lawyer\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nBurton, Lucy (20 September 2013).\n\"Goldsmith kicked off anti-gay challenge by Singapore High Court in favour of local counsel\"\n.\nThe Lawyer: Advancing the business of law\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nLum, Selina (29 October 2014).\n\"Court of Appeal rules that Section 377A that criminalises sex between men is constitutional\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\na\nb\nTan, Andrea (29 October 2014).\n\"Singapore's Ban on Gay Male Sex Is Upheld by Top Court\"\n. Bloomberg L.P\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nAllegretti, David (22 June 2016).\n\"What It's Like to Be Young and Gay in Singapore\"\n.\nVICE\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nMosbergen, Dominique (13 October 2015).\n\"How Singapore Is Limiting Basic Human Rights\"\n.\nHuffPost\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2016\n.\n^\nHo, Olivia (29 August 2018).\n\"Businessman Ho Kwon Ping opens up on his ISA detention at packed ST Book Club event\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n1 October\n2019\n.\n^\nYahya, Yasmine (7 September 2018).\n\"Tommy Koh's Facebook comment reignites debate on Singapore's gay sex law\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n1 October\n2019\n.\n^\nChua, Alfred (12 September 2018).\n\"Repeal of section 377A will end 'online vitriol and abuse' against LGBTQ community, says DJ who filed legal challenge\"\n.\nToday\n. Retrieved\n1 October\n2019\n.\n^\nAlkhatib, Shaffiq (22 January 2019).\n\"LGBT rights advocate files case against Attorney-General, stating Section 377A of Penal Code is void\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n3 October\n2019\n.\n^\nKurohi, Rei (25 September 2019).\n\"LGBT activist and retired GP Roy Tan files new court challenge against Section 377A\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n3 October\n2019\n.\n^\nKurohi, Rei (30 March 2020).\n\"High Court dismisses challenges against law that criminalises sex between men\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n30 March\n2020\n.\n^\nOng Ming Johnson v Attorney-General and other matters\n,  2020 SGHC 63 (\nHigh Court of the Republic of Singapore\n30 March 2020).\n^\nKurohi, Rei (31 March 2020).\n\"Two men file appeals against High Court decision to dismiss Section 377A challenge\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Retrieved\n19 April\n2020\n.\n^\n\"Singapore's top court dismisses attempt to overturn gay sex ban\"\n.\nReuters\n. 28 February 2022.\n^\n\"\n'Only reason why we can have a decision in Parliament': Shanmugam on PAP imposing whip for Section 377A\"\n.\nAsiaOne\n. 30 November 2022\n. Retrieved\n13 December\n2022\n.\n^\nIau, Jean (28 November 2022).\n\"PSP supports repeal of S377A, calls for national referendum on definition of marriage\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n3 December\n2022\n.\n^\nGoh, Yan Han (3 January 2023).\n\"S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill\"\n.\nThe Straits Times\n. Singapore\n. Retrieved\n3 January\n2023\n.\n^\n\"Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022\"\n.\nSingapore Statutes Online\n. 3 January 2023\n. Retrieved\n8 January\n2023\n.\n^\nMing, Lee Chong (30 November 2022).\n\"MHA to consider records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A between 1988 and 2007\"\n.\nChannel News Asia\n. Retrieved\n10 December\n2022\n.\nHeijmans, Philip (29 November 2022).\n\"Singapore Repeals Ban on Sex Between Men in a Cautious Step\"\n.\nBloomberg\n. Retrieved\n9 December\n2022\n.\nYoung, Ted (24 October 2007).\n\"Our Time Has Come\"\n.\nTrevvy\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 25 October 2007\n. Retrieved\n24 October\n2007\n.\nOriginal PDF version of the academic paper, \"377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism\" by Douglas Saunders, August 2007:\n[1]\n.\nAu, Alex (May 2007).\n\"Why section 377A is redundant\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. Retrieved\n20 October\n2007\n.\nGopalan, Mohan (May 2007).\n\"A heftier list of s. 377A cases\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. Retrieved\n20 October\n2007\n.\nAu, Alex (March 2005).\n\"The picture that emerges\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. Retrieved\n20 October\n2007\n.\nAu, Alex (March 2005).\n\"List of section 377 and 377A cases\"\n.\nYawning Bread\n. Retrieved\n20 October\n2007\n.\nChua, Lynette J. Kher Shing (2003). \"Saying No : Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code\".\nSingapore Journal of Legal Studies\n:\n209–\n261.\n.\n[Lim], Wee Kuan (1 October 2002).\n\"Gay law : Emancipation and emasculation\"\n. Safehaven, Free Community Church\n. Retrieved\n20 October\n2007\n.\nA review of all Singaporean laws governing homosexual behaviour.\nKeep377A.com\n– previous campaign for the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code\nRepeal377a.com\n– previous campaign for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code\nSingapore Daily page on 377A\n– collection of blogger postings on section 377A of the Penal Code\nArchive of newsclips relating to Section 377A\n– a YouTube playlist\nWikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A\nWikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A","attrs_markdown":"[Jump to content](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#bodyContent)\n\nMain menu\n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nNavigation\n\n- [Main page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page \"Visit the main page [z]\")\n- [Contents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents \"Guides to browsing Wikipedia\")\n- [Current events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Current_events \"Articles related to current events\")\n- [Random article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Random \"Visit a randomly selected article [x]\")\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About \"Learn about Wikipedia and how it works\")\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us \"How to contact Wikipedia\")\n\nContribute\n\n- [Help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Contents \"Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Learn to edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Introduction \"Learn how to edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Community portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Community_portal \"The hub for editors\")\n- [Recent changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChanges \"A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard \"Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia\")\n- [Special pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:SpecialPages \"A list of all special pages [q]\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/icons\/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Search \"Search Wikipedia [f]\")\n\nAppearance\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Section+377A+%28Singapore%29 \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Section+377A+%28Singapore%29 \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. 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[o]\")\n\n## Contents\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n- [(Top)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\))\n- [1 Background](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Background)\n  Toggle Background subsection\n  - [1\\.1 The Indian Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#The_Indian_Penal_Code)\n  - [1\\.2 Original Section 377](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Original_Section_377)\n  - [1\\.3 Section 377A](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Section_377A)\n- [2 Public opinion](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Public_opinion)\n- [3 Constitutional challenges](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Constitutional_challenges)\n  Toggle Constitutional challenges subsection\n  - [3\\.1 *Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Tan_Eng_Hong_v._Attorney-General)\n  - [3\\.2 *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Lim_Meng_Suang_and_another_v._Attorney-General)\n  - [3\\.3 *Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Ong_Ming_Johnson_v._Attorney-General_and_other_matters)\n- [4 Repeal of Section 377A](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Repeal_of_Section_377A)\n  Toggle Repeal of Section 377A subsection\n  - [4\\.1 Parliamentary vote](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Parliamentary_vote)\n  - [4\\.2 Post-repeal plans](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Post-repeal_plans)\n- [5 See also](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#See_also)\n- [6 References](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#References)\n- [7 Further reading](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#Further_reading)\n- [8 External links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#External_links)\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n# Section 377A (Singapore)\n4 languages\n\n- [Català](https:\/\/ca.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Secci%C3%B3_337A_del_Codi_Penal_de_Singapur \"Secció 337A del Codi Penal de Singapur – Catalan\")\n- [Español](https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Art%C3%ADculo_377_del_C%C3%B3digo_Penal_de_Singapur \"Artículo 377 del Código Penal de Singapur – Spanish\")\n- [Bahasa Indonesia](https:\/\/id.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pasal_377A_Kitab_Undang-Undang_Hukum_Pidana_\\(Singapura\\) \"Pasal 377A Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (Singapura) – Indonesian\")\n- [ไทย](https:\/\/th.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%B2_%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2_377%E0%B8%81 \"ประมวลกฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 377ก – Thai\")\n\n[Edit links](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q7444606#sitelinks-wikipedia \"Edit interlanguage links\")\n\n- [Article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\) 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URL](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSection_377A_%28Singapore%29)\n\nPrint\/export\n\n- [Download as PDF](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Section_377A_%28Singapore%29&action=show-download-screen \"Download this page as a PDF file\")\n- [Printable version](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&printable=yes \"Printable version of this page [p]\")\n\nIn other projects\n\n- [Wikidata item](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q7444606 \"Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]\")\n\nAppearance\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nDefunct Singaporean law prohibiting sex between males\n\n|   |\n|---|\n| Part of [a series](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_rights \"Category:LGBTQ rights\") on |\n| [LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") |\n| [![The Greek letter \"lambda\"](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/c3\/Lambda-letter-lowercase-symbol-Garamond.svg\/60px-Lambda-letter-lowercase-symbol-Garamond.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Lambda-letter-lowercase-symbol-Garamond.svg \"The Greek letter \\\"lambda\\\"\") |\n| [Lesbian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbian \"Lesbian\") ∙ [Gay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_men \"Gay men\") ∙ [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexuality \"Bisexuality\") ∙ [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender \"Transgender\") ∙ [Queer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer \"Queer\") |\n| Overview [Rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") [Movements](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_movements \"LGBTQ movements\") [Student](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_student_movement \"LGBTQ student movement\") [Germany (pre-1933)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/First_homosexual_movement \"First homosexual movement\") [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_movements_in_the_United_States \"LGBTQ movements in the United States\") [Intersex rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex_human_rights \"Intersex human rights\") [Social attitudes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Societal_attitudes_toward_homosexuality \"Societal attitudes toward homosexuality\") Transgender rights [Legal status](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_status_of_transgender_people \"Legal status of transgender people\") [Movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_rights_movement \"Transgender rights movement\") |\n| Aspects [Decriminalization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality \"Decriminalization of homosexuality\") [Gender self-identification](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_self-identification \"Gender self-identification\") [Legal recognition of non-binary gender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_recognition_of_non-binary_gender \"Legal recognition of non-binary gender\") [Marriage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_marriage \"Same-sex marriage\") [Legal status](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_status_of_same-sex_marriage \"Legal status of same-sex marriage\") [Timeline](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_same-sex_marriage \"Timeline of same-sex marriage\") [Migration](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_migration \"LGBT migration\") [Military service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_people_and_military_service \"LGBT people and military service\") [Organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_organization \"LGBTQ rights organization\") [List](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ-related_organizations_and_conferences \"List of LGBTQ-related organizations and conferences\") [Parenting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_parenting \"LGBT parenting\") [Adoption](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_adoption \"Same-sex adoption\") [Pinkwashing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pinkwashing_\\(LGBTQ\\) \"Pinkwashing (LGBTQ)\") [Relationship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_relationship \"Same-sex relationship\") [Recognition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_relationship#State_recognition_of_same-sex_couples \"Same-sex relationship\") Right to sexuality [Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Civil_union \"Civil union\") |\n| Opposition [Censorship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Censorship_of_LGBTQ_issues \"Censorship of LGBTQ issues\") [Conversion therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conversion_therapy \"Conversion therapy\") [Corrective rape](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Corrective_rape \"Corrective rape\") [Discrimination](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_orientation_discrimination \"Sexual orientation discrimination\") [Criminalization of homosexuality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Criminalization of homosexuality\") [Execution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Capital_punishment_for_homosexuality \"Capital punishment for homosexuality\") [Opposition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Opposition_to_LGBTQ_rights \"Opposition to LGBTQ rights\") [Propaganda](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homophobic_propaganda \"Homophobic propaganda\") [Rhetoric](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-LGBTQ_rhetoric \"Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric\") [Violence](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Violence_against_LGBT_people \"Violence against LGBT people\") |\n| Organizations [LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_organizations \"List of LGBTQ rights organizations\") [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_bisexuality-related_organizations_and_conferences \"List of bisexuality-related organizations and conferences\") [Intersex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex_civil_society_organizations \"Intersex civil society organizations\") [Community centre](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_community_centre \"LGBT community centre\") [Medical](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_medical_organizations \"List of LGBTQ medical organizations\") [Military and Veteran](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBT_military_and_veteran_organizations \"List of LGBT military and veteran organizations\") [Rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_organizations \"List of LGBTQ rights organizations\") [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_transgender-rights_organizations \"List of transgender-rights organizations\") [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_organizations_in_the_United_States \"List of LGBTQ rights organizations in the United States\") Religious [Christian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_Christian_organizations \"Category:LGBTQ Christian organizations\") [Jewish](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_Jewish_organizations \"Category:LGBTQ Jewish organizations\") [Muslim](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_Muslim_organizations \"Category:LGBTQ Muslim organizations\") |\n| Politics [Anarchism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_anarchism \"Queer anarchism\") [Bisexual politics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexual_politics \"Bisexual politics\") [Communism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Communism_and_LGBTQ_rights \"Communism and LGBTQ rights\") [Conservatism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_conservatism \"LGBTQ conservatism\") [Ecology](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_ecology \"Queer ecology\") [Homonationalism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homonationalism \"Homonationalism\") [Liberation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_liberation \"Gay liberation\") [Libertarianism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Libertarian_perspectives_on_LGBT_rights \"Libertarian perspectives on LGBT rights\") [Nationalism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_nationalism \"Queer nationalism\") [Radicalism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_radicalism \"Queer radicalism\") [Sexual revolution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_revolution \"Sexual revolution\") [Socialism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Socialism_and_LGBT_rights \"Socialism and LGBT rights\") [Transfeminism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transfeminism \"Transfeminism\") [Political parties affiliates](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_wing \"LGBTQ wing\") [Political ideologies regarding LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_political_ideologies#LGBTQ_social_movements \"List of political ideologies\") |\n| Timeline [Years](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Table_of_years_in_LGBTQ_rights \"Table of years in LGBTQ rights\") [Category](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_rights_by_year \"Category:LGBTQ rights by year\") |\n| Related [Discrimination](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination \"Discrimination\") [Freedom Index](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Index_of_Freedom_in_the_World \"Index of Freedom in the World\") [Human rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_rights \"Human rights\") [Minority rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Minority_rights \"Minority rights\") [Legality of conversion therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legality_of_conversion_therapy \"Legality of conversion therapy\") [LGBTQ people in prison](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_people_in_prison \"LGBTQ people in prison\") [Right to privacy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_privacy \"Right to privacy\") |\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/41\/Portal_LGBT.svg\/40px-Portal_LGBT.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Portal_LGBT.svg) [LGBTQ portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:LGBTQ \"Portal:LGBTQ\") |\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:LGBTQ_rights_sidebar \"Template:LGBTQ rights sidebar\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:LGBTQ_rights_sidebar \"Template talk:LGBTQ rights sidebar\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ_rights_sidebar \"Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ rights sidebar\") |\n\n|   |\n|---|\n| Part of [a series](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Outline_of_LGBTQ_topics \"Outline of LGBTQ topics\") on |\n| [LGBTQ people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_people \"LGBTQ people\") |\n| *[LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_\\(term\\) \"LGBTQ (term)\")* [Lesbian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbian \"Lesbian\") [Gay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_men \"Gay men\") [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexuality \"Bisexuality\") [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender \"Transgender\") *[Queer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer \"Queer\")* |\n| [Sexual orientation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_orientation \"Sexual orientation\") and [gender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender \"Gender\") [Agender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Agender \"Agender\") [Aromantic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aromanticism \"Aromanticism\") [Asexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Asexuality \"Asexuality\") [Gray asexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gray_asexuality \"Gray asexuality\") [Aegosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aegosexuality \"Aegosexuality\") [Demisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demisexuality \"Demisexuality\") [Biology](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Biology_and_sexual_orientation \"Biology and sexual orientation\") [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexuality \"Bisexuality\") [Polysexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Polysexuality \"Polysexuality\") [Pansexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pansexuality \"Pansexuality\") [Demographics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation \"Demographics of sexual orientation\") [Environment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Environment_and_sexual_orientation \"Environment and sexual orientation\") [Fictosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fictosexual \"Fictosexual\") [Gender expression](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_expression \"Gender expression\") [Gender fluid](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_fluidity \"Gender fluidity\") [Gender identity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_identity \"Gender identity\") [Gender role](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_role \"Gender role\") [Gender nonconforming](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_nonconformity \"Gender nonconformity\") [Homosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homosexuality \"Homosexuality\") [Intersex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex \"Intersex\") [Non-heterosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-heterosexual \"Non-heterosexual\") [Non-binary](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-binary_gender \"Non-binary gender\") [Queer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer \"Queer\") [Queer heterosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_heterosexuality \"Queer heterosexuality\") [Questioning](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Questioning_\\(sexuality_and_gender\\) \"Questioning (sexuality and gender)\") [Sexual identity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_identity \"Sexual identity\") [Romantic orientation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Romantic_orientation \"Romantic orientation\") [Sex–gender distinction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sex%E2%80%93gender_distinction \"Sex–gender distinction\") [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender \"Transgender\") [Trans man](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trans_man \"Trans man\") [Trans woman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trans_woman \"Trans woman\") [Transsexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transsexual \"Transsexual\") [Two-spirit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Two-spirit \"Two-spirit\") [WSW](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Women_who_have_sex_with_women \"Women who have sex with women\") |\n| General |\n| [Timeline](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_LGBTQ_history \"Timeline of LGBTQ history\") [Same-sex marriage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_same-sex_marriage \"Timeline of same-sex marriage\") [Homosexuality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_homosexuality \"History of homosexuality\") [Movements](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_movements \"LGBTQ movements\") [Gay liberation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_liberation \"Gay liberation\") [Same-sex unions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_same-sex_unions \"History of same-sex unions\") [Stonewall riots](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stonewall_riots \"Stonewall riots\") |\n| Identities |\n| [Lesbian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_lesbianism \"History of lesbianism\") [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_bisexuality \"History of bisexuality\") [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_history \"Transgender history\") [Intersex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex_and_LGBTQ \"Intersex and LGBTQ\") |\n| [Culture](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_culture \"LGBTQ culture\") [Business](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ-owned_business \"LGBTQ-owned business\") [Coming out](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coming_out \"Coming out\") [Community](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_community \"LGBTQ community\") [African-American](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African-American_LGBTQ_community \"African-American LGBTQ community\") [Disability and LGBTQ people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Disability_and_LGBTQ_people \"Disability and LGBTQ people\") [Dyke March](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dyke_March \"Dyke March\") [Events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_events \"List of LGBTQ events\") [Awareness periods](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_awareness_periods \"List of LGBTQ awareness periods\") [Largest events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_largest_LGBTQ_events \"List of largest LGBTQ events\") [Gay village](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_village \"Gay village\") [Homophile movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homophile_movement \"Homophile movement\") [Media](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ%2B_media \"LGBTQ+ media\") [Bury your gays](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bury_your_gays \"Bury your gays\") [Films](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ-related_films \"List of LGBTQ-related films\") [New queer cinema](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_queer_cinema \"New queer cinema\") [Periodicals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_periodicals \"List of LGBTQ periodicals\") [LGBTQ culture](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_culture \"LGBTQ culture\") [in New York City](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_culture_in_New_York_City \"LGBTQ culture in New York City\") [Pride](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pride_\\(LGBTQ_culture\\) \"Pride (LGBTQ culture)\") [Pride Month](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pride_Month \"Pride Month\") [Parade](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pride_parade \"Pride parade\") [Queer art](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_art \"Queer art\") [QPR and QPP](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queerplatonic_relationship \"Queerplatonic relationship\") [Same-sex relationship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_relationship \"Same-sex relationship\") [Cross-sex relationship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cross-sex_relationships_involving_LGBTQ_people \"Cross-sex relationships involving LGBTQ people\") [Slang](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_slang \"LGBTQ slang\") [Polari](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Polari \"Polari\") [Socialization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homosocialization \"Homosocialization\") [Subcultures](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexuality_and_gender_identity-based_cultures \"Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures\") [Transgender in NYC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_in_NYC \"Transgender in NYC\") [Symbols](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_symbols \"LGBTQ symbols\") [Flags](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pride_flag \"Pride flag\") [Takatāpui](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Takat%C4%81pui \"Takatāpui\") [Moe aikāne](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moe_aik%C4%81ne \"Moe aikāne\") [Tourism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_tourism \"LGBTQ tourism\") |\n| [Rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") [Adoption](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_adoption \"Same-sex adoption\") [Civil union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Civil_union \"Civil union\") [Decriminalization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality \"Decriminalization of homosexuality\") [Gender self-identification](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_self-identification \"Gender self-identification\") [Intersex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex_human_rights \"Intersex human rights\") [Legal recognition of intersex people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_recognition_of_intersex_people \"Legal recognition of intersex people\") [Legal recognition of non-binary gender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_recognition_of_non-binary_gender \"Legal recognition of non-binary gender\") [Marriage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_marriage \"Same-sex marriage\") [Military service](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_orientation_and_gender_identity_in_military_service \"Sexual orientation and gender identity in military service\") [Parenting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Same-sex_parenting \"Same-sex parenting\") [Rights by country or territory](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") Sexuality [Trans rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_rights \"Transgender rights\") [Yogyakarta Principles](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yogyakarta_Principles \"Yogyakarta Principles\") |\n| [Health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_health \"LGBTQ health\") [Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Association_of_LGBTQ_Psychiatrists \"Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists\") [MSM](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Men_who_have_sex_with_men \"Men who have sex with men\") and [Blood donation restrictions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Blood_donation_restrictions_on_men_who_have_sex_with_men \"Blood donation restrictions on men who have sex with men\") \/ [HIV](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/HIV \"HIV\") [LGBTQ medical organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_medical_organizations \"List of LGBTQ medical organizations\") [Reproduction](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_reproduction \"LGBTQ reproduction\") [Mental health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mental_health_of_LGBTQ_people \"Mental health of LGBTQ people\") [National LGBT Cancer Network](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_LGBT_Cancer_Network \"National LGBT Cancer Network\") [Transgender health care](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_health_care \"Transgender health care\") [Gender-affirming hormone therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender-affirming_hormone_therapy \"Gender-affirming hormone therapy\") [Gender-affirming surgery](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender-affirming_surgery \"Gender-affirming surgery\") [Gender transition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_transition \"Gender transition\") [Legal status of gender-affirming healthcare](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_status_of_gender-affirming_healthcare \"Legal status of gender-affirming healthcare\") [Misinformation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_health_care_misinformation \"Transgender health care misinformation\") [Suicide](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suicide_among_LGBTQ_people \"Suicide among LGBTQ people\") |\n| [Societal attitudes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Societal_attitudes_toward_homosexuality \"Societal attitudes toward homosexuality\") [Allonormative](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Allonormativity \"Allonormativity\") [amatonormative](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amatonormativity \"Amatonormativity\") [Cisnormative](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cisnormativity \"Cisnormativity\") [Heteronormative](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heteronormativity \"Heteronormativity\") [Comphet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Compulsory_heterosexuality \"Compulsory heterosexuality\") [Opposition to LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Opposition_to_LGBTQ_rights \"Opposition to LGBTQ rights\") [UK anti-trans movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-transgender_movement_in_the_United_Kingdom \"Anti-transgender movement in the United Kingdom\") [2020s US anti-LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2020s_anti-LGBTQ_movement_in_the_United_States \"2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States\") [Trump-era persecution of trans people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Persecution_of_transgender_people_under_the_second_Trump_administration \"Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration\") [Grooming conspiracy theory](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_grooming_conspiracy_theory \"LGBTQ grooming conspiracy theory\") [Media portrayal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Media_portrayal_of_LGBTQ_people \"Media portrayal of LGBTQ people\") [Religion & LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Religion_and_LGBTQ_people \"Religion and LGBTQ people\") [Homosexuality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homosexuality_and_religion \"Homosexuality and religion\") [Trans people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_people_and_religion \"Transgender people and religion\") [Sexual diversity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_diversity \"Sexual diversity\") [Stereotypes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_stereotypes \"LGBTQ stereotypes\") |\n| [Issues](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_issue \"LGBTQ issue\") [Acephobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination_against_asexual_people \"Discrimination against asexual people\") [Arophobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aromanticism#Discrimination_and_cultural_erasure \"Aromanticism\") [AIDS stigma](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AIDS_stigma \"AIDS stigma\") [Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-LGBTQ_rhetoric \"Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric\") [Biphobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Biphobia \"Biphobia\") [Bullying](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_bullying \"LGBTQ bullying\") [Censorship](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Censorship_of_LGBTQ_issues \"Censorship of LGBTQ issues\") [Closeted](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Closeted \"Closeted\") [Outing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Outing \"Outing\") [Criminalization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Criminalization of homosexuality\") [Domestic violence](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Domestic_violence_in_same-sex_relationships \"Domestic violence in same-sex relationships\") [Erasure](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_erasure \"Queer erasure\") [Straightwashing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Straightwashing \"Straightwashing\") [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexual_erasure \"Bisexual erasure\") [Lesbian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbian_erasure \"Lesbian erasure\") [Trans](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trans_erasure \"Trans erasure\") [Gay bashing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_bashing \"Gay bashing\") [Gayphobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination_against_gay_men \"Discrimination against gay men\") [Heteropatriarchy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heteropatriarchy \"Heteropatriarchy\") [Heterosexism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heterosexism \"Heterosexism\") [Homophobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homophobia \"Homophobia\") [Liberal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liberal_homophobia \"Liberal homophobia\") [Intersex discrimination](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination_against_intersex_people \"Discrimination against intersex people\") [Legality of conversion therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legality_of_conversion_therapy \"Legality of conversion therapy\") [Lesbophobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbophobia \"Lesbophobia\") [Suicide](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suicide_among_LGBTQ_people \"Suicide among LGBTQ people\") [Youth vulnerability](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_youth_vulnerability \"LGBTQ youth vulnerability\") [Migration](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_migration \"LGBTQ migration\") [Mixed-orientation marriage](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mixed-orientation_marriage \"Mixed-orientation marriage\") [Racism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Racism_in_the_LGBTQ_community \"Racism in the LGBTQ community\") [Sexualism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexualism \"Sexualism\") [Transphobia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transphobia \"Transphobia\") [Non-binary people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination_against_non-binary_people \"Discrimination against non-binary people\") [Transgender inequality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_inequality \"Transgender inequality\") [Trans men](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination_against_transgender_men \"Discrimination against transgender men\") [Trans women](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transmisogyny \"Transmisogyny\") [Violence](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people \"Violence against LGBTQ people\") [in Belize](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people_in_Belize \"Violence against LGBTQ people in Belize\") [in UK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people_in_the_United_Kingdom \"Violence against LGBTQ people in the United Kingdom\") [in US](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people_in_the_United_States \"Violence against LGBTQ people in the United States\") [List](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_acts_of_violence_against_LGBTQ_people \"List of acts of violence against LGBTQ people\") [Trans people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Violence_against_transgender_people \"Violence against transgender people\") |\n| Academic fields and discourse [Communism & LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Communism_and_LGBTQ_rights \"Communism and LGBTQ rights\") [Gender studies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender_studies \"Gender studies\") [Lesbian feminism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbian_feminism \"Lesbian feminism\") [Lavender linguistics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_linguistics \"LGBTQ linguistics\") [LGBTQ conservatism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_conservatism \"LGBTQ conservatism\") [In the US](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_conservatism_in_the_United_States \"LGBTQ conservatism in the United States\") [Neuroqueer theory](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neuroqueer_theory \"Neuroqueer theory\") [Queer anarchism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_anarchism \"Queer anarchism\") [Queer studies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_studies \"Queer studies\") [Queer theory](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_theory \"Queer theory\") [Social construction of gender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_construction_of_gender \"Social construction of gender\") [Socialism & LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Socialism_and_LGBTQ_rights \"Socialism and LGBTQ rights\") [Transfeminism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transfeminism \"Transfeminism\") [Transgender studies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_studies \"Transgender studies\") [Travesti](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Travesti_\\(gender_identity\\)#Academic_research \"Travesti (gender identity)\") |\n| See also [Autism and LGBTQ people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Autism_and_LGBTQ_people \"Autism and LGBTQ people\") [Discrimination against LGBTQ people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discrimination_against_LGBTQ_people \"Discrimination against LGBTQ people\") [Gay-friendly](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay-friendly \"Gay-friendly\") [GLAAD](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/GLAAD \"GLAAD\") [LGBTQ-affirming religious groups](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ-affirming_religious_groups \"LGBTQ-affirming religious groups\") [LGBTQ ageing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_ageing \"LGBTQ ageing\") [LGBTQ retirement issues in the United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_retirement_issues_in_the_United_States \"LGBTQ retirement issues in the United States\") [LGBTQ sex education](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_sex_education \"LGBTQ sex education\") [Straight ally](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Straight_ally \"Straight ally\") |\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/41\/Portal_LGBT.svg\/40px-Portal_LGBT.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Portal_LGBT.svg) [LGBTQ portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:LGBTQ \"Portal:LGBTQ\") |\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:LGBTQ_sidebar \"Template:LGBTQ sidebar\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:LGBTQ_sidebar \"Template talk:LGBTQ sidebar\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ_sidebar \"Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ sidebar\") |\n\n**Section 377A** was a [law in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_of_Singapore \"Law of Singapore\") that criminalised sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under [British colonial rule](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colony_of_Singapore \"Colony of Singapore\") in 1938 when it was added to the [Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penal_Code_\\(Singapore\\) \"Penal Code (Singapore)\") by the colonial government. It remained a part of the [Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore \"Singapore\") body of law after the Penal Code review of 2007 which removed most of the other provisions in Section 377. It was subsequently repealed in its entirety in 2023.\n\nPrior to the repeal, Section 377A, while retained *[de jure](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_jure \"De jure\")* in the Penal Code, had been for many years *[de facto](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_facto \"De facto\")* [unenforced](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unenforced_law \"Unenforced law\") – there had been no convictions for sex between consenting male adults in decades.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) While a small number of people were convicted under the law for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, enforcement effectively ceased outright following the Penal Code review, despite the law being formally retained until 2022.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2)[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 42–47\n\nOn 28 February 2022, the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") of the [Supreme Court of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore \"Supreme Court of Singapore\") reaffirmed that 377A could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) That same year, an Ipsos survey found that 44% of Singapore residents supported retaining the law, with 20% opposing it and the remaining 36% being ambivalent.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4) On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister [Lee Hsien Loong](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lee_Hsien_Loong \"Lee Hsien Loong\") announced during the annual [National Day Rally](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Day_Rally \"National Day Rally\") that the government intended to repeal Section 377A, ending criminalisation *de jure*.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:3-6) On 29 November 2022, the [Parliament of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Singapore \"Parliament of Singapore\") passed a bill to repeal Section 377A.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) The law was formally repealed after the bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Halimah_Yacob \"Halimah Yacob\") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023.[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-8)\n\n## Background\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=1 \"Edit section: Background\")\\]\n\n### The Indian Penal Code\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: The Indian Penal Code\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/32\/Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg\/250px-Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Thomas_Babington_Macaulay,_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg)\n\nLord [Thomas Macaulay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Macaulay \"Thomas Macaulay\"), who chaired the commission that introduced laws such as 377A.\n\nThe [British Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/British_Parliament \"British Parliament\") formed the [Indian Law Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_Commission_of_India \"Law Commission of India\") in 1833.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 10–11  Lord [Thomas Macaulay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Macaulay \"Thomas Macaulay\") was appointed to chair the commission. The 1837 draft of the [Indian Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_Penal_Code \"Indian Penal Code\") was largely his work. It took 23 years for his work to be reviewed by the commission and the Supreme Court judges in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras. The code was adopted in 1860 and took effect 1 January 1862.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11\n\nMacaulay's draft did not reflect existing Indian (or other Asian cultures) laws or customs. It was largely a rewrite of the British Royal Commission's 1843 draft code.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11  The adopted draft included a Section 377 (quoted above), but there were many ambiguities in the section, including the question of what had to penetrate what. These in turn let future jurists redefine what these provisions actually punished.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 18  Under [Buddhist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buddhist_law \"Buddhist law\") and [Hindu law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu_law \"Hindu law\") in most of Asia, consensual intercourse between members of the same sex was never an offence. In the new Indian Penal Code, however, Section 377 criminalised \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\", derived from words attributed to Sir [Edward Coke](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Edward_Coke \"Edward Coke\") in the seventeenth century.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 14–15\n\nSection 377A \"(Outrages on decency\" was added to the sub-title \"Unnatural offences\" in the [Straits Settlements](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Straits_Settlements \"Straits Settlements\") in 1938.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 20  Both sections were absorbed unchanged into the [Singapore Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore_Penal_Code \"Singapore Penal Code\") when the latter was passed by Singapore's [Legislative Council](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legislative_Council \"Legislative Council\") on 28 January 1955.\n\n### Original Section 377\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=3 \"Edit section: Original Section 377\")\\]\n\nMain article: [Section 377](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377 \"Section 377\")\n\nUnnatural sex or [sodomy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sodomy \"Sodomy\") was not defined in the Indian Penal Code drafted by the British. Legal records show that Indian legislators in the 19th and early 20th centuries interpreted \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\" between individuals (of all sexes – the law being non-gender specific with its use of the word \"whoever\") to include [anal sex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anal_sex \"Anal sex\"), [bestiality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bestiality \"Bestiality\") and, often after much courtroom deliberation, [oral sex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oral_sex \"Oral sex\") as well, i.e. any form of sexual penetration which did not have the potential for procreation.\n\nTherefore, both heterosexual and homosexual oral and anal sex were criminal offences. In this particular positive sense, Section 377 did not discriminate against homosexuals, although the permission of vaginal penetration left homosexuals exclusively prohibited from performing penetrative sex. The prohibition against oral sex was at odds with [British sodomy law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buggery_Act_1533 \"Buggery Act 1533\"), whose case law did not cover oral penetration.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-10) Section 377, however, in early cases tried in India mainly involved forced [fellatio](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fellatio \"Fellatio\") with unwilling male children and one unusual case of [sexual intercourse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_intercourse \"Sexual intercourse\") with the nostril of a [buffalo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Water_Buffalo \"Water Buffalo\").\n\nIn the Singaporean context, the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") eventually held that [heterosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heterosexual \"Heterosexual\") [fellatio](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fellatio \"Fellatio\") was exempted if indulged in as [foreplay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreplay \"Foreplay\") which eventually leads to [coitus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coitus \"Coitus\"):[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-11) This rationale explicitly confirmed that oral or anal penetration as a *substitute* for vaginal-penile penetration was permitted, whereas oral stimulation - including penetration of the oral cavity - could be practised as an introduction (or even prerequisite) to heterosexual sexual penetration, and hence outside the scope of the law.\n\n> \\[I\\]t is a fact of life, in humans as well as in animals, that before the act of copulation takes place there is foreplay to stimulate the sex urge. Kissing is the most common although there are several others...\n> \n> Of course, this form of contrectation \\[fellatio or cunnilingus\\] may not recommend itself to everyone for stimulating the sex urge. Even a man and a woman engaged in consensual sexual intercourse may draw the line at fellatio or cunnilingus. But the fact remains that it is practised by some. We note...that \\[there is\\] some statistical evidence...of these forms of oral sex being practised in Singapore. We cannot shut our minds to it.\n> \n> \\[W\\]hen couples engaged in consensual sexual intercourse willingly indulge in fellatio and cunnilingus as a stimulant to their respective sexual urges, neither act can be considered to be against the order of nature and punishable under s 377 of the Penal Code. In every other instance the act of fellatio between a man and a woman will be carnal intercourse against the order of nature and punishable under s 377.\n\nThe Singaporean margin note of the original Section 377 further explained that mere penetration of the [penis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_penis \"Human penis\") into the [anus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anus \"Anus\") or mouth even without orgasm would constitute the offence. The law applied regardless of the act being consensual between both parties and done in private.\n\nSection 377 was repealed in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-12) and replaced with a new Section 377 criminalising sex with dead bodies (\"Sexual penetration of a corpse\"), which was substituted in its place.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-13)\n\n### Section 377A\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=4 \"Edit section: Section 377A\")\\]\n\nSection 377A was introduced into the Singapore Penal Code in 1938 to criminalise all other non-penetrative sexual acts. It is descended from the [Labouchere Amendment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Labouchere_Amendment \"Labouchere Amendment\").[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-14)\\[*[unreliable source?](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources \"Wikipedia:Reliable sources\")*\\]\n\nIn the local context, \"[gross indecency](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gross_indecency_between_men \"Gross indecency between men\")\" is a broad term which, from a review of past cases locally, has been applied to [mutual masturbation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mutual_masturbation \"Mutual masturbation\"), genital contact, or even lewd behaviour without direct physical contact. As with the former Section 377, performing such acts in private does not constitute a defence. The law does not criminalise sex between females, only between males.[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-nus-15)\n\n> Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-16)\n\n— *Outrages on decency*, Section 377A, Singapore Penal Code\n\nIts original mother statute, Section 377 (since repealed), criminalised any sexual act that went \"against the order of nature\":[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-17)\n\n> Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation. Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.\n\n— Singapore Penal Code, Section 377\n\n## Public opinion\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=5 \"Edit section: Public opinion\")\\]\n\nSee also: [LGBT rights in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Singapore \"LGBT rights in Singapore\")\n\nThe [Ministry of Home Affairs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ministry_of_Home_Affairs_\\(Singapore\\) \"Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)\") (MHA) was quoted in *[The Straits Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Straits_Times \"The Straits Times\")* of 18 September 2007 saying that public feedback on the issue had been \"emotional, divided and strongly expressed\", with a majority of people calling for Section 377A to be retained.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-18) The MHA also said that it recognised that \"we are generally a conservative society and that we should let the situation evolve\".\n\nOn 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the \"Repeal 377A\" website[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-19) to gather signatories for an [open letter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Open_letter \"Open letter\") to the Prime Minister calling for the repeal of Section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website \"Keep 377A\"[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-20) was set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government's retention of the law. By 1:30 p.m. on 20 October, Keep377A had overtaken Repeal377A by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-21) As [online petitions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_petition \"Online petition\"), both websites suffered the same doubts regarding the credibility of the numbers of their signatories. There was no mention of whether technical measures were taken to ensure that multiple-voting by the same person was prevented.\n\nIn 2018, an Ipsos survey found that 55% of Singapore residents supported retaining Section 377A.[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-22)\n\nShortly after the [Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penal_Code_\\(Singapore\\) \"Penal Code (Singapore)\") review report was released on 9 September 2018,[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-23) a movement known as Ready4Repeal launched a petition to campaign for Section 377A to be repealed, even though MHA and [Ministry of Law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ministry_of_Law_\\(Singapore\\) \"Ministry of Law (Singapore)\") said there were no plans to do so. The petition attracted 44,650 signatures. Ready4Repeal also held a town hall meeting on 30 September 2018, which over 800 people attended. In contrast, a petition calling for Section 377A to be kept attracted more than 109,000 signatures after it closed on 24 September 2018.[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-24)\n\nIn 2022, Ipsos made another survey, noting that this figure had dropped to 44% compared to its 2018 survey, amid changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4)\n\n## Constitutional challenges\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=6 \"Edit section: Constitutional challenges\")\\]\n\nSection 377A was repeatedly challenged before the [courts of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judicial_system_of_Singapore \"Judicial system of Singapore\") as being [unconstitutional](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unconstitutionality \"Unconstitutionality\"). All challenges were chiefly based on [Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_12_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore \"Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore\"), which guarantees all persons [equality before the law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Equality_before_the_law \"Equality before the law\"), and [Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_9_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore \"Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore\"), which guarantees all persons the [right to life](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_life \"Right to life\") and the [right to personal liberty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Political_freedom \"Political freedom\").\n\n### *Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General*\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=7 \"Edit section: Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General\")\\]\n\nOn 24 September 2010, criminal lawyer [M Ravi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/M_Ravi \"M Ravi\") filed an application in the [High Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_Court_of_Singapore \"High Court of Singapore\") to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting adult male in a locked cubicle of a public toilet.[\\[25\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-25)\n\nOn 19 March 2011, Tan's case was thrown out of court by High Court justice [Lai Siu Chiu](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lai_Siu_Chiu \"Lai Siu Chiu\"), citing \"a lack of a real controversy\" for the court to deal with.[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-26) This is important, as according to the [Rules of Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Threshold_issues_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Threshold issues in Singapore administrative law\") ([Cap. 322 § 80, O 18 r. 19, 1996 Rev. Ed.](http:\/\/statutes.agc.gov.sg\/aol\/search\/display\/view.w3p;ident=07b5ba9f-456a-4e84-92b8-4f894c953dd7;page=0;query=DocId%3A9c08961a-718d-4fe6-b2e0-df0963d62b05%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0#legis)), only cases which are not \"frivolous\" may be argued. However, on 21 August 2012, the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") reversed Lai's decision, ruling that 377A did \"affect the lives of a not insignificant portion of \\[Singaporeans\\] in a very real and intimate way\" and that the case would proceed once again in the High Court.[\\[27\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-27)\n\nTan's case was finally heard on 6 March 2013,[\\[28\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-28) and decided against him by justice Quentin Loh on 2 October 2013.[\\[29\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-29) In his ruling, Loh wrote that the issue was one of \"morality and societal values\" and if it were to be changed, it would have to be by Singapore's [Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament \"Parliament\"). Tan appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and his case was joined at his request as an [intervening party](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intervention_\\(law\\) \"Intervention (law)\") with *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General* (below), which was also pending before the Court of Appeal, on 11 October 2013.[\\[30\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-30)\n\n### *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General*\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=8 \"Edit section: Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General\")\\]\n\nAfter Tan's successful appeal to be heard by the court, a separate constitutional challenge was filed on 30 November 2012 on behalf of Lim Meng Suang and Kenneth Chee Mun-leon, a gay couple of fifteen years, by attorney Peter Low.[\\[31\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-31)[\\[32\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-32) The case was heard *[in camera](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/In_camera \"In camera\")* on 14 February 2013,[\\[33\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-33) and decided against them by justice Quentin Loh on 9 April 2013, for much the same reasons as his decision against Tan (above).[\\[34\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-34) Lim and Chee appealed to the Court of Appeal on 30 April 2013.[\\[35\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-35)[\\[36\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-36) In July 2013, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, they hired two highly esteemed lawyers: Deborah Barker, Senior Counsel at [KhattarWong LLP](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sat_Pal_Khattar#Business_career \"Sat Pal Khattar\"), and British lawyer, [Debevoise & Plimpton](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Debevoise_%26_Plimpton \"Debevoise & Plimpton\") [partner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Partner_lawyer \"Partner lawyer\") and former [Attorney General for England and Wales](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attorney_General_for_England_and_Wales \"Attorney General for England and Wales\") [Lord Peter Henry Goldsmith](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Peter_Henry_Goldsmith \"Peter Henry Goldsmith\").[\\[37\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-37) Goldsmith had agreed to take the case [without pay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pro_bono \"Pro bono\"),[\\[38\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-38) but that September was disallowed from arguing the case before the court by Justice [V. K. Rajah](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/V._K._Rajah \"V. K. Rajah\"), as he believed that the legal issues were arguable by domestic lawyers, which is preferred by [Singapore law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore_law \"Singapore law\").[\\[39\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-39)\n\nOn 29 October 2014, more than four years after the original challenge by Tan, the Court of Appeal, the highest court in Singapore, rejected Lim and Chee's challenge, finally ending the case.[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:0-40)[\\[41\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:1-41) The court held that 377A was consistent with Article 9 as it is meant to protect against [unlawful imprisonment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unlawful_imprisonment \"Unlawful imprisonment\"), and that it was consistent with Article 12 as it only mentions [religion](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Religion \"Religion\"), [race](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Race_\\(human_categorization\\) \"Race (human categorization)\") and [place of birth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Place_of_birth \"Place of birth\")—not [gender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender \"Gender\"), [sexual orientation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_orientation \"Sexual orientation\"), or [sex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sex \"Sex\").[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:0-40) As in all judgments before, the court held that any [legal remedy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_remedy \"Legal remedy\") would have to come about through an [Act of Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Act_of_Parliament \"Act of Parliament\").[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:0-40)\n\nCompared to news of [LGBT rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights \"LGBT rights\") in other nations such as [Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Russia \"LGBT rights in Russia\") and [the United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States \"LGBT rights in the United States\"), the case and final appeal received little attention outside Singapore.[\\[42\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-42) *[The Huffington Post](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Huffington_Post \"The Huffington Post\")* featured Chee and Lim's story prominently under the headline \"How One of the World's Richest Countries Is Limiting Basic Human Rights\"[\\[43\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-43) and [*Bloomberg*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bloomberg_News \"Bloomberg News\") also published an article on the ruling.[\\[41\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:1-41)\n\n### *Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters*\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters\")\\]\n\nOn 29 August 2018, Professor [Ho Kwon Ping](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ho_Kwon_Ping \"Ho Kwon Ping\") in his talk questioned the need for Section 377A in Singapore.[\\[44\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-44) After India's Supreme Court decriminalised sex between two people of the same sex, with Professor [Tommy Koh](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tommy_Koh \"Tommy Koh\") encouraging a constitutional challenge of Section 377A and chief of Singapore government communications Mr [Janadas Devan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Janadas_Devan \"Janadas Devan\") hoping that Section 377A would go,[\\[45\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-45) several constitutional challenges have been brought to the [Supreme Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore \"Supreme Court of Singapore\").\n\nThe first challenge after India's ruling was filed on 10 September 2018 by Johnson Ong, known by stage name DJ Big Kid, and was based on Article 9 of the [Constitution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constitution_of_Singapore \"Constitution of Singapore\").[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-46) The second challenge was filed by [LGBT rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights \"LGBT rights\") activist Choong Chee Hong in November 2018 and argues that Section 377A is inconsistent with Articles 9, 12 and [14](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_14_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore \"Article 14 of the Constitution of Singapore\") of the Constitution.[\\[47\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-47) A third was filed by retired general practitioner Tan Seng Kee on 20 September 2019, also based on Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. In addition, he argued that although the Government will not enforce the law on acts done in private, the Public Prosecutor can decide whether to prosecute someone under Section 377A, which would be inconsistent with Section 14 of the [Criminal Procedure Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_Procedure_Code \"Criminal Procedure Code\"), which requires the police to \"unconditionally investigate all complaints of suspected arrestable offences\".[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-48)\n\nOn 30 March 2020, justice [See Kee Oon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/See_Kee_Oon \"See Kee Oon\") consolidated the three challenges into one case and ruled against them, arguing that the law was intended to safeguard morals and prosecute all forms of indecency between men whether in public or private, and not just male prostitution when the law was made in 1938. He also stated that there's no strong scientific evidence that a person's sexual orientation is unchangeable, and once again ruled that [Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Singapore \"Parliament of Singapore\") is the proper venue for repeal.[\\[49\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-49)[\\[50\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-50) Appeals were filed on 31 March 2020.[\\[51\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-51)\n\nOn 28 February 2022, it was ruled by the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") that, because the law is not enforced, the constitutional challenges against it had failed.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1)[\\[52\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-52)\n\n## Repeal of Section 377A\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=10 \"Edit section: Repeal of Section 377A\")\\]\n\nOn 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced during his 2022 [National Day Rally](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Day_Rally \"National Day Rally\") speech that Section 377A would be repealed by the government. Lee stated that \"I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social norms and, I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans.\" Laws to repeal 377A were introduced on 20 October, with a two-day debate that started on 28 November.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:3-6)\n\n### Parliamentary vote\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=11 \"Edit section: Parliamentary vote\")\\]\n\n[![Wikisource logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nEnglish [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n**[Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/en:Penal_Code_\\(Amendment\\)_Act_2022 \"s:en:Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022\")**\n\nOn 29 November 2022, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which repealed Section 377A, passed in Parliament following a 10-hour debate that had begun the day prior. A total of 96 MPs voted on the topic of repeal, with all 83 [People's Action Party](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/People%27s_Action_Party \"People's Action Party\") (PAP) MPs and three WP's MPs voting in favour, while two other WP's MPs, Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck, voted against.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) All members of the ruling party PAP voted according to the party's position as the party whip was not lifted, while WP lifted its party whip.[\\[53\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-53)\n\nWith a vote of 85 to 2, a constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage from legal challenge was approved. Two Workers Party MPs, [Sylvia Lim](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sylvia_Lim \"Sylvia Lim\") and [He Ting Ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/He_Ting_Ru \"He Ting Ru\"), abstained from the vote.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) [Hazel Poa](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hazel_Poa \"Hazel Poa\") and [Leong Mun Wai](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leong_Mun_Wai \"Leong Mun Wai\"), both [Progress Singapore Party](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Progress_Singapore_Party \"Progress Singapore Party\") [non-constituency Members of Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-constituency_Member_of_Parliament \"Non-constituency Member of Parliament\"), declared that they would oppose the proposed amendment because they think a national referendum should be held to decide what constitutes marriage.[\\[54\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-54)\n\nThe bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Halimah_Yacob \"Halimah Yacob\") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023, thus Section 377A was struck off the books.[\\[55\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:4-55)[\\[56\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:5-56)\n\n### Post-repeal plans\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=12 \"Edit section: Post-repeal plans\")\\]\n\nThe Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, told Parliament in November 2022 that only a \"small\" number of people were convicted under the section for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, when enforcement effectively ceased outright.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2) The Minister stated he would direct the Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) to consider how these records could be purged. Days after the repeal bill passed, the MHA added that the records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A during that time period could have their criminal records [expunged](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Expunged \"Expunged\") and rendered spent.[\\[57\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-57)\n\n## See also\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=13 \"Edit section: See also\")\\]\n\n- [Criminal law of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_law_of_Singapore \"Criminal law of Singapore\")\n- [LGBT rights in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Singapore \"LGBT rights in Singapore\")\n- [Paragraph 175 (Germany)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paragraph_175_\\(Germany\\) \"Paragraph 175 (Germany)\")\n- [Pink Dot SG](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pink_Dot_SG \"Pink Dot SG\")\n- [Sodomy law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sodomy_law \"Sodomy law\")\n\n## References\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=14 \"Edit section: References\")\\]\n\n1. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-2)\n   Lum, Selina (28 February 2022). [\"Court of Appeal rules Section 377A stays but cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/court-of-appeal-rules-section-377a-stays-but-cannot-be-used-to-prosecute-men-for-having-gay-sex). *The Straits Times*. Singapore.\n2. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-1)\n   Strangio, Sebastian (30 November 2022). [\"Singapore Repeals Archaic Law Criminalizing Sex Between Men\"](https:\/\/thediplomat.com\/2022\/11\/singapore-repeals-archaic-law-criminalizing-sex-between-men\/). *The Diplomat*. Retrieved 9 December 2022.\n3. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-3)\n   Douglas E. Sanders (2009). \"377 and the Unnatural Afterlife of British Colonialism in Asia\". *Asian Journal of Comparative Law*. **4** (1): 1–47\\. [doi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doi_\\(identifier\\) \"Doi (identifier)\"):[10\\.2202\/1932-0205.1176](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2202%2F1932-0205.1176). \\[D.E. Sanders: Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia; LL.M. Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Academic Committee Member, Doctoral Program in Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University\\].\n   \n   [PDF available](http:\/\/www.sxpolitics.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/new-version_377_sander.pdf)\n4. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-1)\n   Tham, Yuen-C (16 June 2022). [\"Support for Section 377A drops as attitudes towards same-sex relationships shift, survey finds\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/support-for-section-377a-drops-as-attitudes-to-same-sex-relationships-shift-survey-finds). *[The Straits Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Straits_Times \"The Straits Times\")*. Retrieved 28 June 2022.\n5. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:2_5-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:2_5-1)\n   Ong, Justin (21 August 2022). [\"NDR 2022: Govt to repeal Section 377A, amend Constitution to protect marriage definition from legal challenges\"](https:\/\/www.todayonline.com\/singapore\/ndr-2022-section-377a-repeal-constitution-1974206). *TODAY*. Singapore. Retrieved 21 August 2022.\n6. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:3_6-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:3_6-1)\n   Tham, Yuen-C (21 August 2022). [\"NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, but also amend Constitution to protect marriage from legal challenges\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/ndr-2022-govt-will-repeal-section-377a-decriminalise-sex-between-men). *[The Straits Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Straits_Times \"The Straits Times\")*. Retrieved 7 November 2022.\n7. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-2)\n   Goh, Yan Han (29 November 2022). [\"Parliament repeals Section 377A, endorses amendments protecting definition of marriage\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/parliament-repeals-section-377a-endorses-amendments-protecting-marriage-definition). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-8)**\n   [\"S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. 3 January 2023.\n9. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-2)\n   [\"\"This Alien Legacy: The Origins of 'Sodomy' Laws in British Colonialism\", Human Rights Watch, 2008\"](https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/sites\/default\/files\/reports\/lgbt1208_web.pdf) (PDF).\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-10)** R v Jacobs (1817) Russ & Ry 331 confirmed that buggery related only to intercourse per anum by a man with a man or woman, or intercourse per anum or per vaginam by either a man or a woman with an animal. Other forms of \"unnatural intercourse\" may amount to indecent assault or gross indecency, but do not constitute buggery (see generally: Smith & Hogan, Criminal Law (10th ed.) ISBN 0-406-94801-1)\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-11)** *Public Prosecutor v Kwan Kwong Weng* \\[1997\\] 1 SLR(R) 316 at \\[29\\]–\\[31\\].\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-12)**\n    [\"Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 - Singapore Statutes Online\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/Acts-Supp\/51-2007#pr70-). *Singapore Statutes Online*.\n13. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-13)**\n    [\"Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/Act\/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377-#pr377-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. Retrieved 23 August 2022.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-14)**\n    [\"Romantic rabble v coy court\"](https:\/\/yawningbread.wordpress.com\/2010\/11\/21\/romantic-rabble-v-coy-court\/). *Yawning Bread*. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2019.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-nus_15-0)**\n    [\"Section 377A in Singapore and the (De)Criminalization of Homosexuality\"](http:\/\/profile.nus.edu.sg\/fass\/socrgb\/radics_reconstruction_15.2.pdf) (PDF). [National University of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_University_of_Singapore \"National University of Singapore\"). [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180920152649\/http:\/\/profile.nus.edu.sg\/fass\/socrgb\/radics_reconstruction_15.2.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019. \"Section 377A only criminalizes sex between males, but not between females.\"\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-16)**\n    [\"Penal Code 1871\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/Act\/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377A-). *Singapore Statutes Online*.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-17)**\n    Chua Kher Shing, Lynette J. (2003). [\"Saying No: Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code\"](https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/24868200). *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\\. [JSTOR](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/JSTOR_\\(identifier\\) \"JSTOR (identifier)\") [24868200](https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/24868200).\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-18)**\n    [\"Singapore Lawmakers Debate Petition to Abolish Gay Sex Ban\"](https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/story\/singapore-lawmakers-debate-petition-to-abolish-gay-sex-ban). *[Fox News](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fox_News \"Fox News\")*. Associated Press. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2019.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-19)**\n    [\"Repeal377A.com\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20071011034642\/http:\/\/www.repeal377a.com\/). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.repeal377a.com\/) on 11 October 2007.\n20. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-20)**\n    [\"Keep377A.com\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20080516084324\/http:\/\/www.keep377a.com\/). 2007. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.keep377a.com\/) on 16 May 2008.\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-21)**\n    [\"keep377a overtakes repeal377a\"](https:\/\/familyoverfreedom.blogspot.com\/2007\/10\/keep377a-overtakes-repeal377a.html). Family\\&Freedom. 20 October 2007.\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-22)**\n    Ng, Gilaine (10 September 2018). [\"55 per cent of Singapore residents support Section 377A: Ipsos survey\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/55-per-cent-of-singapore-residents-support-section-377a-ipsos-survey). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 28 June 2022.\n23. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-23)**\n    Mokhtar, Faris (9 September 2018). [\"Penal Code set to undergo overhaul, to better protect vulnerable victims against abuse and sexual crimes\"](https:\/\/www.todayonline.com\/singapore\/penal-code-set-undergo-overhaul-better-protect-vulnerable-victims-against-abuse-and-sexual). *Today*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2019.\n24. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-24)**\n    Chua, Alfred (30 September 2018). [\"Activists submit online petition, but Govt has 'no plans' to repeal S377A\"](https:\/\/www.todayonline.com\/singapore\/govt-has-no-plans-repeal-s377a-online-petition-gets-almost-45000-signatures). *Today*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2019.\n25. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-25)**\n    Keat, Leong Wee (29 November 2010). [\"Lawyer challenges gay sex law\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20101129195210\/http:\/\/www.todayonline.com\/Singapore\/EDC100924-0000220\/Lawyer-challenges-gay-sex-law). *[Today](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Today_\\(Singapore_newspaper\\) \"Today (Singapore newspaper)\")*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.todayonline.com\/Singapore\/EDC100924-0000220\/Lawyer-challenges-gay-sex-law) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n26. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-26)**\n    Waipang, Alex Au (19 March 2011). [\"High Court waves away 377A controversy\"](https:\/\/yawningbread.wordpress.com\/2011\/03\/19\/high-court-waves-away-377a-controversy\/). *[Yawning Bread](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yawning_Bread \"Yawning Bread\")*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n27. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-27)**\n    Andrew Phang Boon Leong JA, V K Rajah JA and Judith Prakash J (21 August 2012). [\"Tan Eng Hong v Attorney-General\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20161123061559\/http:\/\/www.singaporelaw.sg\/sglaw\/laws-of-singapore\/case-law\/free-law\/court-of-appeal-judgments\/14979-tan-eng-hong-v-attorney-general-2012-sgca-45). *singaporelaw.sg*. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.singaporelaw.sg\/sglaw\/laws-of-singapore\/case-law\/free-law\/court-of-appeal-judgments\/14979-tan-eng-hong-v-attorney-general-2012-sgca-45) on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n28. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-28)**\n    [\"Second of two 377A challenges may have to wait a long time for a decision\"](https:\/\/yawningbread.wordpress.com\/2013\/03\/10\/second-of-two-377a-challenges-may-have-to-wait-a-long-time-for-a-decision\/). *Yawning Bread*. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n29. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-29)**\n    [\"Singapore High Court upholds anti-gay law in Tan Eng Hong's case\"](http:\/\/www.fridae.asia\/gay-news\/2013\/10\/02\/12449.singapore-high-court-upholds-anti-gay-law-in-tan-eng-hongs-case). *Fridae: Connecting Gay Asia*. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n30. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-30)**\n    [\"Court of Appeal Does Right By Tan Eng Hong: Joint hearing for section 377A appeals\"](https:\/\/ionsg.blogspot.com\/2013\/10\/court-of-appeal-does-right-by-tan-eng.html). IonSG. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n31. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-31)**\n    [\"Singapore couple sue to end sodomy law\"](http:\/\/sdgln.com\/news\/2012\/12\/01\/singapore-couple-sue-end-sodomy-law). *San Diego Gay and Lesbian News*. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n32. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-32)**\n    Waipang, Alex Au (2 December 2012). [\"New constitutional challenge to Section 377A filed\"](https:\/\/yawningbread.wordpress.com\/2012\/12\/02\/new-constitutional-challenge-to-section-377a-filed\/). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n33. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-33)**\n    Lim, Leonard (14 February 2013). [\"Legal challenge to Section 377A begins in the High Court; judgment reserved\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/legal-challenge-to-section-377a-begins-in-the-high-court-judgment-reserved). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n34. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-34)**\n    Wong, Tessa (9 April 2013). [\"High Court upholds anti-gay sex law, dismisses legal challenge\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/high-court-upholds-anti-gay-sex-law-dismisses-legal-challenge). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n35. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-35)**\n    [\"Gay Singaporean couple file appeal over ban on private consensual sex\"](http:\/\/lgbtweekly.com\/2013\/07\/12\/gay-singaporean-couple-file-appeal-over-ban-on-private-consensual-sex\/). *LGBT Weekly*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n36. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-36)**\n    AndrewPhang Boon Leong JA, Belinda Ang Saw Ean J and WooBih Li J (28 October 2014). [\"Lim Meng Suang and another v Attorney-Generaland another appeal and another matter\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20161220090911\/http:\/\/www.singaporelaw.sg\/sglaw\/laws-of-singapore\/case-law\/free-law\/court-of-appeal-judgments\/15754-lim-meng-suang-and-another-v-attorney-generaland-another-appeal-and-another-matter-2014-sgca-53). *singaporelaw.sg*. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.singaporelaw.sg\/sglaw\/laws-of-singapore\/case-law\/free-law\/court-of-appeal-judgments\/15754-lim-meng-suang-and-another-v-attorney-generaland-another-appeal-and-another-matter-2014-sgca-53) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n37. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-37)**\n    Xin, Sia Ling (9 July 2013). [\"S'pore gay couple hire top lawyers for Section 377A appeal\"](https:\/\/sg.news.yahoo.com\/s%E2%80%99pore-gay-couple-hire-top-lawyers-for-section-377a-appeal-032652503.html). *Yahoo! News Singapore*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n38. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-38)**\n    Kriegler, Yun (11 July 2013). [\"Goldsmith to challenge Singaporean government on anti-gay laws\"](https:\/\/www.thelawyer.com\/issues\/online-july-2013\/goldsmith-to-challenge-singaporean-government-on-anti-gay-laws\/). *The Lawyer*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n39. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-39)**\n    Burton, Lucy (20 September 2013). [\"Goldsmith kicked off anti-gay challenge by Singapore High Court in favour of local counsel\"](https:\/\/www.thelawyer.com\/issues\/online-september-2013\/goldsmith-kicked-off-anti-gay-challenge-by-singapore-high-court-in-favour-of-local-counsel\/). *The Lawyer: Advancing the business of law*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n40. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:0_40-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:0_40-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:0_40-2)\n    Lum, Selina (29 October 2014). [\"Court of Appeal rules that Section 377A that criminalises sex between men is constitutional\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/court-of-appeal-rules-that-section-377a-that-criminalises-sex-between-men-is). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n41. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:1_41-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:1_41-1)\n    Tan, Andrea (29 October 2014). [\"Singapore's Ban on Gay Male Sex Is Upheld by Top Court\"](https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2014-10-29\/singapore-s-top-court-upholds-ban-on-sex-between-men). Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n42. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-42)**\n    Allegretti, David (22 June 2016). [\"What It's Like to Be Young and Gay in Singapore\"](https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/whats-it-like-to-be-young-and-gay-in-singapore\/). *VICE*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n43. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-43)**\n    Mosbergen, Dominique (13 October 2015). [\"How Singapore Is Limiting Basic Human Rights\"](https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/entry\/lgbt-singapore_us_561633d5e4b0e66ad4c67fe7). *HuffPost*. Retrieved 10 December 2016.\n44. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-44)**\n    Ho, Olivia (29 August 2018). [\"Businessman Ho Kwon Ping opens up on his ISA detention at packed ST Book Club event\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/businessman-ho-kwon-ping-opens-up-on-his-isa-detention-at-packed-st-book-club-event). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 1 October 2019.\n45. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-45)**\n    Yahya, Yasmine (7 September 2018). [\"Tommy Koh's Facebook comment reignites debate on Singapore's gay sex law\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/politics\/tommy-kohs-facebook-post-on-gay-sex-law-reignites-debate-on-singapores-penal-code). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 1 October 2019.\n46. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-46)**\n    Chua, Alfred (12 September 2018). [\"Repeal of section 377A will end 'online vitriol and abuse' against LGBTQ community, says DJ who filed legal challenge\"](https:\/\/www.todayonline.com\/singapore\/dj-mounts-fresh-legal-challenge-against-section-377a). *Today*. Retrieved 1 October 2019.\n47. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-47)**\n    Alkhatib, Shaffiq (22 January 2019). [\"LGBT rights advocate files case against Attorney-General, stating Section 377A of Penal Code is void\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/lgbt-rights-advocate-files-case-against-attorney-general-stating-section-377a). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 3 October 2019.\n48. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-48)**\n    Kurohi, Rei (25 September 2019). [\"LGBT activist and retired GP Roy Tan files new court challenge against Section 377A\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/lgbt-activist-who-is-a-retired-gp-files-new-case-against-section-377a). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 3 October 2019.\n49. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-49)**\n    Kurohi, Rei (30 March 2020). [\"High Court dismisses challenges against law that criminalises sex between men\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/high-court-rejects-all-three-challenges-against-section-377a). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 30 March 2020.\n50. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-50)**\n    *Ong Ming Johnson v Attorney-General and other matters*\n    \n    , 2020 SGHC 63 ([High Court of the Republic of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_Court_of_the_Republic_of_Singapore \"High Court of the Republic of Singapore\") 30 March 2020).\n51. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-51)**\n    Kurohi, Rei (31 March 2020). [\"Two men file appeals against High Court decision to dismiss Section 377A challenge\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/two-men-file-appeals-against-high-court-decision-to-dismiss-section-377a-challenge). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 19 April 2020.\n52. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-52)**\n    [\"Singapore's top court dismisses attempt to overturn gay sex ban\"](https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/singapores-top-court-dismisses-attempt-overturn-gay-sex-ban-2022-02-28\/). *Reuters*. 28 February 2022.\n53. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-53)**\n    [\"'Only reason why we can have a decision in Parliament': Shanmugam on PAP imposing whip for Section 377A\"](https:\/\/www.asiaone.com\/singapore\/only-reason-why-we-can-have-decision-parliament-shanmugam-pap-imposing-whip-section-377a). *AsiaOne*. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.\n54. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-54)**\n    Iau, Jean (28 November 2022). [\"PSP supports repeal of S377A, calls for national referendum on definition of marriage\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/psp-supports-repeal-of-s377a-calls-for-national-referendum-on-definition-of-marriage). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022.\n55. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:4_55-0)**\n    Goh, Yan Han (3 January 2023). [\"S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 January 2023.\n56. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:5_56-0)**\n    [\"Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/\/Acts-Supp\/39-2022\/Published\/20230103?DocDate=20230103). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.\n57. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-57)**\n    Ming, Lee Chong (30 November 2022). [\"MHA to consider records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A between 1988 and 2007\"](https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/singapore\/377a-criminal-record-rendered-spent-gay-sex-3112701). *Channel News Asia*. Retrieved 10 December 2022.\n\n## Further reading\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=15 \"Edit section: Further reading\")\\]\n\n- Heijmans, Philip (29 November 2022). [\"Singapore Repeals Ban on Sex Between Men in a Cautious Step\"](https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-11-29\/singapore-parliament-repeals-colonial-era-ban-on-sex-between-men). *Bloomberg*. Retrieved 9 December 2022.\n- Young, Ted (24 October 2007). [\"Our Time Has Come\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20071025033626\/http:\/\/www.trevvy.com\/scoops\/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3). [Trevvy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trevvy \"Trevvy\"). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.trevvy.com\/scoops\/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.\n- Original PDF version of the academic paper, \"377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism\" by Douglas Saunders, August 2007:[\\[1\\]](http:\/\/signelwiki003.pbworks.com\/w\/file\/36066434\/douglas_sanders_377_unnatural_afterlife.pdf).\n- Au, Alex (May 2007). [\"Why section 377A is redundant\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/arch_2007\/yax-749.htm). *[Yawning Bread](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yawning_Bread \"Yawning Bread\")*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Gopalan, Mohan (May 2007). [\"A heftier list of s. 377A cases\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/guest_2007\/guw-136.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Au, Alex (March 2005). [\"The picture that emerges\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/arch_2005\/yax-424.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Au, Alex (March 2005). [\"List of section 377 and 377A cases\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/apdx_2005\/imp-192.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Chua, Lynette J. Kher Shing (2003). \"Saying No : Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code\". *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\\.\n  .\n- \\[Lim\\], Wee Kuan (1 October 2002). [\"Gay law : Emancipation and emasculation\"](http:\/\/www.oursafehaven.com\/activities\/gaylaw.htm). Safehaven, Free Community Church. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n  A review of all Singaporean laws governing homosexual behaviour.\n\n## External links\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=16 \"Edit section: External links\")\\]\n\n- [Keep377A.com](http:\/\/www.keep377a.com\/) – previous campaign for the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code\n- [Repeal377a.com](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20071011034642\/http:\/\/www.repeal377a.com\/) – previous campaign for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code\n- [Singapore Daily page on 377A](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20080618181545\/http:\/\/singaporedaily.net\/s377a\/) – collection of blogger postings on section 377A of the Penal Code\n- [Archive of newsclips relating to Section 377A](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/groyn88#grid\/user\/F7E6986EBBDEF252) – a YouTube playlist\n- [Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A](https:\/\/www.blowingwind.io\/forum\/index.php?\/topic\/26979-wikileaks-usembassy-report-of-the-singapore-2007-section-377a-repeal\/) Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A\n\n[Portals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents\/Portals \"Wikipedia:Contents\/Portals\"):\n\n- ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/28\/British_Empire_1897.jpg\/40px-British_Empire_1897.jpg) [British Empire](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:British_Empire \"Portal:British Empire\")\n- ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Nuvola_LGBT_flag.svg\/20px-Nuvola_LGBT_flag.svg.png) [LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:LGBTQ \"Portal:LGBTQ\")\n- [![icon](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/17\/Balance%2C_by_David.svg\/40px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Balance,_by_David.svg) [Law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Law \"Portal:Law\")\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:LGBTQ_rights_footer \"Template:LGBTQ rights footer\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:LGBTQ_rights_footer \"Template talk:LGBTQ rights footer\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ_rights_footer \"Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ rights footer\")[LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") overview |   |\n|---|---|\n| [Lesbian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbian_rights \"Lesbian rights\") [Gay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_rights \"Gay rights\") [Bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexual_rights \"Bisexual rights\") [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_rights \"Transgender rights\") [Intersex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex_human_rights \"Intersex human rights\") rights |   |\n| General | [Capital punishment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Capital_punishment_for_homosexuality \"Capital punishment for homosexuality\") [Censorship of LGBTQ issues](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Censorship_of_LGBTQ_issues \"Censorship of LGBTQ issues\") [Criminalization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Criminalization of homosexuality\") [Decriminalization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality \"Decriminalization of homosexuality\") [Legal status of transgender people](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_status_of_transgender_people \"Legal status of transgender people\") [Legality of conversion therapy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legality_of_conversion_therapy \"Legality of conversion therapy\") [LGBTQ rights at the United Nations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_at_the_United_Nations \"LGBTQ rights at the United Nations\") [Activists](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_activists \"List of LGBTQ rights activists\") [Movements](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_movements \"LGBTQ movements\") [Organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_organizations \"List of LGBTQ rights organizations\") [Societal attitudes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Societal_attitudes_toward_homosexuality \"Societal attitudes toward homosexuality\") [Student movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_student_movement \"LGBTQ student movement\") [Timeline of LGBTQ history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_LGBTQ_history \"Timeline of LGBTQ history\") [Transgender rights movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_rights_movement \"Transgender rights movement\") |\n| [By regions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") ([list](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_articles_by_region \"List of LGBTQ rights articles by region\")) | [Africa](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_Africa \"LGBTQ rights in Africa\") [Americas](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Americas \"LGBTQ rights in the Americas\") [North America](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_North_America \"LGBTQ rights in North America\") [South America](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_South_America \"LGBTQ rights in South America\") [Asia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_Asia \"LGBTQ rights in Asia\") [Europe](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_Europe \"LGBTQ rights in Europe\") [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_European_Union \"LGBTQ rights in the European Union\") [Oceania](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_Oceania \"LGBTQ rights in Oceania\") [Middle East](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Middle_East \"LGBTQ rights in the Middle East\") [Commonwealth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations \"LGBTQ rights in the Commonwealth of Nations\") *[La Francophonie](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_La_Francophonie \"LGBTQ rights in La Francophonie\")* [Post-Soviet states](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_post-Soviet_states \"LGBTQ rights in the post-Soviet states\") |\n| [By years](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Table_of_years_in_LGBTQ_rights \"Table of years in LGBTQ rights\") |   |\n|   |   |\n| [1700s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_18th_century \"LGBTQ rights in the 18th century\") [1800s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_19th_century \"LGBTQ rights in the 19th century\") [1900–1949](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1900%E2%80%931949_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1900–1949 in LGBTQ rights\") [1950s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1950s_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1950s in LGBTQ rights\") [1960s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1960s_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1960s in LGBTQ rights\") |   |\n| [1970s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1970s_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1970s in LGBTQ rights\") | [1970](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1970_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1970 in LGBTQ rights\") [1971](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1971_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1971 in LGBTQ rights\") [1972](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1972_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1972 in LGBTQ rights\") [1973](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1973_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1973 in LGBTQ rights\") [1974](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1974_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1974 in LGBTQ rights\") [1975](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1975_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1975 in LGBTQ rights\") [1976](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1976_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1976 in LGBTQ rights\") [1977](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1977_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1977 in LGBTQ rights\") [1978](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1978_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1978 in LGBTQ rights\") [1979](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1979 in LGBTQ rights\") |\n| [1980s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=1980s_in_LGBT_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 \"1980s in LGBT rights (page does not exist)\") | [1980](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1980_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1980 in LGBTQ rights\") [1981](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1981_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1981 in LGBTQ rights\") [1982](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1982_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1982 in LGBTQ rights\") [1983](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1983_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1983 in LGBTQ rights\") [1984](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1984_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1984 in LGBTQ rights\") [1985](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1985_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1985 in LGBTQ rights\") [1986](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1986_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1986 in LGBTQ rights\") [1987](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1987_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1987 in LGBTQ rights\") [1988](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1988_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1988 in LGBTQ rights\") [1989](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1989_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1989 in LGBTQ rights\") |\n| [1990s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=1990s_in_LGBTQ_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 \"1990s in LGBTQ rights (page does not exist)\") | [1990](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1990_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1990 in LGBTQ rights\") [1991](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1991_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1991 in LGBTQ rights\") [1992](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1992 in LGBTQ rights\") [1993](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1993_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1993 in LGBTQ rights\") [1994](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1994_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1994 in LGBTQ rights\") [1995](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1995_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1995 in LGBTQ rights\") [1996](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1996_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1996 in LGBTQ rights\") [1997](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1997_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1997 in LGBTQ rights\") [1998](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1998_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1998 in LGBTQ rights\") [1999](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1999_in_LGBTQ_rights \"1999 in LGBTQ rights\") |\n| [2000s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=2000s_in_LGBTQ_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 \"2000s in LGBTQ rights (page does not exist)\") | [2000](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2000_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2000 in LGBTQ rights\") [2001](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2001_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2001 in LGBTQ rights\") [2002](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2002_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2002 in LGBTQ rights\") [2003](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2003_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2003 in LGBTQ rights\") [2004](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2004_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2004 in LGBTQ rights\") [2005](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2005_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2005 in LGBTQ rights\") [2006](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2006_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2006 in LGBTQ rights\") [2007](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2007_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2007 in LGBTQ rights\") [2008](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2008_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2008 in LGBTQ rights\") [2009](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2009_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2009 in LGBTQ rights\") |\n| [2010s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010s_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2010s in LGBTQ rights\") | [2010](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2010_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2010 in LGBTQ rights\") [2011](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2011_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2011 in LGBTQ rights\") [2012](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2012_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2012 in LGBTQ rights\") [2013](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2013_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2013 in LGBTQ rights\") [2014](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2014_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2014 in LGBTQ rights\") [2015](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2015_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2015 in LGBTQ rights\") [2016](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2016 in LGBTQ rights\") [2017](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2017_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2017 in LGBTQ rights\") [2018](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2018_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2018 in LGBTQ rights\") [2019](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2019_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2019 in LGBTQ rights\") |\n| [2020s](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=2020s_in_LGBTQ_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 \"2020s in LGBTQ rights (page does not exist)\") | [2020](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2020_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2020 in LGBTQ rights\") [2021](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2021_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2021 in LGBTQ rights\") [2022](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2022_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2022 in LGBTQ rights\") [2023](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2023_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2023 in LGBTQ rights\") [2024](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2024_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2024 in LGBTQ rights\") [2025](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2025_in_LGBTQ_rights \"2025 in LGBTQ rights\") |\n| Ideological | [Communism and LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Communism_and_LGBTQ_rights \"Communism and LGBTQ rights\") [LGBTQ conservatism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_conservatism \"LGBTQ conservatism\") [Opposition to LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Opposition_to_LGBTQ_rights \"Opposition to LGBTQ rights\") [Libertarian perspectives on LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Libertarian_perspectives_on_LGBTQ_rights \"Libertarian perspectives on LGBTQ rights\") [New Left](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Left \"New Left\") [Queer anarchism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_anarchism \"Queer anarchism\") [Queer radicalism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer_radicalism \"Queer radicalism\") [Socialism and LGBTQ rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Socialism_and_LGBTQ_rights \"Socialism and LGBTQ rights\") |\n| ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/9\/96\/Symbol_category_class.svg\/20px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png) **[Category](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_rights \"Category:LGBTQ rights\")** |   |\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Template:Criminalization of homosexuality\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Template talk:Criminalization of homosexuality\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Criminalization of homosexuality\")[Criminalization of homosexuality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminalization_of_homosexuality \"Criminalization of homosexuality\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| [Death penalty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Capital_punishment_for_homosexuality \"Capital punishment for homosexuality\") | [Afghanistan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Afghanistan \"LGBT rights in Afghanistan\") [Brunei](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Brunei \"LGBT rights in Brunei\") [Iran](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Iran \"LGBT rights in Iran\") [Mauritania](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Mauritania \"LGBT rights in Mauritania\") [Saudi Arabia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia \"LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia\") [Uganda](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Uganda \"LGBT rights in Uganda\") ([Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-Homosexuality_Act,_2023 \"Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023\")) [Yemen](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Yemen \"LGBT rights in Yemen\") |\n| Active | British colonies ([Section 377](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377 \"Section 377\"), 1860–) [Malaysia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Malaysia \"LGBT rights in Malaysia\") (1860–, with caning) [Uganda](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Uganda \"LGBT rights in Uganda\") (1894–) |\n| Invalidated | [Ecuador](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality_in_Ecuador \"Decriminalization of homosexuality in Ecuador\") (1871-[1997](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Case_No._111-97-TC \"Case No. 111-97-TC\")) India ([Section 377](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377_of_the_Indian_Penal_Code \"Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code\"), 1861–2018) Sri Lanka ([Article 365](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_365_of_the_Sri_Lankan_Penal_Code \"Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code\"), 1883–) [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sodomy_laws_in_the_United_States \"Sodomy laws in the United States\") |\n| Repealed | [Australia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legality_of_same-sex_sexual_activity_in_Australia \"Legality of same-sex sexual activity in Australia\") (1975\/1997) [Brazil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_status_of_homosexuality_in_Brazil \"Legal status of homosexuality in Brazil\") (1533–1830) Canada (?–[1969](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_Law_Amendment_Act,_1968%E2%80%9369 \"Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69\")) Cyprus ([Section 171](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_171_of_the_Criminal_Code_of_Cyprus \"Section 171 of the Criminal Code of Cyprus\"), 1929–1998) Germany ([Paragraph 175](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paragraph_175 \"Paragraph 175\"), 1871–1969\/1994) New Zealand (1840–[1986](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homosexual_Law_Reform_Act_1986 \"Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986\")) Singapore ([Section 377A](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_of_the_Penal_Code_\\(Singapore\\) \"Section 377A of the Penal Code (Singapore)\"), 1938–2007\/2022) Norway ([Section 213](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_213_of_the_Norwegian_Penal_Code \"Section 213 of the Norwegian Penal Code\"), ?–1972) Romania ([Article 200](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_200 \"Article 200\"), 1968–1996\/2001) [Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_history_in_Russia \"LGBT history in Russia\") (1832–1917, 1933–1993) South Africa ([Section 20A](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_20A \"Section 20A\"), 1969–2007) United Kingdom ([1533](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buggery_Act_1533 \"Buggery Act 1533\")–[1967](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_Offences_Act_1967 \"Sexual Offences Act 1967\")\/[1982](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homosexual_Offences_\\(Northern_Ireland\\)_Order_1982 \"Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982\")) |\n| Related articles | [Decriminalization of homosexuality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality \"Decriminalization of homosexuality\") [Sodomy law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sodomy_law \"Sodomy law\") [LGBT rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights \"LGBT rights\") [Sharia law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sharia#LGBT_rights \"Sharia\") |\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:LGBTQ_in_Singapore \"Template:LGBTQ in Singapore\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:LGBTQ_in_Singapore \"Template talk:LGBTQ in Singapore\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ_in_Singapore \"Special:EditPage\/Template:LGBTQ in Singapore\")[![LGBTQ flag](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/48\/Gay_Pride_Flag.svg\/40px-Gay_Pride_Flag.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rainbow_flag_\\(LGBTQ\\) \"LGBTQ flag\") [Lesbian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lesbian \"Lesbian\"), [gay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay \"Gay\"), [bisexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bisexual \"Bisexual\"), [transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender \"Transgender\"), [queer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Queer \"Queer\") topics in [Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore \"Singapore\") [![Flag of Singapore](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/48\/Flag_of_Singapore.svg\/40px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flag_of_Singapore \"Flag of Singapore\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| *Main article: [LGBT in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_LGBT_community_in_Singapore \"The LGBT community in Singapore\")* |   |\n| [Law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ rights in Singapore\") | [LGBTQ rights in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ rights in Singapore\") [Section 377A of the Penal Code (Singapore)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_of_the_Penal_Code_\\(Singapore\\) \"Section 377A of the Penal Code (Singapore)\") |\n| [History](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_history_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ history in Singapore\") | [LGBTQ history in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_history_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ history in Singapore\") |\n| Organisations | [List of LGBTQ organisations in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_LGBTQ_organisations_in_Singapore \"List of LGBTQ organisations in Singapore\") [People Like Us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/People_Like_Us_\\(Singapore\\) \"People Like Us (Singapore)\") [SGRainbow](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=SGRainbow&action=edit&redlink=1 \"SGRainbow (page does not exist)\") [Young Out Here](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Young_Out_Here \"Young Out Here\") [Sayoni](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Sayoni&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Sayoni (page does not exist)\") [Free Community Church](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Free_Community_Church&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Free Community Church (page does not exist)\") [Pelangi Pride Centre](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Pelangi_Pride_Centre&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Pelangi Pride Centre (page does not exist)\") |\n| People | [Alex Au](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alex_Au \"Alex Au\") [Paddy Chew](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paddy_Chew \"Paddy Chew\") |\n| [Events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_pride_events_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ pride events in Singapore\") | [Women's Nite](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Women%27s_Nite&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Women's Nite (page does not exist)\") [PinkDot](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pink_Dot_SG \"Pink Dot SG\") [IndigNation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IndigNation \"IndigNation\") [Conferences](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=List_of_LGBT_conferences_in_Singapore&action=edit&redlink=1 \"List of LGBT conferences in Singapore (page does not exist)\") [LGBTQ events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_pride_events_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ pride events in Singapore\") |\n| [Culture](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_culture_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ culture in Singapore\") | [Art](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_art_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ art in Singapore\") [Documentaries](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore_gay_documentaries \"Singapore gay documentaries\") [Literature](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_literature_in_Singapore \"LGBTQ literature in Singapore\") |\n| Media | [Trevvy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trevvy \"Trevvy\") [Fridae](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fridae \"Fridae\") |\n| [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_people_in_Singapore \"Transgender people in Singapore\") | [Transgender people in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_people_in_Singapore \"Transgender people in Singapore\") |\n| [Category:LGBTQ in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:LGBTQ_in_Singapore \"Category:LGBTQ in Singapore\") |   |\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Law_of_Singapore \"Template:Law of Singapore\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Law_of_Singapore \"Template talk:Law of Singapore\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Law_of_Singapore \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Law of Singapore\")[Law of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_of_Singapore \"Law of Singapore\") |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| Constitutional law |   | [![The dome of a building with a green patina, against a blue sky with clouds in it.](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Dome-OldSupremeCourtBuilding-Singapore-20071013.jpg\/120px-Dome-OldSupremeCourtBuilding-Singapore-20071013.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Dome-OldSupremeCourtBuilding-Singapore-20071013.jpg \"The dome of the Old Supreme Court Building of Singapore\") |\n|   |   |   |\n| Executive branch | [President](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/President_of_Singapore \"President of Singapore\") [Government](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Government_of_Singapore \"Government of Singapore\") [Cabinet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cabinet_of_Singapore \"Cabinet of Singapore\") [Prime Minister](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prime_Minister_of_Singapore \"Prime Minister of Singapore\") [Attorney-General](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attorney-General_of_Singapore \"Attorney-General of Singapore\") |   |\n| Legislative branch | [President](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/President_of_Singapore \"President of Singapore\") [Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Singapore \"Parliament of Singapore\") |   |\n| Judicial branch | [Judicial system](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judicial_system_of_Singapore \"Judicial system of Singapore\") [Judicial independence](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judicial_independence_in_Singapore \"Judicial independence in Singapore\") [Judicial officers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judicial_officers_of_the_Republic_of_Singapore \"Judicial officers of the Republic of Singapore\") [Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Singapore_Tribunal \"Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal\") [Supreme Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore \"Supreme Court of Singapore\") [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") [High Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_Court_of_Singapore \"High Court of Singapore\") [State Courts](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/State_Courts_of_Singapore \"State Courts of Singapore\") |   |\n| [Constitution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constitution_of_Singapore \"Constitution of Singapore\") | [Elections](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Elections_in_Singapore \"Elections in Singapore\") [Human rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_rights_in_Singapore \"Human rights in Singapore\") [Internal Security Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internal_Security_Act_\\(Singapore\\) \"Internal Security Act (Singapore)\") [Presidential Council for Minority Rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Presidential_Council_for_Minority_Rights \"Presidential Council for Minority Rights\") [Singaporean nationality law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singaporean_nationality_law \"Singaporean nationality law\") |   |\n| [Administrative law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Administrative_law_in_Singapore \"Administrative law in Singapore\") |   |   |\n|   |   |   |\n| General | [Exclusion of judicial review](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Exclusion_of_judicial_review_in_Singapore_law \"Exclusion of judicial review in Singapore law\") [Remedies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Remedies_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Remedies in Singapore administrative law\") [Threshold issues](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Threshold_issues_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Threshold issues in Singapore administrative law\") |   |\n| [Illegality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Illegality_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Illegality in Singapore administrative law\") | [Fettering of discretion](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fettering_of_discretion_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Fettering of discretion in Singapore administrative law\") [Precedent fact errors](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Precedent_fact_errors_in_Singapore_law \"Precedent fact errors in Singapore law\") [Relevant and irrelevant considerations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Relevant_and_irrelevant_considerations_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Relevant and irrelevant considerations in Singapore administrative law\") [Substantive legitimate 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By using this site, you agree to the [Terms of Use](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Terms_of_Use \"foundation:Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Terms of Use\") and [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy \"foundation:Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy policy\"). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the [Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.](https:\/\/wikimediafoundation.org\/), a non-profit organization.\n\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy)\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About)\n- [Disclaimers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer)\n- [Contact Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us)\n- [Legal & safety contacts](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Legal:Wikimedia_Foundation_Legal_and_Safety_Contact_Information)\n- [Code of Conduct](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct)\n- [Developers](https:\/\/developer.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [Statistics](https:\/\/stats.wikimedia.org\/#\/en.wikipedia.org)\n- [Cookie statement](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Cookie_statement)\n- [Mobile view](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile)\n\n- [![Wikimedia Foundation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/footer\/wikimedia.svg)](https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [![Powered by MediaWiki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/resources\/assets\/mediawiki_compact.svg)](https:\/\/www.mediawiki.org\/)\n\nSearch\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\nSection 377A (Singapore)\n\n4 languages\n\n[Add topic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\))","attrs_readable_markdown":"**Section 377A** was a [law in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_of_Singapore \"Law of Singapore\") that criminalised sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under [British colonial rule](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colony_of_Singapore \"Colony of Singapore\") in 1938 when it was added to the [Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penal_Code_\\(Singapore\\) \"Penal Code (Singapore)\") by the colonial government. It remained a part of the [Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore \"Singapore\") body of law after the Penal Code review of 2007 which removed most of the other provisions in Section 377. It was subsequently repealed in its entirety in 2023.\n\nPrior to the repeal, Section 377A, while retained *[de jure](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_jure \"De jure\")* in the Penal Code, had been for many years *[de facto](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_facto \"De facto\")* [unenforced](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unenforced_law \"Unenforced law\") – there had been no convictions for sex between consenting male adults in decades.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) While a small number of people were convicted under the law for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, enforcement effectively ceased outright following the Penal Code review, despite the law being formally retained until 2022.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2)[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 42–47\n\nOn 28 February 2022, the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") of the [Supreme Court of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore \"Supreme Court of Singapore\") reaffirmed that 377A could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) That same year, an Ipsos survey found that 44% of Singapore residents supported retaining the law, with 20% opposing it and the remaining 36% being ambivalent.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4) On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister [Lee Hsien Loong](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lee_Hsien_Loong \"Lee Hsien Loong\") announced during the annual [National Day Rally](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Day_Rally \"National Day Rally\") that the government intended to repeal Section 377A, ending criminalisation *de jure*.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:3-6) On 29 November 2022, the [Parliament of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Singapore \"Parliament of Singapore\") passed a bill to repeal Section 377A.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) The law was formally repealed after the bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Halimah_Yacob \"Halimah Yacob\") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023.[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-8)\n\n### The Indian Penal Code\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: The Indian Penal Code\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/3\/32\/Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg\/250px-Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Thomas_Babington_Macaulay,_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg)\n\nLord [Thomas Macaulay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Macaulay \"Thomas Macaulay\"), who chaired the commission that introduced laws such as 377A.\n\nThe [British Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/British_Parliament \"British Parliament\") formed the [Indian Law Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Law_Commission_of_India \"Law Commission of India\") in 1833.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 10–11  Lord [Thomas Macaulay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Macaulay \"Thomas Macaulay\") was appointed to chair the commission. The 1837 draft of the [Indian Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_Penal_Code \"Indian Penal Code\") was largely his work. It took 23 years for his work to be reviewed by the commission and the Supreme Court judges in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras. The code was adopted in 1860 and took effect 1 January 1862.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11\n\nMacaulay's draft did not reflect existing Indian (or other Asian cultures) laws or customs. It was largely a rewrite of the British Royal Commission's 1843 draft code.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11  The adopted draft included a Section 377 (quoted above), but there were many ambiguities in the section, including the question of what had to penetrate what. These in turn let future jurists redefine what these provisions actually punished.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 18  Under [Buddhist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buddhist_law \"Buddhist law\") and [Hindu law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu_law \"Hindu law\") in most of Asia, consensual intercourse between members of the same sex was never an offence. In the new Indian Penal Code, however, Section 377 criminalised \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\", derived from words attributed to Sir [Edward Coke](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Edward_Coke \"Edward Coke\") in the seventeenth century.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 14–15\n\nSection 377A \"(Outrages on decency\" was added to the sub-title \"Unnatural offences\" in the [Straits Settlements](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Straits_Settlements \"Straits Settlements\") in 1938.[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 20  Both sections were absorbed unchanged into the [Singapore Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore_Penal_Code \"Singapore Penal Code\") when the latter was passed by Singapore's [Legislative Council](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legislative_Council \"Legislative Council\") on 28 January 1955.\n\n### Original Section 377\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=3 \"Edit section: Original Section 377\")\\]\n\nUnnatural sex or [sodomy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sodomy \"Sodomy\") was not defined in the Indian Penal Code drafted by the British. Legal records show that Indian legislators in the 19th and early 20th centuries interpreted \"carnal intercourse against the order of nature\" between individuals (of all sexes – the law being non-gender specific with its use of the word \"whoever\") to include [anal sex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anal_sex \"Anal sex\"), [bestiality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bestiality \"Bestiality\") and, often after much courtroom deliberation, [oral sex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oral_sex \"Oral sex\") as well, i.e. any form of sexual penetration which did not have the potential for procreation.\n\nTherefore, both heterosexual and homosexual oral and anal sex were criminal offences. In this particular positive sense, Section 377 did not discriminate against homosexuals, although the permission of vaginal penetration left homosexuals exclusively prohibited from performing penetrative sex. The prohibition against oral sex was at odds with [British sodomy law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buggery_Act_1533 \"Buggery Act 1533\"), whose case law did not cover oral penetration.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-10) Section 377, however, in early cases tried in India mainly involved forced [fellatio](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fellatio \"Fellatio\") with unwilling male children and one unusual case of [sexual intercourse](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_intercourse \"Sexual intercourse\") with the nostril of a [buffalo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Water_Buffalo \"Water Buffalo\").\n\nIn the Singaporean context, the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") eventually held that [heterosexual](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heterosexual \"Heterosexual\") [fellatio](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fellatio \"Fellatio\") was exempted if indulged in as [foreplay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreplay \"Foreplay\") which eventually leads to [coitus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coitus \"Coitus\"):[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-11) This rationale explicitly confirmed that oral or anal penetration as a *substitute* for vaginal-penile penetration was permitted, whereas oral stimulation - including penetration of the oral cavity - could be practised as an introduction (or even prerequisite) to heterosexual sexual penetration, and hence outside the scope of the law.\n\n> \\[I\\]t is a fact of life, in humans as well as in animals, that before the act of copulation takes place there is foreplay to stimulate the sex urge. Kissing is the most common although there are several others...\n> \n> Of course, this form of contrectation \\[fellatio or cunnilingus\\] may not recommend itself to everyone for stimulating the sex urge. Even a man and a woman engaged in consensual sexual intercourse may draw the line at fellatio or cunnilingus. But the fact remains that it is practised by some. We note...that \\[there is\\] some statistical evidence...of these forms of oral sex being practised in Singapore. We cannot shut our minds to it.\n> \n> \\[W\\]hen couples engaged in consensual sexual intercourse willingly indulge in fellatio and cunnilingus as a stimulant to their respective sexual urges, neither act can be considered to be against the order of nature and punishable under s 377 of the Penal Code. In every other instance the act of fellatio between a man and a woman will be carnal intercourse against the order of nature and punishable under s 377.\n\nThe Singaporean margin note of the original Section 377 further explained that mere penetration of the [penis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_penis \"Human penis\") into the [anus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anus \"Anus\") or mouth even without orgasm would constitute the offence. The law applied regardless of the act being consensual between both parties and done in private.\n\nSection 377 was repealed in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-12) and replaced with a new Section 377 criminalising sex with dead bodies (\"Sexual penetration of a corpse\"), which was substituted in its place.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-13)\n\nSection 377A was introduced into the Singapore Penal Code in 1938 to criminalise all other non-penetrative sexual acts. It is descended from the [Labouchere Amendment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Labouchere_Amendment \"Labouchere Amendment\").[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-14)\\[*[unreliable source?](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources \"Wikipedia:Reliable sources\")*\\]\n\nIn the local context, \"[gross indecency](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gross_indecency_between_men \"Gross indecency between men\")\" is a broad term which, from a review of past cases locally, has been applied to [mutual masturbation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mutual_masturbation \"Mutual masturbation\"), genital contact, or even lewd behaviour without direct physical contact. As with the former Section 377, performing such acts in private does not constitute a defence. The law does not criminalise sex between females, only between males.[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-nus-15)\n\n> Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-16)\n\n— *Outrages on decency*, Section 377A, Singapore Penal Code\n\nIts original mother statute, Section 377 (since repealed), criminalised any sexual act that went \"against the order of nature\":[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-17)\n\n> Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation. Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.\n\n— Singapore Penal Code, Section 377\n\nThe [Ministry of Home Affairs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ministry_of_Home_Affairs_\\(Singapore\\) \"Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)\") (MHA) was quoted in *[The Straits Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Straits_Times \"The Straits Times\")* of 18 September 2007 saying that public feedback on the issue had been \"emotional, divided and strongly expressed\", with a majority of people calling for Section 377A to be retained.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-18) The MHA also said that it recognised that \"we are generally a conservative society and that we should let the situation evolve\".\n\nOn 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the \"Repeal 377A\" website[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-19) to gather signatories for an [open letter](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Open_letter \"Open letter\") to the Prime Minister calling for the repeal of Section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website \"Keep 377A\"[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-20) was set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government's retention of the law. By 1:30 p.m. on 20 October, Keep377A had overtaken Repeal377A by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-21) As [online petitions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Online_petition \"Online petition\"), both websites suffered the same doubts regarding the credibility of the numbers of their signatories. There was no mention of whether technical measures were taken to ensure that multiple-voting by the same person was prevented.\n\nIn 2018, an Ipsos survey found that 55% of Singapore residents supported retaining Section 377A.[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-22)\n\nShortly after the [Penal Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penal_Code_\\(Singapore\\) \"Penal Code (Singapore)\") review report was released on 9 September 2018,[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-23) a movement known as Ready4Repeal launched a petition to campaign for Section 377A to be repealed, even though MHA and [Ministry of Law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ministry_of_Law_\\(Singapore\\) \"Ministry of Law (Singapore)\") said there were no plans to do so. The petition attracted 44,650 signatures. Ready4Repeal also held a town hall meeting on 30 September 2018, which over 800 people attended. In contrast, a petition calling for Section 377A to be kept attracted more than 109,000 signatures after it closed on 24 September 2018.[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-24)\n\nIn 2022, Ipsos made another survey, noting that this figure had dropped to 44% compared to its 2018 survey, amid changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships.[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4)\n\n## Constitutional challenges\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=6 \"Edit section: Constitutional challenges\")\\]\n\nSection 377A was repeatedly challenged before the [courts of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judicial_system_of_Singapore \"Judicial system of Singapore\") as being [unconstitutional](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unconstitutionality \"Unconstitutionality\"). All challenges were chiefly based on [Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_12_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore \"Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore\"), which guarantees all persons [equality before the law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Equality_before_the_law \"Equality before the law\"), and [Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_9_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore \"Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore\"), which guarantees all persons the [right to life](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_life \"Right to life\") and the [right to personal liberty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Political_freedom \"Political freedom\").\n\n### *Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General*\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=7 \"Edit section: Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General\")\\]\n\nOn 24 September 2010, criminal lawyer [M Ravi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/M_Ravi \"M Ravi\") filed an application in the [High Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_Court_of_Singapore \"High Court of Singapore\") to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting adult male in a locked cubicle of a public toilet.[\\[25\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-25)\n\nOn 19 March 2011, Tan's case was thrown out of court by High Court justice [Lai Siu Chiu](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lai_Siu_Chiu \"Lai Siu Chiu\"), citing \"a lack of a real controversy\" for the court to deal with.[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-26) This is important, as according to the [Rules of Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Threshold_issues_in_Singapore_administrative_law \"Threshold issues in Singapore administrative law\") ([Cap. 322 § 80, O 18 r. 19, 1996 Rev. Ed.](http:\/\/statutes.agc.gov.sg\/aol\/search\/display\/view.w3p;ident=07b5ba9f-456a-4e84-92b8-4f894c953dd7;page=0;query=DocId%3A9c08961a-718d-4fe6-b2e0-df0963d62b05%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0#legis)), only cases which are not \"frivolous\" may be argued. However, on 21 August 2012, the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") reversed Lai's decision, ruling that 377A did \"affect the lives of a not insignificant portion of \\[Singaporeans\\] in a very real and intimate way\" and that the case would proceed once again in the High Court.[\\[27\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-27)\n\nTan's case was finally heard on 6 March 2013,[\\[28\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-28) and decided against him by justice Quentin Loh on 2 October 2013.[\\[29\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-29) In his ruling, Loh wrote that the issue was one of \"morality and societal values\" and if it were to be changed, it would have to be by Singapore's [Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament \"Parliament\"). Tan appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and his case was joined at his request as an [intervening party](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intervention_\\(law\\) \"Intervention (law)\") with *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General* (below), which was also pending before the Court of Appeal, on 11 October 2013.[\\[30\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-30)\n\n### *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General*\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=8 \"Edit section: Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General\")\\]\n\nAfter Tan's successful appeal to be heard by the court, a separate constitutional challenge was filed on 30 November 2012 on behalf of Lim Meng Suang and Kenneth Chee Mun-leon, a gay couple of fifteen years, by attorney Peter Low.[\\[31\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-31)[\\[32\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-32) The case was heard *[in camera](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/In_camera \"In camera\")* on 14 February 2013,[\\[33\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-33) and decided against them by justice Quentin Loh on 9 April 2013, for much the same reasons as his decision against Tan (above).[\\[34\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-34) Lim and Chee appealed to the Court of Appeal on 30 April 2013.[\\[35\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-35)[\\[36\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-36) In July 2013, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, they hired two highly esteemed lawyers: Deborah Barker, Senior Counsel at [KhattarWong LLP](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sat_Pal_Khattar#Business_career \"Sat Pal Khattar\"), and British lawyer, [Debevoise & Plimpton](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Debevoise_%26_Plimpton \"Debevoise & Plimpton\") [partner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Partner_lawyer \"Partner lawyer\") and former [Attorney General for England and Wales](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attorney_General_for_England_and_Wales \"Attorney General for England and Wales\") [Lord Peter Henry Goldsmith](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Peter_Henry_Goldsmith \"Peter Henry Goldsmith\").[\\[37\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-37) Goldsmith had agreed to take the case [without pay](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pro_bono \"Pro bono\"),[\\[38\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-38) but that September was disallowed from arguing the case before the court by Justice [V. K. Rajah](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/V._K._Rajah \"V. K. Rajah\"), as he believed that the legal issues were arguable by domestic lawyers, which is preferred by [Singapore law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Singapore_law \"Singapore law\").[\\[39\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-39)\n\nOn 29 October 2014, more than four years after the original challenge by Tan, the Court of Appeal, the highest court in Singapore, rejected Lim and Chee's challenge, finally ending the case.[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:0-40)[\\[41\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:1-41) The court held that 377A was consistent with Article 9 as it is meant to protect against [unlawful imprisonment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unlawful_imprisonment \"Unlawful imprisonment\"), and that it was consistent with Article 12 as it only mentions [religion](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Religion \"Religion\"), [race](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Race_\\(human_categorization\\) \"Race (human categorization)\") and [place of birth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Place_of_birth \"Place of birth\")—not [gender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gender \"Gender\"), [sexual orientation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_orientation \"Sexual orientation\"), or [sex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sex \"Sex\").[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:0-40) As in all judgments before, the court held that any [legal remedy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Legal_remedy \"Legal remedy\") would have to come about through an [Act of Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Act_of_Parliament \"Act of Parliament\").[\\[40\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:0-40)\n\nCompared to news of [LGBT rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights \"LGBT rights\") in other nations such as [Russia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Russia \"LGBT rights in Russia\") and [the United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States \"LGBT rights in the United States\"), the case and final appeal received little attention outside Singapore.[\\[42\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-42) *[The Huffington Post](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Huffington_Post \"The Huffington Post\")* featured Chee and Lim's story prominently under the headline \"How One of the World's Richest Countries Is Limiting Basic Human Rights\"[\\[43\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-43) and [*Bloomberg*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bloomberg_News \"Bloomberg News\") also published an article on the ruling.[\\[41\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:1-41)\n\n### *Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters*\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters\")\\]\n\nOn 29 August 2018, Professor [Ho Kwon Ping](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ho_Kwon_Ping \"Ho Kwon Ping\") in his talk questioned the need for Section 377A in Singapore.[\\[44\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-44) After India's Supreme Court decriminalised sex between two people of the same sex, with Professor [Tommy Koh](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tommy_Koh \"Tommy Koh\") encouraging a constitutional challenge of Section 377A and chief of Singapore government communications Mr [Janadas Devan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Janadas_Devan \"Janadas Devan\") hoping that Section 377A would go,[\\[45\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-45) several constitutional challenges have been brought to the [Supreme Court](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore \"Supreme Court of Singapore\").\n\nThe first challenge after India's ruling was filed on 10 September 2018 by Johnson Ong, known by stage name DJ Big Kid, and was based on Article 9 of the [Constitution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constitution_of_Singapore \"Constitution of Singapore\").[\\[46\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-46) The second challenge was filed by [LGBT rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights \"LGBT rights\") activist Choong Chee Hong in November 2018 and argues that Section 377A is inconsistent with Articles 9, 12 and [14](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Article_14_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore \"Article 14 of the Constitution of Singapore\") of the Constitution.[\\[47\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-47) A third was filed by retired general practitioner Tan Seng Kee on 20 September 2019, also based on Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. In addition, he argued that although the Government will not enforce the law on acts done in private, the Public Prosecutor can decide whether to prosecute someone under Section 377A, which would be inconsistent with Section 14 of the [Criminal Procedure Code](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_Procedure_Code \"Criminal Procedure Code\"), which requires the police to \"unconditionally investigate all complaints of suspected arrestable offences\".[\\[48\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-48)\n\nOn 30 March 2020, justice [See Kee Oon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/See_Kee_Oon \"See Kee Oon\") consolidated the three challenges into one case and ruled against them, arguing that the law was intended to safeguard morals and prosecute all forms of indecency between men whether in public or private, and not just male prostitution when the law was made in 1938. He also stated that there's no strong scientific evidence that a person's sexual orientation is unchangeable, and once again ruled that [Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parliament_of_Singapore \"Parliament of Singapore\") is the proper venue for repeal.[\\[49\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-49)[\\[50\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-50) Appeals were filed on 31 March 2020.[\\[51\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-51)\n\nOn 28 February 2022, it was ruled by the [Court of Appeal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore \"Court of Appeal of Singapore\") that, because the law is not enforced, the constitutional challenges against it had failed.[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1)[\\[52\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-52)\n\n## Repeal of Section 377A\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)&action=edit&section=10 \"Edit section: Repeal of Section 377A\")\\]\n\nOn 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced during his 2022 [National Day Rally](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Day_Rally \"National Day Rally\") speech that Section 377A would be repealed by the government. Lee stated that \"I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social norms and, I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans.\" Laws to repeal 377A were introduced on 20 October, with a two-day debate that started on 28 November.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:3-6)\n\n[![Wikisource logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nEnglish [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\nOn 29 November 2022, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which repealed Section 377A, passed in Parliament following a 10-hour debate that had begun the day prior. A total of 96 MPs voted on the topic of repeal, with all 83 [People's Action Party](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/People%27s_Action_Party \"People's Action Party\") (PAP) MPs and three WP's MPs voting in favour, while two other WP's MPs, Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck, voted against.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) All members of the ruling party PAP voted according to the party's position as the party whip was not lifted, while WP lifted its party whip.[\\[53\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-53)\n\nWith a vote of 85 to 2, a constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage from legal challenge was approved. Two Workers Party MPs, [Sylvia Lim](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sylvia_Lim \"Sylvia Lim\") and [He Ting Ru](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/He_Ting_Ru \"He Ting Ru\"), abstained from the vote.[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) [Hazel Poa](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hazel_Poa \"Hazel Poa\") and [Leong Mun Wai](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leong_Mun_Wai \"Leong Mun Wai\"), both [Progress Singapore Party](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Progress_Singapore_Party \"Progress Singapore Party\") [non-constituency Members of Parliament](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-constituency_Member_of_Parliament \"Non-constituency Member of Parliament\"), declared that they would oppose the proposed amendment because they think a national referendum should be held to decide what constitutes marriage.[\\[54\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-54)\n\nThe bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Halimah_Yacob \"Halimah Yacob\") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023, thus Section 377A was struck off the books.[\\[55\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:4-55)[\\[56\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-:5-56)\n\nThe Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, told Parliament in November 2022 that only a \"small\" number of people were convicted under the section for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, when enforcement effectively ceased outright.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2) The Minister stated he would direct the Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) to consider how these records could be purged. Days after the repeal bill passed, the MHA added that the records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A during that time period could have their criminal records [expunged](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Expunged \"Expunged\") and rendered spent.[\\[57\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_note-57)\n\n- [Criminal law of Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_law_of_Singapore \"Criminal law of Singapore\")\n- [LGBT rights in Singapore](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBT_rights_in_Singapore \"LGBT rights in Singapore\")\n- [Paragraph 175 (Germany)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paragraph_175_\\(Germany\\) \"Paragraph 175 (Germany)\")\n- [Pink Dot SG](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pink_Dot_SG \"Pink Dot SG\")\n- [Sodomy law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sodomy_law \"Sodomy law\")\n\n1. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-2)\n   Lum, Selina (28 February 2022). [\"Court of Appeal rules Section 377A stays but cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/court-of-appeal-rules-section-377a-stays-but-cannot-be-used-to-prosecute-men-for-having-gay-sex). *The Straits Times*. Singapore.\n2. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-1)\n   Strangio, Sebastian (30 November 2022). [\"Singapore Repeals Archaic Law Criminalizing Sex Between Men\"](https:\/\/thediplomat.com\/2022\/11\/singapore-repeals-archaic-law-criminalizing-sex-between-men\/). *The Diplomat*. Retrieved 9 December 2022.\n3. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-3)\n   Douglas E. Sanders (2009). \"377 and the Unnatural Afterlife of British Colonialism in Asia\". *Asian Journal of Comparative Law*. **4** (1): 1–47\\. [doi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doi_\\(identifier\\) \"Doi (identifier)\"):[10\\.2202\/1932-0205.1176](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2202%2F1932-0205.1176). \\[D.E. Sanders: Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia; LL.M. Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Academic Committee Member, Doctoral Program in Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University\\].\n   \n   [PDF available](http:\/\/www.sxpolitics.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/new-version_377_sander.pdf)\n4. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-1)\n   Tham, Yuen-C (16 June 2022). [\"Support for Section 377A drops as attitudes towards same-sex relationships shift, survey finds\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/support-for-section-377a-drops-as-attitudes-to-same-sex-relationships-shift-survey-finds). *[The Straits Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Straits_Times \"The Straits Times\")*. 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[\"NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, but also amend Constitution to protect marriage from legal challenges\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/ndr-2022-govt-will-repeal-section-377a-decriminalise-sex-between-men). *[The Straits Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Straits_Times \"The Straits Times\")*. Retrieved 7 November 2022.\n7. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-2)\n   Goh, Yan Han (29 November 2022). [\"Parliament repeals Section 377A, endorses amendments protecting definition of marriage\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/parliament-repeals-section-377a-endorses-amendments-protecting-marriage-definition). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-8)**\n   [\"S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. 3 January 2023.\n9. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-2)\n   [\"\"This Alien Legacy: The Origins of 'Sodomy' Laws in British Colonialism\", Human Rights Watch, 2008\"](https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/sites\/default\/files\/reports\/lgbt1208_web.pdf) (PDF).\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-10)** R v Jacobs (1817) Russ & Ry 331 confirmed that buggery related only to intercourse per anum by a man with a man or woman, or intercourse per anum or per vaginam by either a man or a woman with an animal. Other forms of \"unnatural intercourse\" may amount to indecent assault or gross indecency, but do not constitute buggery (see generally: Smith & Hogan, Criminal Law (10th ed.) ISBN 0-406-94801-1)\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-11)** *Public Prosecutor v Kwan Kwong Weng* \\[1997\\] 1 SLR(R) 316 at \\[29\\]–\\[31\\].\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-12)**\n    [\"Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 - Singapore Statutes Online\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/Acts-Supp\/51-2007#pr70-). *Singapore Statutes Online*.\n13. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-13)**\n    [\"Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/Act\/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377-#pr377-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 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Retrieved 19 April 2020.\n52. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-52)**\n    [\"Singapore's top court dismisses attempt to overturn gay sex ban\"](https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/singapores-top-court-dismisses-attempt-overturn-gay-sex-ban-2022-02-28\/). *Reuters*. 28 February 2022.\n53. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-53)**\n    [\"'Only reason why we can have a decision in Parliament': Shanmugam on PAP imposing whip for Section 377A\"](https:\/\/www.asiaone.com\/singapore\/only-reason-why-we-can-have-decision-parliament-shanmugam-pap-imposing-whip-section-377a). *AsiaOne*. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.\n54. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-54)**\n    Iau, Jean (28 November 2022). [\"PSP supports repeal of S377A, calls for national referendum on definition of marriage\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/psp-supports-repeal-of-s377a-calls-for-national-referendum-on-definition-of-marriage). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022.\n55. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:4_55-0)**\n    Goh, Yan Han (3 January 2023). [\"S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill\"](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 January 2023.\n56. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-:5_56-0)**\n    [\"Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022\"](https:\/\/sso.agc.gov.sg\/\/Acts-Supp\/39-2022\/Published\/20230103?DocDate=20230103). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.\n57. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Section_377A_\\(Singapore\\)#cite_ref-57)**\n    Ming, Lee Chong (30 November 2022). [\"MHA to consider records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A between 1988 and 2007\"](https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/singapore\/377a-criminal-record-rendered-spent-gay-sex-3112701). *Channel News Asia*. Retrieved 10 December 2022.\n\n- Heijmans, Philip (29 November 2022). [\"Singapore Repeals Ban on Sex Between Men in a Cautious Step\"](https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2022-11-29\/singapore-parliament-repeals-colonial-era-ban-on-sex-between-men). *Bloomberg*. Retrieved 9 December 2022.\n- Young, Ted (24 October 2007). [\"Our Time Has Come\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20071025033626\/http:\/\/www.trevvy.com\/scoops\/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3). [Trevvy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trevvy \"Trevvy\"). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.trevvy.com\/scoops\/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.\n- Original PDF version of the academic paper, \"377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism\" by Douglas Saunders, August 2007:[\\[1\\]](http:\/\/signelwiki003.pbworks.com\/w\/file\/36066434\/douglas_sanders_377_unnatural_afterlife.pdf).\n- Au, Alex (May 2007). [\"Why section 377A is redundant\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/arch_2007\/yax-749.htm). *[Yawning Bread](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yawning_Bread \"Yawning Bread\")*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Gopalan, Mohan (May 2007). [\"A heftier list of s. 377A cases\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/guest_2007\/guw-136.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Au, Alex (March 2005). [\"The picture that emerges\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/arch_2005\/yax-424.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Au, Alex (March 2005). [\"List of section 377 and 377A cases\"](http:\/\/www.yawningbread.org\/apdx_2005\/imp-192.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n- Chua, Lynette J. Kher Shing (2003). \"Saying No : Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code\". *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\\.\n  .\n- \\[Lim\\], Wee Kuan (1 October 2002). [\"Gay law : Emancipation and emasculation\"](http:\/\/www.oursafehaven.com\/activities\/gaylaw.htm). Safehaven, Free Community Church. Retrieved 20 October 2007.\n  A review of all Singaporean laws governing homosexual behaviour.\n\n- [Keep377A.com](http:\/\/www.keep377a.com\/) – previous campaign for the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code\n- [Repeal377a.com](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20071011034642\/http:\/\/www.repeal377a.com\/) – previous campaign for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code\n- [Singapore Daily page on 377A](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20080618181545\/http:\/\/singaporedaily.net\/s377a\/) – collection of blogger postings on section 377A of the Penal Code\n- [Archive of newsclips relating to Section 377A](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/groyn88#grid\/user\/F7E6986EBBDEF252) – a YouTube playlist\n- [Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A](https:\/\/www.blowingwind.io\/forum\/index.php?\/topic\/26979-wikileaks-usembassy-report-of-the-singapore-2007-section-377a-repeal\/) Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Law_and_Government\":986,\"\/Law_and_Government\/Legal\":980,\"\/Law_and_Government\/Legal\/Constitutional_Law_and_Civil_Rights\":892}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":998,\"\/Article\/Wiki\":752}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":0,"attrs_original_publish_time":1662461734,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"6743","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"5083","body_ext_links_number":97,"body_int_links_number":692,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":0,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":781,"download_ttfb_msec":613,"download_size":54427}

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Section 377A was a law in Singapore that criminalised sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under British colonial rule in 1938 when it was added to the Penal Code by the colonial government. It remained a part of the Singapore body of law after the Penal Code review of 2007 which removed most of the other provisions in Section 377. It was subsequently repealed in its entirety in 2023. Prior to the repeal, Section 377A, while retained de jure in the Penal Code, had been for many years de facto unenforced – there had been no convictions for sex between consenting male adults in decades. [ 1 ] While a small number of people were convicted under the law for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, enforcement effectively ceased outright following the Penal Code review, despite the law being formally retained until 2022. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] : 42–47 On 28 February 2022, the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Singapore reaffirmed that 377A could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex. [ 1 ] That same year, an Ipsos survey found that 44% of Singapore residents supported retaining the law, with 20% opposing it and the remaining 36% being ambivalent. [ 4 ] On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during the annual National Day Rally that the government intended to repeal Section 377A, ending criminalisation de jure . [ 5 ] [ 6 ] On 29 November 2022, the Parliament of Singapore passed a bill to repeal Section 377A. [ 7 ] The law was formally repealed after the bill was assented by President Halimah Yacob on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023. [ 8 ] The Indian Penal Code [ edit ] Lord Thomas Macaulay , who chaired the commission that introduced laws such as 377A. The British Parliament formed the Indian Law Commission in 1833. [ 3 ] : 10–11 Lord Thomas Macaulay was appointed to chair the commission. The 1837 draft of the Indian Penal Code was largely his work. It took 23 years for his work to be reviewed by the commission and the Supreme Court judges in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras. The code was adopted in 1860 and took effect 1 January 1862. [ 3 ] : 11 Macaulay's draft did not reflect existing Indian (or other Asian cultures) laws or customs. It was largely a rewrite of the British Royal Commission's 1843 draft code. [ 3 ] : 11 The adopted draft included a Section 377 (quoted above), but there were many ambiguities in the section, including the question of what had to penetrate what. These in turn let future jurists redefine what these provisions actually punished. [ 9 ] : 18 Under Buddhist and Hindu law in most of Asia, consensual intercourse between members of the same sex was never an offence. In the new Indian Penal Code, however, Section 377 criminalised "carnal intercourse against the order of nature", derived from words attributed to Sir Edward Coke in the seventeenth century. [ 9 ] : 14–15 Section 377A "(Outrages on decency" was added to the sub-title "Unnatural offences" in the Straits Settlements in 1938. [ 9 ] : 20 Both sections were absorbed unchanged into the Singapore Penal Code when the latter was passed by Singapore's Legislative Council on 28 January 1955. Original Section 377 [ edit ] Unnatural sex or sodomy was not defined in the Indian Penal Code drafted by the British. Legal records show that Indian legislators in the 19th and early 20th centuries interpreted "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" between individuals (of all sexes – the law being non-gender specific with its use of the word "whoever") to include anal sex , bestiality and, often after much courtroom deliberation, oral sex as well, i.e. any form of sexual penetration which did not have the potential for procreation. Therefore, both heterosexual and homosexual oral and anal sex were criminal offences. In this particular positive sense, Section 377 did not discriminate against homosexuals, although the permission of vaginal penetration left homosexuals exclusively prohibited from performing penetrative sex. The prohibition against oral sex was at odds with British sodomy law , whose case law did not cover oral penetration. [ 10 ] Section 377, however, in early cases tried in India mainly involved forced fellatio with unwilling male children and one unusual case of sexual intercourse with the nostril of a buffalo . In the Singaporean context, the Court of Appeal eventually held that heterosexual fellatio was exempted if indulged in as foreplay which eventually leads to coitus : [ 11 ] This rationale explicitly confirmed that oral or anal penetration as a substitute for vaginal-penile penetration was permitted, whereas oral stimulation - including penetration of the oral cavity - could be practised as an introduction (or even prerequisite) to heterosexual sexual penetration, and hence outside the scope of the law. [I]t is a fact of life, in humans as well as in animals, that before the act of copulation takes place there is foreplay to stimulate the sex urge. Kissing is the most common although there are several others... Of course, this form of contrectation [fellatio or cunnilingus] may not recommend itself to everyone for stimulating the sex urge. Even a man and a woman engaged in consensual sexual intercourse may draw the line at fellatio or cunnilingus. But the fact remains that it is practised by some. We note...that [there is] some statistical evidence...of these forms of oral sex being practised in Singapore. We cannot shut our minds to it. [W]hen couples engaged in consensual sexual intercourse willingly indulge in fellatio and cunnilingus as a stimulant to their respective sexual urges, neither act can be considered to be against the order of nature and punishable under s 377 of the Penal Code. In every other instance the act of fellatio between a man and a woman will be carnal intercourse against the order of nature and punishable under s 377. The Singaporean margin note of the original Section 377 further explained that mere penetration of the penis into the anus or mouth even without orgasm would constitute the offence. The law applied regardless of the act being consensual between both parties and done in private. Section 377 was repealed in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 [ 12 ] and replaced with a new Section 377 criminalising sex with dead bodies ("Sexual penetration of a corpse"), which was substituted in its place. [ 13 ] Section 377A was introduced into the Singapore Penal Code in 1938 to criminalise all other non-penetrative sexual acts. It is descended from the Labouchere Amendment . [ 14 ] [ unreliable source? ] In the local context, " gross indecency " is a broad term which, from a review of past cases locally, has been applied to mutual masturbation , genital contact, or even lewd behaviour without direct physical contact. As with the former Section 377, performing such acts in private does not constitute a defence. The law does not criminalise sex between females, only between males. [ 15 ] Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years. [ 16 ] — Outrages on decency , Section 377A, Singapore Penal Code Its original mother statute, Section 377 (since repealed), criminalised any sexual act that went "against the order of nature": [ 17 ] Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation. Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section. — Singapore Penal Code, Section 377 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was quoted in The Straits Times of 18 September 2007 saying that public feedback on the issue had been "emotional, divided and strongly expressed", with a majority of people calling for Section 377A to be retained. [ 18 ] The MHA also said that it recognised that "we are generally a conservative society and that we should let the situation evolve". On 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the "Repeal 377A" website [ 19 ] to gather signatories for an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for the repeal of Section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website "Keep 377A" [ 20 ] was set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government's retention of the law. By 1:30 p.m. on 20 October, Keep377A had overtaken Repeal377A by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories. [ 21 ] As online petitions , both websites suffered the same doubts regarding the credibility of the numbers of their signatories. There was no mention of whether technical measures were taken to ensure that multiple-voting by the same person was prevented. In 2018, an Ipsos survey found that 55% of Singapore residents supported retaining Section 377A. [ 22 ] Shortly after the Penal Code review report was released on 9 September 2018, [ 23 ] a movement known as Ready4Repeal launched a petition to campaign for Section 377A to be repealed, even though MHA and Ministry of Law said there were no plans to do so. The petition attracted 44,650 signatures. Ready4Repeal also held a town hall meeting on 30 September 2018, which over 800 people attended. In contrast, a petition calling for Section 377A to be kept attracted more than 109,000 signatures after it closed on 24 September 2018. [ 24 ] In 2022, Ipsos made another survey, noting that this figure had dropped to 44% compared to its 2018 survey, amid changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships. [ 4 ] Constitutional challenges [ edit ] Section 377A was repeatedly challenged before the courts of Singapore as being unconstitutional . All challenges were chiefly based on Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore , which guarantees all persons equality before the law , and Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore , which guarantees all persons the right to life and the right to personal liberty . Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General [ edit ] On 24 September 2010, criminal lawyer M Ravi filed an application in the High Court to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting adult male in a locked cubicle of a public toilet. [ 25 ] On 19 March 2011, Tan's case was thrown out of court by High Court justice Lai Siu Chiu , citing "a lack of a real controversy" for the court to deal with. [ 26 ] This is important, as according to the Rules of Court ( Cap. 322 § 80, O 18 r. 19, 1996 Rev. Ed. ), only cases which are not "frivolous" may be argued. However, on 21 August 2012, the Court of Appeal reversed Lai's decision, ruling that 377A did "affect the lives of a not insignificant portion of [Singaporeans] in a very real and intimate way" and that the case would proceed once again in the High Court. [ 27 ] Tan's case was finally heard on 6 March 2013, [ 28 ] and decided against him by justice Quentin Loh on 2 October 2013. [ 29 ] In his ruling, Loh wrote that the issue was one of "morality and societal values" and if it were to be changed, it would have to be by Singapore's Parliament . Tan appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and his case was joined at his request as an intervening party with Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General (below), which was also pending before the Court of Appeal, on 11 October 2013. [ 30 ] Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General [ edit ] After Tan's successful appeal to be heard by the court, a separate constitutional challenge was filed on 30 November 2012 on behalf of Lim Meng Suang and Kenneth Chee Mun-leon, a gay couple of fifteen years, by attorney Peter Low. [ 31 ] [ 32 ] The case was heard in camera on 14 February 2013, [ 33 ] and decided against them by justice Quentin Loh on 9 April 2013, for much the same reasons as his decision against Tan (above). [ 34 ] Lim and Chee appealed to the Court of Appeal on 30 April 2013. [ 35 ] [ 36 ] In July 2013, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, they hired two highly esteemed lawyers: Deborah Barker, Senior Counsel at KhattarWong LLP , and British lawyer, Debevoise & Plimpton partner and former Attorney General for England and Wales Lord Peter Henry Goldsmith . [ 37 ] Goldsmith had agreed to take the case without pay , [ 38 ] but that September was disallowed from arguing the case before the court by Justice V. K. Rajah , as he believed that the legal issues were arguable by domestic lawyers, which is preferred by Singapore law . [ 39 ] On 29 October 2014, more than four years after the original challenge by Tan, the Court of Appeal, the highest court in Singapore, rejected Lim and Chee's challenge, finally ending the case. [ 40 ] [ 41 ] The court held that 377A was consistent with Article 9 as it is meant to protect against unlawful imprisonment , and that it was consistent with Article 12 as it only mentions religion , race and place of birth —not gender , sexual orientation , or sex . [ 40 ] As in all judgments before, the court held that any legal remedy would have to come about through an Act of Parliament . [ 40 ] Compared to news of LGBT rights in other nations such as Russia and the United States , the case and final appeal received little attention outside Singapore. [ 42 ] The Huffington Post featured Chee and Lim's story prominently under the headline "How One of the World's Richest Countries Is Limiting Basic Human Rights" [ 43 ] and Bloomberg also published an article on the ruling. [ 41 ] Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters [ edit ] On 29 August 2018, Professor Ho Kwon Ping in his talk questioned the need for Section 377A in Singapore. [ 44 ] After India's Supreme Court decriminalised sex between two people of the same sex, with Professor Tommy Koh encouraging a constitutional challenge of Section 377A and chief of Singapore government communications Mr Janadas Devan hoping that Section 377A would go, [ 45 ] several constitutional challenges have been brought to the Supreme Court . The first challenge after India's ruling was filed on 10 September 2018 by Johnson Ong, known by stage name DJ Big Kid, and was based on Article 9 of the Constitution . [ 46 ] The second challenge was filed by LGBT rights activist Choong Chee Hong in November 2018 and argues that Section 377A is inconsistent with Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. [ 47 ] A third was filed by retired general practitioner Tan Seng Kee on 20 September 2019, also based on Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. In addition, he argued that although the Government will not enforce the law on acts done in private, the Public Prosecutor can decide whether to prosecute someone under Section 377A, which would be inconsistent with Section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Code , which requires the police to "unconditionally investigate all complaints of suspected arrestable offences". [ 48 ] On 30 March 2020, justice See Kee Oon consolidated the three challenges into one case and ruled against them, arguing that the law was intended to safeguard morals and prosecute all forms of indecency between men whether in public or private, and not just male prostitution when the law was made in 1938. He also stated that there's no strong scientific evidence that a person's sexual orientation is unchangeable, and once again ruled that Parliament is the proper venue for repeal. [ 49 ] [ 50 ] Appeals were filed on 31 March 2020. [ 51 ] On 28 February 2022, it was ruled by the Court of Appeal that, because the law is not enforced, the constitutional challenges against it had failed. [ 1 ] [ 52 ] Repeal of Section 377A [ edit ] On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced during his 2022 National Day Rally speech that Section 377A would be repealed by the government. Lee stated that "I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social norms and, I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans." Laws to repeal 377A were introduced on 20 October, with a two-day debate that started on 28 November. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] English Wikisource has original text related to this article: On 29 November 2022, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which repealed Section 377A, passed in Parliament following a 10-hour debate that had begun the day prior. A total of 96 MPs voted on the topic of repeal, with all 83 People's Action Party (PAP) MPs and three WP's MPs voting in favour, while two other WP's MPs, Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck, voted against. [ 7 ] All members of the ruling party PAP voted according to the party's position as the party whip was not lifted, while WP lifted its party whip. [ 53 ] With a vote of 85 to 2, a constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage from legal challenge was approved. Two Workers Party MPs, Sylvia Lim and He Ting Ru , abstained from the vote. [ 7 ] Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai , both Progress Singapore Party non-constituency Members of Parliament , declared that they would oppose the proposed amendment because they think a national referendum should be held to decide what constitutes marriage. [ 54 ] The bill was assented by President Halimah Yacob on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023, thus Section 377A was struck off the books. [ 55 ] [ 56 ] The Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, told Parliament in November 2022 that only a "small" number of people were convicted under the section for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, when enforcement effectively ceased outright. [ 2 ] The Minister stated he would direct the Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) to consider how these records could be purged. Days after the repeal bill passed, the MHA added that the records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A during that time period could have their criminal records expunged and rendered spent. [ 57 ] Criminal law of Singapore LGBT rights in Singapore Paragraph 175 (Germany) Pink Dot SG Sodomy law ^ a b c Lum, Selina (28 February 2022). "Court of Appeal rules Section 377A stays but cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex" . The Straits Times . Singapore. ^ a b Strangio, Sebastian (30 November 2022). "Singapore Repeals Archaic Law Criminalizing Sex Between Men" . The Diplomat . Retrieved 9 December 2022 . ^ a b c d Douglas E. Sanders (2009). "377 and the Unnatural Afterlife of British Colonialism in Asia". Asian Journal of Comparative Law . 4 (1): 1– 47. doi : 10.2202/1932-0205.1176 . [D.E. Sanders: Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia; LL.M. Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Academic Committee Member, Doctoral Program in Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University]. PDF available ^ a b Tham, Yuen-C (16 June 2022). "Support for Section 377A drops as attitudes towards same-sex relationships shift, survey finds" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 28 June 2022 . ^ a b Ong, Justin (21 August 2022). "NDR 2022: Govt to repeal Section 377A, amend Constitution to protect marriage definition from legal challenges" . TODAY . Singapore . Retrieved 21 August 2022 . ^ a b Tham, Yuen-C (21 August 2022). "NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, but also amend Constitution to protect marriage from legal challenges" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 7 November 2022 . ^ a b c Goh, Yan Han (29 November 2022). "Parliament repeals Section 377A, endorses amendments protecting definition of marriage" . The Straits Times . Singapore . Retrieved 3 December 2022 . ^ "S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill" . The Straits Times . 3 January 2023. ^ a b c " "This Alien Legacy: The Origins of 'Sodomy' Laws in British Colonialism", Human Rights Watch, 2008" (PDF) . ^ R v Jacobs (1817) Russ & Ry 331 confirmed that buggery related only to intercourse per anum by a man with a man or woman, or intercourse per anum or per vaginam by either a man or a woman with an animal. Other forms of "unnatural intercourse" may amount to indecent assault or gross indecency, but do not constitute buggery (see generally: Smith & Hogan, Criminal Law (10th ed.) ISBN 0-406-94801-1) ^ Public Prosecutor v Kwan Kwong Weng [1997] 1 SLR(R) 316 at [29]–[31]. ^ "Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 - Singapore Statutes Online" . Singapore Statutes Online . ^ "Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online" . Singapore Statutes Online . Retrieved 23 August 2022 . ^ "Romantic rabble v coy court" . Yawning Bread . 21 November 2010 . Retrieved 18 October 2019 . ^ "Section 377A in Singapore and the (De)Criminalization of Homosexuality" (PDF) . National University of Singapore . Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2018 . Retrieved 1 June 2019 . Section 377A only criminalizes sex between males, but not between females. ^ "Penal Code 1871" . Singapore Statutes Online . ^ Chua Kher Shing, Lynette J. (2003). "Saying No: Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code" . Singapore Journal of Legal Studies : 209– 261. JSTOR 24868200 . ^ "Singapore Lawmakers Debate Petition to Abolish Gay Sex Ban" . Fox News . Associated Press. 25 March 2015 . Retrieved 18 October 2019 . ^ "Repeal377A.com" . Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. ^ "Keep377A.com" . 2007. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. ^ "keep377a overtakes repeal377a" . Family&Freedom. 20 October 2007. ^ Ng, Gilaine (10 September 2018). "55 per cent of Singapore residents support Section 377A: Ipsos survey" . The Straits Times . Singapore . Retrieved 28 June 2022 . ^ Mokhtar, Faris (9 September 2018). "Penal Code set to undergo overhaul, to better protect vulnerable victims against abuse and sexual crimes" . Today . Singapore . Retrieved 3 October 2019 . ^ Chua, Alfred (30 September 2018). "Activists submit online petition, but Govt has 'no plans' to repeal S377A" . Today . Singapore . Retrieved 3 October 2019 . ^ Keat, Leong Wee (29 November 2010). "Lawyer challenges gay sex law" . Today . Archived from the original on 29 November 2010 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Waipang, Alex Au (19 March 2011). "High Court waves away 377A controversy" . Yawning Bread . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Andrew Phang Boon Leong JA, V K Rajah JA and Judith Prakash J (21 August 2012). "Tan Eng Hong v Attorney-General" . singaporelaw.sg . Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ "Second of two 377A challenges may have to wait a long time for a decision" . Yawning Bread . 10 March 2013 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ "Singapore High Court upholds anti-gay law in Tan Eng Hong's case" . Fridae: Connecting Gay Asia . 2 October 2013 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ "Court of Appeal Does Right By Tan Eng Hong: Joint hearing for section 377A appeals" . IonSG. 11 October 2013 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ "Singapore couple sue to end sodomy law" . San Diego Gay and Lesbian News . 1 December 2012 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Waipang, Alex Au (2 December 2012). "New constitutional challenge to Section 377A filed" . Yawning Bread . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Lim, Leonard (14 February 2013). "Legal challenge to Section 377A begins in the High Court; judgment reserved" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Wong, Tessa (9 April 2013). "High Court upholds anti-gay sex law, dismisses legal challenge" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ "Gay Singaporean couple file appeal over ban on private consensual sex" . LGBT Weekly . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ AndrewPhang Boon Leong JA, Belinda Ang Saw Ean J and WooBih Li J (28 October 2014). "Lim Meng Suang and another v Attorney-Generaland another appeal and another matter" . singaporelaw.sg . Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016 . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Xin, Sia Ling (9 July 2013). "S'pore gay couple hire top lawyers for Section 377A appeal" . Yahoo! News Singapore . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Kriegler, Yun (11 July 2013). "Goldsmith to challenge Singaporean government on anti-gay laws" . The Lawyer . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Burton, Lucy (20 September 2013). "Goldsmith kicked off anti-gay challenge by Singapore High Court in favour of local counsel" . The Lawyer: Advancing the business of law . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ a b c Lum, Selina (29 October 2014). "Court of Appeal rules that Section 377A that criminalises sex between men is constitutional" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ a b Tan, Andrea (29 October 2014). "Singapore's Ban on Gay Male Sex Is Upheld by Top Court" . Bloomberg L.P . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Allegretti, David (22 June 2016). "What It's Like to Be Young and Gay in Singapore" . VICE . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Mosbergen, Dominique (13 October 2015). "How Singapore Is Limiting Basic Human Rights" . HuffPost . Retrieved 10 December 2016 . ^ Ho, Olivia (29 August 2018). "Businessman Ho Kwon Ping opens up on his ISA detention at packed ST Book Club event" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 1 October 2019 . ^ Yahya, Yasmine (7 September 2018). "Tommy Koh's Facebook comment reignites debate on Singapore's gay sex law" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 1 October 2019 . ^ Chua, Alfred (12 September 2018). "Repeal of section 377A will end 'online vitriol and abuse' against LGBTQ community, says DJ who filed legal challenge" . Today . Retrieved 1 October 2019 . ^ Alkhatib, Shaffiq (22 January 2019). "LGBT rights advocate files case against Attorney-General, stating Section 377A of Penal Code is void" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 3 October 2019 . ^ Kurohi, Rei (25 September 2019). "LGBT activist and retired GP Roy Tan files new court challenge against Section 377A" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 3 October 2019 . ^ Kurohi, Rei (30 March 2020). "High Court dismisses challenges against law that criminalises sex between men" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 30 March 2020 . ^ Ong Ming Johnson v Attorney-General and other matters , 2020 SGHC 63 ( High Court of the Republic of Singapore 30 March 2020). ^ Kurohi, Rei (31 March 2020). "Two men file appeals against High Court decision to dismiss Section 377A challenge" . The Straits Times . Retrieved 19 April 2020 . ^ "Singapore's top court dismisses attempt to overturn gay sex ban" . Reuters . 28 February 2022. ^ " 'Only reason why we can have a decision in Parliament': Shanmugam on PAP imposing whip for Section 377A" . AsiaOne . 30 November 2022 . Retrieved 13 December 2022 . ^ Iau, Jean (28 November 2022). "PSP supports repeal of S377A, calls for national referendum on definition of marriage" . The Straits Times . Singapore . Retrieved 3 December 2022 . ^ Goh, Yan Han (3 January 2023). "S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill" . The Straits Times . Singapore . Retrieved 3 January 2023 . ^ "Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022" . Singapore Statutes Online . 3 January 2023 . Retrieved 8 January 2023 . ^ Ming, Lee Chong (30 November 2022). "MHA to consider records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A between 1988 and 2007" . Channel News Asia . Retrieved 10 December 2022 . Heijmans, Philip (29 November 2022). "Singapore Repeals Ban on Sex Between Men in a Cautious Step" . Bloomberg . Retrieved 9 December 2022 . Young, Ted (24 October 2007). "Our Time Has Come" . Trevvy . Archived from the original on 25 October 2007 . Retrieved 24 October 2007 . Original PDF version of the academic paper, "377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism" by Douglas Saunders, August 2007: [1] . Au, Alex (May 2007). "Why section 377A is redundant" . Yawning Bread . Retrieved 20 October 2007 . Gopalan, Mohan (May 2007). "A heftier list of s. 377A cases" . Yawning Bread . Retrieved 20 October 2007 . Au, Alex (March 2005). "The picture that emerges" . Yawning Bread . Retrieved 20 October 2007 . Au, Alex (March 2005). "List of section 377 and 377A cases" . Yawning Bread . Retrieved 20 October 2007 . Chua, Lynette J. Kher Shing (2003). "Saying No : Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code". Singapore Journal of Legal Studies : 209– 261. . [Lim], Wee Kuan (1 October 2002). "Gay law : Emancipation and emasculation" . Safehaven, Free Community Church . Retrieved 20 October 2007 . A review of all Singaporean laws governing homosexual behaviour. Keep377A.com – previous campaign for the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code Repeal377a.com – previous campaign for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code Singapore Daily page on 377A – collection of blogger postings on section 377A of the Penal Code Archive of newsclips relating to Section 377A – a YouTube playlist Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A

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[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#bodyContent) Main menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation - [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page "Visit the main page [z]") - [Contents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents "Guides to browsing Wikipedia") - [Current events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events "Articles related to current events") - [Random article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random "Visit a randomly selected article [x]") - [About Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About "Learn about Wikipedia and how it works") - [Contact us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us "How to contact Wikipedia") Contribute - [Help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents "Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia") - [Learn to edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction "Learn how to edit Wikipedia") - [Community portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal "The hub for editors") - [Recent changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChanges "A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard "Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia") - [Special pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:SpecialPages "A list of all special pages [q]") [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) [Search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search "Search Wikipedia [f]") Appearance - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Section+377A+%28Singapore%29 "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Section+377A+%28Singapore%29 "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. 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[o]") ## Contents move to sidebar hide - [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)) - [1 Background](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Background) Toggle Background subsection - [1\.1 The Indian Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#The_Indian_Penal_Code) - [1\.2 Original Section 377](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Original_Section_377) - [1\.3 Section 377A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Section_377A) - [2 Public opinion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Public_opinion) - [3 Constitutional challenges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Constitutional_challenges) Toggle Constitutional challenges subsection - [3\.1 *Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Tan_Eng_Hong_v._Attorney-General) - [3\.2 *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Lim_Meng_Suang_and_another_v._Attorney-General) - [3\.3 *Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Ong_Ming_Johnson_v._Attorney-General_and_other_matters) - [4 Repeal of Section 377A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Repeal_of_Section_377A) Toggle Repeal of Section 377A subsection - [4\.1 Parliamentary vote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Parliamentary_vote) - [4\.2 Post-repeal plans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Post-repeal_plans) - [5 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#See_also) - [6 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#References) - [7 Further reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#Further_reading) - [8 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#External_links) Toggle the table of contents # Section 377A (Singapore) 4 languages - [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secci%C3%B3_337A_del_Codi_Penal_de_Singapur "Secció 337A del Codi Penal de Singapur – Catalan") - [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art%C3%ADculo_377_del_C%C3%B3digo_Penal_de_Singapur "Artículo 377 del Código Penal de Singapur – Spanish") - [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasal_377A_Kitab_Undang-Undang_Hukum_Pidana_\(Singapura\) "Pasal 377A Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (Singapura) – Indonesian") - [ไทย](https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%8E%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%B2_%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2_377%E0%B8%81 "ประมวลกฎหมายอาญา มาตรา 377ก – Thai") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q7444606#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") - [Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\) "View the content page [c]") - 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[Biology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation "Biology and sexual orientation") [Bisexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexuality "Bisexuality") [Polysexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysexuality "Polysexuality") [Pansexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansexuality "Pansexuality") [Demographics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation "Demographics of sexual orientation") [Environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_and_sexual_orientation "Environment and sexual orientation") [Fictosexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictosexual "Fictosexual") [Gender expression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_expression "Gender expression") [Gender fluid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_fluidity "Gender fluidity") [Gender identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_identity "Gender identity") [Gender role](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_role "Gender role") [Gender nonconforming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_nonconformity "Gender nonconformity") [Homosexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality "Homosexuality") [Intersex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex "Intersex") [Non-heterosexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-heterosexual "Non-heterosexual") [Non-binary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-binary_gender "Non-binary gender") [Queer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer "Queer") [Queer heterosexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_heterosexuality "Queer heterosexuality") [Questioning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questioning_\(sexuality_and_gender\) "Questioning (sexuality and gender)") [Sexual identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_identity "Sexual identity") [Romantic orientation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_orientation "Romantic orientation") [Sex–gender distinction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex%E2%80%93gender_distinction "Sex–gender distinction") [Transgender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender "Transgender") [Trans man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_man "Trans man") [Trans woman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_woman "Trans woman") [Transsexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsexual "Transsexual") [Two-spirit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-spirit "Two-spirit") [WSW](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_who_have_sex_with_women "Women who have sex with women") | | General | | [Timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBTQ_history "Timeline of LGBTQ history") [Same-sex marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_same-sex_marriage "Timeline of same-sex marriage") [Homosexuality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_homosexuality "History of homosexuality") [Movements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_movements "LGBTQ movements") [Gay liberation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_liberation "Gay liberation") [Same-sex unions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_same-sex_unions "History of same-sex unions") [Stonewall riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots "Stonewall riots") | | Identities | | [Lesbian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_lesbianism "History of lesbianism") [Bisexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_bisexuality "History of bisexuality") [Transgender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_history "Transgender history") [Intersex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex_and_LGBTQ "Intersex and LGBTQ") | | [Culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_culture "LGBTQ culture") [Business](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ-owned_business "LGBTQ-owned business") [Coming out](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_out "Coming out") [Community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_community "LGBTQ community") [African-American](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_LGBTQ_community "African-American LGBTQ community") [Disability and LGBTQ people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_and_LGBTQ_people "Disability and LGBTQ people") [Dyke March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyke_March "Dyke March") [Events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_events "List of LGBTQ events") [Awareness periods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_awareness_periods "List of LGBTQ awareness periods") [Largest events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_LGBTQ_events "List of largest LGBTQ events") [Gay village](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_village "Gay village") [Homophile movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophile_movement "Homophile movement") [Media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ%2B_media "LGBTQ+ media") [Bury your gays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_your_gays "Bury your gays") [Films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ-related_films "List of LGBTQ-related films") [New queer cinema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_queer_cinema "New queer cinema") [Periodicals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_periodicals "List of LGBTQ periodicals") [LGBTQ culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_culture "LGBTQ culture") [in New York City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_culture_in_New_York_City "LGBTQ culture in New York City") [Pride](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_\(LGBTQ_culture\) "Pride (LGBTQ culture)") [Pride Month](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_Month "Pride Month") [Parade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_parade "Pride parade") [Queer art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_art "Queer art") [QPR and QPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queerplatonic_relationship "Queerplatonic relationship") [Same-sex relationship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_relationship "Same-sex relationship") [Cross-sex relationship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-sex_relationships_involving_LGBTQ_people "Cross-sex relationships involving LGBTQ people") [Slang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_slang "LGBTQ slang") [Polari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari "Polari") [Socialization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosocialization "Homosocialization") [Subcultures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_and_gender_identity-based_cultures "Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures") [Transgender in NYC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_in_NYC "Transgender in NYC") [Symbols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_symbols "LGBTQ symbols") [Flags](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_flag "Pride flag") [Takatāpui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takat%C4%81pui "Takatāpui") [Moe aikāne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe_aik%C4%81ne "Moe aikāne") [Tourism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_tourism "LGBTQ tourism") | | [Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory "LGBTQ rights by country or territory") [Adoption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_adoption "Same-sex adoption") [Civil union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union "Civil union") [Decriminalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality "Decriminalization of homosexuality") [Gender self-identification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_self-identification "Gender self-identification") [Intersex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex_human_rights "Intersex human rights") [Legal recognition of intersex people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_recognition_of_intersex_people "Legal recognition of intersex people") [Legal recognition of non-binary gender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_recognition_of_non-binary_gender "Legal recognition of non-binary gender") [Marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage "Same-sex marriage") [Military service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation_and_gender_identity_in_military_service "Sexual orientation and gender identity in military service") [Parenting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_parenting "Same-sex parenting") [Rights by country or territory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory "LGBTQ rights by country or territory") Sexuality [Trans rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_rights "Transgender rights") [Yogyakarta Principles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogyakarta_Principles "Yogyakarta Principles") | | [Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_health "LGBTQ health") [Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_LGBTQ_Psychiatrists "Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists") [MSM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_who_have_sex_with_men "Men who have sex with men") and [Blood donation restrictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_donation_restrictions_on_men_who_have_sex_with_men "Blood donation restrictions on men who have sex with men") / [HIV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV "HIV") [LGBTQ medical organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_medical_organizations "List of LGBTQ medical organizations") [Reproduction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_reproduction "LGBTQ reproduction") [Mental health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_of_LGBTQ_people "Mental health of LGBTQ people") [National LGBT Cancer Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_LGBT_Cancer_Network "National LGBT Cancer Network") [Transgender health care](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_health_care "Transgender health care") [Gender-affirming hormone therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-affirming_hormone_therapy "Gender-affirming hormone therapy") [Gender-affirming surgery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-affirming_surgery "Gender-affirming surgery") [Gender transition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_transition "Gender transition") [Legal status of gender-affirming healthcare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_gender-affirming_healthcare "Legal status of gender-affirming healthcare") [Misinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_health_care_misinformation "Transgender health care misinformation") [Suicide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_among_LGBTQ_people "Suicide among LGBTQ people") | | [Societal attitudes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_attitudes_toward_homosexuality "Societal attitudes toward homosexuality") [Allonormative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allonormativity "Allonormativity") [amatonormative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amatonormativity "Amatonormativity") [Cisnormative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisnormativity "Cisnormativity") [Heteronormative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronormativity "Heteronormativity") [Comphet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_heterosexuality "Compulsory heterosexuality") [Opposition to LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_LGBTQ_rights "Opposition to LGBTQ rights") [UK anti-trans movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-transgender_movement_in_the_United_Kingdom "Anti-transgender movement in the United Kingdom") [2020s US anti-LGBTQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020s_anti-LGBTQ_movement_in_the_United_States "2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States") [Trump-era persecution of trans people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_transgender_people_under_the_second_Trump_administration "Persecution of transgender people under the second Trump administration") [Grooming conspiracy theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_grooming_conspiracy_theory "LGBTQ grooming conspiracy theory") [Media portrayal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_portrayal_of_LGBTQ_people "Media portrayal of LGBTQ people") [Religion & LGBTQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_LGBTQ_people "Religion and LGBTQ people") [Homosexuality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_religion "Homosexuality and religion") [Trans people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_people_and_religion "Transgender people and religion") [Sexual diversity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_diversity "Sexual diversity") [Stereotypes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_stereotypes "LGBTQ stereotypes") | | [Issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_issue "LGBTQ issue") [Acephobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_asexual_people "Discrimination against asexual people") [Arophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromanticism#Discrimination_and_cultural_erasure "Aromanticism") [AIDS stigma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS_stigma "AIDS stigma") [Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-LGBTQ_rhetoric "Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric") [Biphobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biphobia "Biphobia") [Bullying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_bullying "LGBTQ bullying") [Censorship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_LGBTQ_issues "Censorship of LGBTQ issues") [Closeted](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closeted "Closeted") [Outing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outing "Outing") [Criminalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminalization_of_homosexuality "Criminalization of homosexuality") [Domestic violence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence_in_same-sex_relationships "Domestic violence in same-sex relationships") [Erasure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_erasure "Queer erasure") [Straightwashing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straightwashing "Straightwashing") [Bisexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual_erasure "Bisexual erasure") [Lesbian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian_erasure "Lesbian erasure") [Trans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_erasure "Trans erasure") [Gay bashing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bashing "Gay bashing") [Gayphobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_gay_men "Discrimination against gay men") [Heteropatriarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteropatriarchy "Heteropatriarchy") [Heterosexism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexism "Heterosexism") [Homophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia "Homophobia") [Liberal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_homophobia "Liberal homophobia") [Intersex discrimination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_intersex_people "Discrimination against intersex people") [Legality of conversion therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_conversion_therapy "Legality of conversion therapy") [Lesbophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbophobia "Lesbophobia") [Suicide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_among_LGBTQ_people "Suicide among LGBTQ people") [Youth vulnerability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_youth_vulnerability "LGBTQ youth vulnerability") [Migration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_migration "LGBTQ migration") [Mixed-orientation marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-orientation_marriage "Mixed-orientation marriage") [Racism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_LGBTQ_community "Racism in the LGBTQ community") [Sexualism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexualism "Sexualism") [Transphobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transphobia "Transphobia") [Non-binary people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_non-binary_people "Discrimination against non-binary people") [Transgender inequality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_inequality "Transgender inequality") [Trans men](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_transgender_men "Discrimination against transgender men") [Trans women](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmisogyny "Transmisogyny") [Violence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people "Violence against LGBTQ people") [in Belize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people_in_Belize "Violence against LGBTQ people in Belize") [in UK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people_in_the_United_Kingdom "Violence against LGBTQ people in the United Kingdom") [in US](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBTQ_people_in_the_United_States "Violence against LGBTQ people in the United States") [List](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acts_of_violence_against_LGBTQ_people "List of acts of violence against LGBTQ people") [Trans people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_transgender_people "Violence against transgender people") | | Academic fields and discourse [Communism & LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism_and_LGBTQ_rights "Communism and LGBTQ rights") [Gender studies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_studies "Gender studies") [Lesbian feminism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian_feminism "Lesbian feminism") [Lavender linguistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_linguistics "LGBTQ linguistics") [LGBTQ conservatism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_conservatism "LGBTQ conservatism") [In the US](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_conservatism_in_the_United_States "LGBTQ conservatism in the United States") [Neuroqueer theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroqueer_theory "Neuroqueer theory") [Queer anarchism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_anarchism "Queer anarchism") [Queer studies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_studies "Queer studies") [Queer theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_theory "Queer theory") [Social construction of gender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction_of_gender "Social construction of gender") [Socialism & LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism_and_LGBTQ_rights "Socialism and LGBTQ rights") [Transfeminism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfeminism "Transfeminism") [Transgender studies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_studies "Transgender studies") [Travesti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travesti_\(gender_identity\)#Academic_research "Travesti (gender identity)") | | See also [Autism and LGBTQ people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_and_LGBTQ_people "Autism and LGBTQ people") [Discrimination against LGBTQ people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_LGBTQ_people "Discrimination against LGBTQ people") [Gay-friendly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay-friendly "Gay-friendly") [GLAAD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLAAD "GLAAD") [LGBTQ-affirming religious groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ-affirming_religious_groups "LGBTQ-affirming religious groups") [LGBTQ ageing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_ageing "LGBTQ ageing") [LGBTQ retirement issues in the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_retirement_issues_in_the_United_States "LGBTQ retirement issues in the United States") [LGBTQ sex education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_sex_education "LGBTQ sex education") [Straight ally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_ally "Straight ally") | | [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Portal_LGBT.svg/40px-Portal_LGBT.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portal_LGBT.svg) [LGBTQ portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:LGBTQ "Portal:LGBTQ") | | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:LGBTQ_sidebar "Template:LGBTQ sidebar") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:LGBTQ_sidebar "Template talk:LGBTQ sidebar") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:LGBTQ_sidebar "Special:EditPage/Template:LGBTQ sidebar") | **Section 377A** was a [law in Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Singapore "Law of Singapore") that criminalised sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under [British colonial rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_of_Singapore "Colony of Singapore") in 1938 when it was added to the [Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_Code_\(Singapore\) "Penal Code (Singapore)") by the colonial government. It remained a part of the [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore "Singapore") body of law after the Penal Code review of 2007 which removed most of the other provisions in Section 377. It was subsequently repealed in its entirety in 2023. Prior to the repeal, Section 377A, while retained *[de jure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure "De jure")* in the Penal Code, had been for many years *[de facto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto "De facto")* [unenforced](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unenforced_law "Unenforced law") – there had been no convictions for sex between consenting male adults in decades.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) While a small number of people were convicted under the law for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, enforcement effectively ceased outright following the Penal Code review, despite the law being formally retained until 2022.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 42–47 On 28 February 2022, the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") of the [Supreme Court of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore "Supreme Court of Singapore") reaffirmed that 377A could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) That same year, an Ipsos survey found that 44% of Singapore residents supported retaining the law, with 20% opposing it and the remaining 36% being ambivalent.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4) On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister [Lee Hsien Loong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hsien_Loong "Lee Hsien Loong") announced during the annual [National Day Rally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_Rally "National Day Rally") that the government intended to repeal Section 377A, ending criminalisation *de jure*.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:3-6) On 29 November 2022, the [Parliament of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Singapore "Parliament of Singapore") passed a bill to repeal Section 377A.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) The law was formally repealed after the bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halimah_Yacob "Halimah Yacob") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-8) ## Background \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Background")\] ### The Indian Penal Code \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: The Indian Penal Code")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg/250px-Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Babington_Macaulay,_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg) Lord [Thomas Macaulay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Macaulay "Thomas Macaulay"), who chaired the commission that introduced laws such as 377A. The [British Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Parliament "British Parliament") formed the [Indian Law Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_Commission_of_India "Law Commission of India") in 1833.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 10–11 Lord [Thomas Macaulay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Macaulay "Thomas Macaulay") was appointed to chair the commission. The 1837 draft of the [Indian Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Code "Indian Penal Code") was largely his work. It took 23 years for his work to be reviewed by the commission and the Supreme Court judges in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras. The code was adopted in 1860 and took effect 1 January 1862.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11 Macaulay's draft did not reflect existing Indian (or other Asian cultures) laws or customs. It was largely a rewrite of the British Royal Commission's 1843 draft code.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11 The adopted draft included a Section 377 (quoted above), but there were many ambiguities in the section, including the question of what had to penetrate what. These in turn let future jurists redefine what these provisions actually punished.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 18 Under [Buddhist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_law "Buddhist law") and [Hindu law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_law "Hindu law") in most of Asia, consensual intercourse between members of the same sex was never an offence. In the new Indian Penal Code, however, Section 377 criminalised "carnal intercourse against the order of nature", derived from words attributed to Sir [Edward Coke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Coke "Edward Coke") in the seventeenth century.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 14–15 Section 377A "(Outrages on decency" was added to the sub-title "Unnatural offences" in the [Straits Settlements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_Settlements "Straits Settlements") in 1938.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 20 Both sections were absorbed unchanged into the [Singapore Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Penal_Code "Singapore Penal Code") when the latter was passed by Singapore's [Legislative Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Council "Legislative Council") on 28 January 1955. ### Original Section 377 \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Original Section 377")\] Main article: [Section 377](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377 "Section 377") Unnatural sex or [sodomy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy "Sodomy") was not defined in the Indian Penal Code drafted by the British. Legal records show that Indian legislators in the 19th and early 20th centuries interpreted "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" between individuals (of all sexes – the law being non-gender specific with its use of the word "whoever") to include [anal sex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_sex "Anal sex"), [bestiality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestiality "Bestiality") and, often after much courtroom deliberation, [oral sex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_sex "Oral sex") as well, i.e. any form of sexual penetration which did not have the potential for procreation. Therefore, both heterosexual and homosexual oral and anal sex were criminal offences. In this particular positive sense, Section 377 did not discriminate against homosexuals, although the permission of vaginal penetration left homosexuals exclusively prohibited from performing penetrative sex. The prohibition against oral sex was at odds with [British sodomy law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buggery_Act_1533 "Buggery Act 1533"), whose case law did not cover oral penetration.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-10) Section 377, however, in early cases tried in India mainly involved forced [fellatio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellatio "Fellatio") with unwilling male children and one unusual case of [sexual intercourse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_intercourse "Sexual intercourse") with the nostril of a [buffalo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Buffalo "Water Buffalo"). In the Singaporean context, the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") eventually held that [heterosexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexual "Heterosexual") [fellatio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellatio "Fellatio") was exempted if indulged in as [foreplay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreplay "Foreplay") which eventually leads to [coitus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coitus "Coitus"):[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-11) This rationale explicitly confirmed that oral or anal penetration as a *substitute* for vaginal-penile penetration was permitted, whereas oral stimulation - including penetration of the oral cavity - could be practised as an introduction (or even prerequisite) to heterosexual sexual penetration, and hence outside the scope of the law. > \[I\]t is a fact of life, in humans as well as in animals, that before the act of copulation takes place there is foreplay to stimulate the sex urge. Kissing is the most common although there are several others... > > Of course, this form of contrectation \[fellatio or cunnilingus\] may not recommend itself to everyone for stimulating the sex urge. Even a man and a woman engaged in consensual sexual intercourse may draw the line at fellatio or cunnilingus. But the fact remains that it is practised by some. We note...that \[there is\] some statistical evidence...of these forms of oral sex being practised in Singapore. We cannot shut our minds to it. > > \[W\]hen couples engaged in consensual sexual intercourse willingly indulge in fellatio and cunnilingus as a stimulant to their respective sexual urges, neither act can be considered to be against the order of nature and punishable under s 377 of the Penal Code. In every other instance the act of fellatio between a man and a woman will be carnal intercourse against the order of nature and punishable under s 377. The Singaporean margin note of the original Section 377 further explained that mere penetration of the [penis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_penis "Human penis") into the [anus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anus "Anus") or mouth even without orgasm would constitute the offence. The law applied regardless of the act being consensual between both parties and done in private. Section 377 was repealed in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-12) and replaced with a new Section 377 criminalising sex with dead bodies ("Sexual penetration of a corpse"), which was substituted in its place.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-13) ### Section 377A \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Section 377A")\] Section 377A was introduced into the Singapore Penal Code in 1938 to criminalise all other non-penetrative sexual acts. It is descended from the [Labouchere Amendment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labouchere_Amendment "Labouchere Amendment").[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-14)\[*[unreliable source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources "Wikipedia:Reliable sources")*\] In the local context, "[gross indecency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_indecency_between_men "Gross indecency between men")" is a broad term which, from a review of past cases locally, has been applied to [mutual masturbation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_masturbation "Mutual masturbation"), genital contact, or even lewd behaviour without direct physical contact. As with the former Section 377, performing such acts in private does not constitute a defence. The law does not criminalise sex between females, only between males.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-nus-15) > Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-16) — *Outrages on decency*, Section 377A, Singapore Penal Code Its original mother statute, Section 377 (since repealed), criminalised any sexual act that went "against the order of nature":[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-17) > Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation. Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section. — Singapore Penal Code, Section 377 ## Public opinion \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Public opinion")\] See also: [LGBT rights in Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Singapore "LGBT rights in Singapore") The [Ministry of Home Affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Home_Affairs_\(Singapore\) "Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)") (MHA) was quoted in *[The Straits Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Straits_Times "The Straits Times")* of 18 September 2007 saying that public feedback on the issue had been "emotional, divided and strongly expressed", with a majority of people calling for Section 377A to be retained.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-18) The MHA also said that it recognised that "we are generally a conservative society and that we should let the situation evolve". On 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the "Repeal 377A" website[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-19) to gather signatories for an [open letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_letter "Open letter") to the Prime Minister calling for the repeal of Section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website "Keep 377A"[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-20) was set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government's retention of the law. By 1:30 p.m. on 20 October, Keep377A had overtaken Repeal377A by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-21) As [online petitions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_petition "Online petition"), both websites suffered the same doubts regarding the credibility of the numbers of their signatories. There was no mention of whether technical measures were taken to ensure that multiple-voting by the same person was prevented. In 2018, an Ipsos survey found that 55% of Singapore residents supported retaining Section 377A.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-22) Shortly after the [Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_Code_\(Singapore\) "Penal Code (Singapore)") review report was released on 9 September 2018,[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-23) a movement known as Ready4Repeal launched a petition to campaign for Section 377A to be repealed, even though MHA and [Ministry of Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Law_\(Singapore\) "Ministry of Law (Singapore)") said there were no plans to do so. The petition attracted 44,650 signatures. Ready4Repeal also held a town hall meeting on 30 September 2018, which over 800 people attended. In contrast, a petition calling for Section 377A to be kept attracted more than 109,000 signatures after it closed on 24 September 2018.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-24) In 2022, Ipsos made another survey, noting that this figure had dropped to 44% compared to its 2018 survey, amid changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4) ## Constitutional challenges \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Constitutional challenges")\] Section 377A was repeatedly challenged before the [courts of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Singapore "Judicial system of Singapore") as being [unconstitutional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconstitutionality "Unconstitutionality"). All challenges were chiefly based on [Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_12_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore "Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore"), which guarantees all persons [equality before the law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_before_the_law "Equality before the law"), and [Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore "Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore"), which guarantees all persons the [right to life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_life "Right to life") and the [right to personal liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_freedom "Political freedom"). ### *Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General* \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General")\] On 24 September 2010, criminal lawyer [M Ravi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_Ravi "M Ravi") filed an application in the [High Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_Singapore "High Court of Singapore") to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting adult male in a locked cubicle of a public toilet.[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-25) On 19 March 2011, Tan's case was thrown out of court by High Court justice [Lai Siu Chiu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lai_Siu_Chiu "Lai Siu Chiu"), citing "a lack of a real controversy" for the court to deal with.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-26) This is important, as according to the [Rules of Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_issues_in_Singapore_administrative_law "Threshold issues in Singapore administrative law") ([Cap. 322 § 80, O 18 r. 19, 1996 Rev. Ed.](http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident=07b5ba9f-456a-4e84-92b8-4f894c953dd7;page=0;query=DocId%3A9c08961a-718d-4fe6-b2e0-df0963d62b05%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0#legis)), only cases which are not "frivolous" may be argued. However, on 21 August 2012, the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") reversed Lai's decision, ruling that 377A did "affect the lives of a not insignificant portion of \[Singaporeans\] in a very real and intimate way" and that the case would proceed once again in the High Court.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-27) Tan's case was finally heard on 6 March 2013,[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-28) and decided against him by justice Quentin Loh on 2 October 2013.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-29) In his ruling, Loh wrote that the issue was one of "morality and societal values" and if it were to be changed, it would have to be by Singapore's [Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament "Parliament"). Tan appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and his case was joined at his request as an [intervening party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervention_\(law\) "Intervention (law)") with *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General* (below), which was also pending before the Court of Appeal, on 11 October 2013.[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-30) ### *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General* \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General")\] After Tan's successful appeal to be heard by the court, a separate constitutional challenge was filed on 30 November 2012 on behalf of Lim Meng Suang and Kenneth Chee Mun-leon, a gay couple of fifteen years, by attorney Peter Low.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-31)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-32) The case was heard *[in camera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_camera "In camera")* on 14 February 2013,[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-33) and decided against them by justice Quentin Loh on 9 April 2013, for much the same reasons as his decision against Tan (above).[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-34) Lim and Chee appealed to the Court of Appeal on 30 April 2013.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-35)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-36) In July 2013, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, they hired two highly esteemed lawyers: Deborah Barker, Senior Counsel at [KhattarWong LLP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sat_Pal_Khattar#Business_career "Sat Pal Khattar"), and British lawyer, [Debevoise & Plimpton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debevoise_%26_Plimpton "Debevoise & Plimpton") [partner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partner_lawyer "Partner lawyer") and former [Attorney General for England and Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_General_for_England_and_Wales "Attorney General for England and Wales") [Lord Peter Henry Goldsmith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Henry_Goldsmith "Peter Henry Goldsmith").[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-37) Goldsmith had agreed to take the case [without pay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_bono "Pro bono"),[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-38) but that September was disallowed from arguing the case before the court by Justice [V. K. Rajah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._K._Rajah "V. K. Rajah"), as he believed that the legal issues were arguable by domestic lawyers, which is preferred by [Singapore law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_law "Singapore law").[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-39) On 29 October 2014, more than four years after the original challenge by Tan, the Court of Appeal, the highest court in Singapore, rejected Lim and Chee's challenge, finally ending the case.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:0-40)[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:1-41) The court held that 377A was consistent with Article 9 as it is meant to protect against [unlawful imprisonment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_imprisonment "Unlawful imprisonment"), and that it was consistent with Article 12 as it only mentions [religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion "Religion"), [race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_\(human_categorization\) "Race (human categorization)") and [place of birth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_of_birth "Place of birth")—not [gender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender "Gender"), [sexual orientation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation "Sexual orientation"), or [sex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex "Sex").[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:0-40) As in all judgments before, the court held that any [legal remedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_remedy "Legal remedy") would have to come about through an [Act of Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Parliament "Act of Parliament").[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:0-40) Compared to news of [LGBT rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights "LGBT rights") in other nations such as [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia "LGBT rights in Russia") and [the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States "LGBT rights in the United States"), the case and final appeal received little attention outside Singapore.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-42) *[The Huffington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huffington_Post "The Huffington Post")* featured Chee and Lim's story prominently under the headline "How One of the World's Richest Countries Is Limiting Basic Human Rights"[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-43) and [*Bloomberg*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_News "Bloomberg News") also published an article on the ruling.[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:1-41) ### *Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters* \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters")\] On 29 August 2018, Professor [Ho Kwon Ping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Kwon_Ping "Ho Kwon Ping") in his talk questioned the need for Section 377A in Singapore.[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-44) After India's Supreme Court decriminalised sex between two people of the same sex, with Professor [Tommy Koh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Koh "Tommy Koh") encouraging a constitutional challenge of Section 377A and chief of Singapore government communications Mr [Janadas Devan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janadas_Devan "Janadas Devan") hoping that Section 377A would go,[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-45) several constitutional challenges have been brought to the [Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore "Supreme Court of Singapore"). The first challenge after India's ruling was filed on 10 September 2018 by Johnson Ong, known by stage name DJ Big Kid, and was based on Article 9 of the [Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Singapore "Constitution of Singapore").[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-46) The second challenge was filed by [LGBT rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights "LGBT rights") activist Choong Chee Hong in November 2018 and argues that Section 377A is inconsistent with Articles 9, 12 and [14](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_14_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore "Article 14 of the Constitution of Singapore") of the Constitution.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-47) A third was filed by retired general practitioner Tan Seng Kee on 20 September 2019, also based on Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. In addition, he argued that although the Government will not enforce the law on acts done in private, the Public Prosecutor can decide whether to prosecute someone under Section 377A, which would be inconsistent with Section 14 of the [Criminal Procedure Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Procedure_Code "Criminal Procedure Code"), which requires the police to "unconditionally investigate all complaints of suspected arrestable offences".[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-48) On 30 March 2020, justice [See Kee Oon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_Kee_Oon "See Kee Oon") consolidated the three challenges into one case and ruled against them, arguing that the law was intended to safeguard morals and prosecute all forms of indecency between men whether in public or private, and not just male prostitution when the law was made in 1938. He also stated that there's no strong scientific evidence that a person's sexual orientation is unchangeable, and once again ruled that [Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Singapore "Parliament of Singapore") is the proper venue for repeal.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-49)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-50) Appeals were filed on 31 March 2020.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-51) On 28 February 2022, it was ruled by the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") that, because the law is not enforced, the constitutional challenges against it had failed.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-52) ## Repeal of Section 377A \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Repeal of Section 377A")\] On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced during his 2022 [National Day Rally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_Rally "National Day Rally") speech that Section 377A would be repealed by the government. Lee stated that "I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social norms and, I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans." Laws to repeal 377A were introduced on 20 October, with a two-day debate that started on 28 November.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:3-6) ### Parliamentary vote \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Parliamentary vote")\] [![Wikisource logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) English [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: **[Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Penal_Code_\(Amendment\)_Act_2022 "s:en:Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022")** On 29 November 2022, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which repealed Section 377A, passed in Parliament following a 10-hour debate that had begun the day prior. A total of 96 MPs voted on the topic of repeal, with all 83 [People's Action Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Action_Party "People's Action Party") (PAP) MPs and three WP's MPs voting in favour, while two other WP's MPs, Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck, voted against.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) All members of the ruling party PAP voted according to the party's position as the party whip was not lifted, while WP lifted its party whip.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-53) With a vote of 85 to 2, a constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage from legal challenge was approved. Two Workers Party MPs, [Sylvia Lim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Lim "Sylvia Lim") and [He Ting Ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Ting_Ru "He Ting Ru"), abstained from the vote.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) [Hazel Poa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Poa "Hazel Poa") and [Leong Mun Wai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leong_Mun_Wai "Leong Mun Wai"), both [Progress Singapore Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_Singapore_Party "Progress Singapore Party") [non-constituency Members of Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-constituency_Member_of_Parliament "Non-constituency Member of Parliament"), declared that they would oppose the proposed amendment because they think a national referendum should be held to decide what constitutes marriage.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-54) The bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halimah_Yacob "Halimah Yacob") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023, thus Section 377A was struck off the books.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:4-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:5-56) ### Post-repeal plans \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: Post-repeal plans")\] The Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, told Parliament in November 2022 that only a "small" number of people were convicted under the section for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, when enforcement effectively ceased outright.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2) The Minister stated he would direct the Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) to consider how these records could be purged. Days after the repeal bill passed, the MHA added that the records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A during that time period could have their criminal records [expunged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expunged "Expunged") and rendered spent.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-57) ## See also \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: See also")\] - [Criminal law of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law_of_Singapore "Criminal law of Singapore") - [LGBT rights in Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Singapore "LGBT rights in Singapore") - [Paragraph 175 (Germany)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paragraph_175_\(Germany\) "Paragraph 175 (Germany)") - [Pink Dot SG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Dot_SG "Pink Dot SG") - [Sodomy law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_law "Sodomy law") ## References \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: References")\] 1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-2) Lum, Selina (28 February 2022). ["Court of Appeal rules Section 377A stays but cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/court-of-appeal-rules-section-377a-stays-but-cannot-be-used-to-prosecute-men-for-having-gay-sex). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. 2. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-1) Strangio, Sebastian (30 November 2022). ["Singapore Repeals Archaic Law Criminalizing Sex Between Men"](https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/singapore-repeals-archaic-law-criminalizing-sex-between-men/). *The Diplomat*. Retrieved 9 December 2022. 3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-3) Douglas E. Sanders (2009). "377 and the Unnatural Afterlife of British Colonialism in Asia". *Asian Journal of Comparative Law*. **4** (1): 1–47\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.2202/1932-0205.1176](https://doi.org/10.2202%2F1932-0205.1176). \[D.E. Sanders: Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia; LL.M. Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Academic Committee Member, Doctoral Program in Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University\]. [PDF available](http://www.sxpolitics.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-version_377_sander.pdf) 4. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-1) Tham, Yuen-C (16 June 2022). ["Support for Section 377A drops as attitudes towards same-sex relationships shift, survey finds"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/support-for-section-377a-drops-as-attitudes-to-same-sex-relationships-shift-survey-finds). *[The Straits Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Straits_Times "The Straits Times")*. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 5. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:2_5-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:2_5-1) Ong, Justin (21 August 2022). ["NDR 2022: Govt to repeal Section 377A, amend Constitution to protect marriage definition from legal challenges"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ndr-2022-section-377a-repeal-constitution-1974206). *TODAY*. Singapore. Retrieved 21 August 2022. 6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:3_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:3_6-1) Tham, Yuen-C (21 August 2022). ["NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, but also amend Constitution to protect marriage from legal challenges"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2022-govt-will-repeal-section-377a-decriminalise-sex-between-men). *[The Straits Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Straits_Times "The Straits Times")*. Retrieved 7 November 2022. 7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-2) Goh, Yan Han (29 November 2022). ["Parliament repeals Section 377A, endorses amendments protecting definition of marriage"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/parliament-repeals-section-377a-endorses-amendments-protecting-marriage-definition). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022. 8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-8)** ["S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. 3 January 2023. 9. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-2) [""This Alien Legacy: The Origins of 'Sodomy' Laws in British Colonialism", Human Rights Watch, 2008"](https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/lgbt1208_web.pdf) (PDF). 10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-10)** R v Jacobs (1817) Russ & Ry 331 confirmed that buggery related only to intercourse per anum by a man with a man or woman, or intercourse per anum or per vaginam by either a man or a woman with an animal. Other forms of "unnatural intercourse" may amount to indecent assault or gross indecency, but do not constitute buggery (see generally: Smith & Hogan, Criminal Law (10th ed.) ISBN 0-406-94801-1) 11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-11)** *Public Prosecutor v Kwan Kwong Weng* \[1997\] 1 SLR(R) 316 at \[29\]–\[31\]. 12. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-12)** ["Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 - Singapore Statutes Online"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Acts-Supp/51-2007#pr70-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 13. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-13)** ["Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377-#pr377-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. Retrieved 23 August 2022. 14. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-14)** ["Romantic rabble v coy court"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/romantic-rabble-v-coy-court/). *Yawning Bread*. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2019. 15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-nus_15-0)** ["Section 377A in Singapore and the (De)Criminalization of Homosexuality"](http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/socrgb/radics_reconstruction_15.2.pdf) (PDF). [National University of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_University_of_Singapore "National University of Singapore"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180920152649/http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/socrgb/radics_reconstruction_15.2.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019. "Section 377A only criminalizes sex between males, but not between females." 16. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-16)** ["Penal Code 1871"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377A-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-17)** Chua Kher Shing, Lynette J. (2003). ["Saying No: Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24868200). *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\. [JSTOR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSTOR_\(identifier\) "JSTOR (identifier)") [24868200](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24868200). 18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-18)** ["Singapore Lawmakers Debate Petition to Abolish Gay Sex Ban"](https://www.foxnews.com/story/singapore-lawmakers-debate-petition-to-abolish-gay-sex-ban). *[Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News")*. Associated Press. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2019. 19. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-19)** ["Repeal377A.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071011034642/http://www.repeal377a.com/). Archived from [the original](http://www.repeal377a.com/) on 11 October 2007. 20. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-20)** ["Keep377A.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516084324/http://www.keep377a.com/). 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.keep377a.com/) on 16 May 2008. 21. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-21)** ["keep377a overtakes repeal377a"](https://familyoverfreedom.blogspot.com/2007/10/keep377a-overtakes-repeal377a.html). Family\&Freedom. 20 October 2007. 22. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-22)** Ng, Gilaine (10 September 2018). ["55 per cent of Singapore residents support Section 377A: Ipsos survey"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/55-per-cent-of-singapore-residents-support-section-377a-ipsos-survey). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-23)** Mokhtar, Faris (9 September 2018). ["Penal Code set to undergo overhaul, to better protect vulnerable victims against abuse and sexual crimes"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/penal-code-set-undergo-overhaul-better-protect-vulnerable-victims-against-abuse-and-sexual). *Today*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2019. 24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-24)** Chua, Alfred (30 September 2018). ["Activists submit online petition, but Govt has 'no plans' to repeal S377A"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-has-no-plans-repeal-s377a-online-petition-gets-almost-45000-signatures). *Today*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2019. 25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-25)** Keat, Leong Wee (29 November 2010). ["Lawyer challenges gay sex law"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101129195210/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100924-0000220/Lawyer-challenges-gay-sex-law). *[Today](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_\(Singapore_newspaper\) "Today (Singapore newspaper)")*. Archived from [the original](http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100924-0000220/Lawyer-challenges-gay-sex-law) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 26. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-26)** Waipang, Alex Au (19 March 2011). ["High Court waves away 377A controversy"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/high-court-waves-away-377a-controversy/). *[Yawning Bread](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning_Bread "Yawning Bread")*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 27. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-27)** Andrew Phang Boon Leong JA, V K Rajah JA and Judith Prakash J (21 August 2012). ["Tan Eng Hong v Attorney-General"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161123061559/http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/14979-tan-eng-hong-v-attorney-general-2012-sgca-45). *singaporelaw.sg*. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/14979-tan-eng-hong-v-attorney-general-2012-sgca-45) on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 28. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-28)** ["Second of two 377A challenges may have to wait a long time for a decision"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/second-of-two-377a-challenges-may-have-to-wait-a-long-time-for-a-decision/). *Yawning Bread*. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 29. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-29)** ["Singapore High Court upholds anti-gay law in Tan Eng Hong's case"](http://www.fridae.asia/gay-news/2013/10/02/12449.singapore-high-court-upholds-anti-gay-law-in-tan-eng-hongs-case). *Fridae: Connecting Gay Asia*. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 30. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-30)** ["Court of Appeal Does Right By Tan Eng Hong: Joint hearing for section 377A appeals"](https://ionsg.blogspot.com/2013/10/court-of-appeal-does-right-by-tan-eng.html). IonSG. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 31. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-31)** ["Singapore couple sue to end sodomy law"](http://sdgln.com/news/2012/12/01/singapore-couple-sue-end-sodomy-law). *San Diego Gay and Lesbian News*. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 32. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-32)** Waipang, Alex Au (2 December 2012). ["New constitutional challenge to Section 377A filed"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/new-constitutional-challenge-to-section-377a-filed/). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 33. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-33)** Lim, Leonard (14 February 2013). ["Legal challenge to Section 377A begins in the High Court; judgment reserved"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/legal-challenge-to-section-377a-begins-in-the-high-court-judgment-reserved). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 34. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-34)** Wong, Tessa (9 April 2013). ["High Court upholds anti-gay sex law, dismisses legal challenge"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/high-court-upholds-anti-gay-sex-law-dismisses-legal-challenge). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 35. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-35)** ["Gay Singaporean couple file appeal over ban on private consensual sex"](http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/07/12/gay-singaporean-couple-file-appeal-over-ban-on-private-consensual-sex/). *LGBT Weekly*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 36. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-36)** AndrewPhang Boon Leong JA, Belinda Ang Saw Ean J and WooBih Li J (28 October 2014). ["Lim Meng Suang and another v Attorney-Generaland another appeal and another matter"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220090911/http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/15754-lim-meng-suang-and-another-v-attorney-generaland-another-appeal-and-another-matter-2014-sgca-53). *singaporelaw.sg*. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/15754-lim-meng-suang-and-another-v-attorney-generaland-another-appeal-and-another-matter-2014-sgca-53) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 37. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-37)** Xin, Sia Ling (9 July 2013). ["S'pore gay couple hire top lawyers for Section 377A appeal"](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/s%E2%80%99pore-gay-couple-hire-top-lawyers-for-section-377a-appeal-032652503.html). *Yahoo! News Singapore*. 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["LGBT rights advocate files case against Attorney-General, stating Section 377A of Penal Code is void"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/lgbt-rights-advocate-files-case-against-attorney-general-stating-section-377a). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 3 October 2019. 48. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-48)** Kurohi, Rei (25 September 2019). ["LGBT activist and retired GP Roy Tan files new court challenge against Section 377A"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/lgbt-activist-who-is-a-retired-gp-files-new-case-against-section-377a). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 3 October 2019. 49. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-49)** Kurohi, Rei (30 March 2020). ["High Court dismisses challenges against law that criminalises sex between men"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/high-court-rejects-all-three-challenges-against-section-377a). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 30 March 2020. 50. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-50)** *Ong Ming Johnson v Attorney-General and other matters* , 2020 SGHC 63 ([High Court of the Republic of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_the_Republic_of_Singapore "High Court of the Republic of Singapore") 30 March 2020). 51. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-51)** Kurohi, Rei (31 March 2020). ["Two men file appeals against High Court decision to dismiss Section 377A challenge"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/two-men-file-appeals-against-high-court-decision-to-dismiss-section-377a-challenge). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 19 April 2020. 52. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-52)** ["Singapore's top court dismisses attempt to overturn gay sex ban"](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapores-top-court-dismisses-attempt-overturn-gay-sex-ban-2022-02-28/). *Reuters*. 28 February 2022. 53. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-53)** ["'Only reason why we can have a decision in Parliament': Shanmugam on PAP imposing whip for Section 377A"](https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/only-reason-why-we-can-have-decision-parliament-shanmugam-pap-imposing-whip-section-377a). *AsiaOne*. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022. 54. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-54)** Iau, Jean (28 November 2022). ["PSP supports repeal of S377A, calls for national referendum on definition of marriage"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/psp-supports-repeal-of-s377a-calls-for-national-referendum-on-definition-of-marriage). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022. 55. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:4_55-0)** Goh, Yan Han (3 January 2023). ["S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 January 2023. 56. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:5_56-0)** ["Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg//Acts-Supp/39-2022/Published/20230103?DocDate=20230103). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023. 57. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-57)** Ming, Lee Chong (30 November 2022). ["MHA to consider records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A between 1988 and 2007"](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/377a-criminal-record-rendered-spent-gay-sex-3112701). *Channel News Asia*. Retrieved 10 December 2022. ## Further reading \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: Further reading")\] - Heijmans, Philip (29 November 2022). ["Singapore Repeals Ban on Sex Between Men in a Cautious Step"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-29/singapore-parliament-repeals-colonial-era-ban-on-sex-between-men). *Bloomberg*. Retrieved 9 December 2022. - Young, Ted (24 October 2007). ["Our Time Has Come"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071025033626/http://www.trevvy.com/scoops/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3). [Trevvy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevvy "Trevvy"). Archived from [the original](http://www.trevvy.com/scoops/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007. - Original PDF version of the academic paper, "377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism" by Douglas Saunders, August 2007:[\[1\]](http://signelwiki003.pbworks.com/w/file/36066434/douglas_sanders_377_unnatural_afterlife.pdf). - Au, Alex (May 2007). ["Why section 377A is redundant"](http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2007/yax-749.htm). *[Yawning Bread](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning_Bread "Yawning Bread")*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Gopalan, Mohan (May 2007). ["A heftier list of s. 377A cases"](http://www.yawningbread.org/guest_2007/guw-136.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Au, Alex (March 2005). ["The picture that emerges"](http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2005/yax-424.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Au, Alex (March 2005). ["List of section 377 and 377A cases"](http://www.yawningbread.org/apdx_2005/imp-192.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Chua, Lynette J. Kher Shing (2003). "Saying No : Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code". *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\. . - \[Lim\], Wee Kuan (1 October 2002). ["Gay law : Emancipation and emasculation"](http://www.oursafehaven.com/activities/gaylaw.htm). Safehaven, Free Community Church. Retrieved 20 October 2007. A review of all Singaporean laws governing homosexual behaviour. ## External links \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=16 "Edit section: External links")\] - [Keep377A.com](http://www.keep377a.com/) – previous campaign for the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code - [Repeal377a.com](https://web.archive.org/web/20071011034642/http://www.repeal377a.com/) – previous campaign for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code - [Singapore Daily page on 377A](https://web.archive.org/web/20080618181545/http://singaporedaily.net/s377a/) – collection of blogger postings on section 377A of the Penal Code - [Archive of newsclips relating to Section 377A](https://www.youtube.com/user/groyn88#grid/user/F7E6986EBBDEF252) – a YouTube playlist - [Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A](https://www.blowingwind.io/forum/index.php?/topic/26979-wikileaks-usembassy-report-of-the-singapore-2007-section-377a-repeal/) Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A [Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals "Wikipedia:Contents/Portals"): - ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/British_Empire_1897.jpg/40px-British_Empire_1897.jpg) [British Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:British_Empire "Portal:British Empire") - ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Nuvola_LGBT_flag.svg/20px-Nuvola_LGBT_flag.svg.png) [LGBTQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:LGBTQ "Portal:LGBTQ") - [![icon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/40px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Balance,_by_David.svg) [Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Law "Portal:Law") | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:LGBTQ_rights_footer "Template:LGBTQ rights footer") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:LGBTQ_rights_footer "Template talk:LGBTQ rights footer") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:LGBTQ_rights_footer "Special:EditPage/Template:LGBTQ rights footer")[LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory "LGBTQ rights by country or territory") overview | | |---|---| | [Lesbian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian_rights "Lesbian rights") [Gay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights "Gay rights") [Bisexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual_rights "Bisexual rights") [Transgender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_rights "Transgender rights") [Intersex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex_human_rights "Intersex human rights") rights | | | General | [Capital punishment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_for_homosexuality "Capital punishment for homosexuality") [Censorship of LGBTQ issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_LGBTQ_issues "Censorship of LGBTQ issues") [Criminalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminalization_of_homosexuality "Criminalization of homosexuality") [Decriminalization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality "Decriminalization of homosexuality") [Legal status of transgender people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_transgender_people "Legal status of transgender people") [Legality of conversion therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_conversion_therapy "Legality of conversion therapy") [LGBTQ rights at the United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_at_the_United_Nations "LGBTQ rights at the United Nations") [Activists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_activists "List of LGBTQ rights activists") [Movements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_movements "LGBTQ movements") [Organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_organizations "List of LGBTQ rights organizations") [Societal attitudes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_attitudes_toward_homosexuality "Societal attitudes toward homosexuality") [Student movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_student_movement "LGBTQ student movement") [Timeline of LGBTQ history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LGBTQ_history "Timeline of LGBTQ history") [Transgender rights movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_rights_movement "Transgender rights movement") | | [By regions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory "LGBTQ rights by country or territory") ([list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_rights_articles_by_region "List of LGBTQ rights articles by region")) | [Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Africa "LGBTQ rights in Africa") [Americas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Americas "LGBTQ rights in the Americas") [North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_North_America "LGBTQ rights in North America") [South America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_South_America "LGBTQ rights in South America") [Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Asia "LGBTQ rights in Asia") [Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Europe "LGBTQ rights in Europe") [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_European_Union "LGBTQ rights in the European Union") [Oceania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Oceania "LGBTQ rights in Oceania") [Middle East](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Middle_East "LGBTQ rights in the Middle East") [Commonwealth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations "LGBTQ rights in the Commonwealth of Nations") *[La Francophonie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_La_Francophonie "LGBTQ rights in La Francophonie")* [Post-Soviet states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_post-Soviet_states "LGBTQ rights in the post-Soviet states") | | [By years](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_years_in_LGBTQ_rights "Table of years in LGBTQ rights") | | | | | | [1700s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_18th_century "LGBTQ rights in the 18th century") [1800s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_the_19th_century "LGBTQ rights in the 19th century") [1900–1949](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1900%E2%80%931949_in_LGBTQ_rights "1900–1949 in LGBTQ rights") [1950s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s_in_LGBTQ_rights "1950s in LGBTQ rights") [1960s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s_in_LGBTQ_rights "1960s in LGBTQ rights") | | | [1970s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970s_in_LGBTQ_rights "1970s in LGBTQ rights") | [1970](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_in_LGBTQ_rights "1970 in LGBTQ rights") [1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_in_LGBTQ_rights "1971 in LGBTQ rights") [1972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_in_LGBTQ_rights "1972 in LGBTQ rights") [1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_in_LGBTQ_rights "1973 in LGBTQ rights") [1974](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_in_LGBTQ_rights "1974 in LGBTQ rights") [1975](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_in_LGBTQ_rights "1975 in LGBTQ rights") [1976](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_in_LGBTQ_rights "1976 in LGBTQ rights") [1977](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_in_LGBTQ_rights "1977 in LGBTQ rights") [1978](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_in_LGBTQ_rights "1978 in LGBTQ rights") [1979](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_in_LGBTQ_rights "1979 in LGBTQ rights") | | [1980s](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1980s_in_LGBT_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 "1980s in LGBT rights (page does not exist)") | [1980](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_in_LGBTQ_rights "1980 in LGBTQ rights") [1981](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_in_LGBTQ_rights "1981 in LGBTQ rights") [1982](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_in_LGBTQ_rights "1982 in LGBTQ rights") [1983](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_in_LGBTQ_rights "1983 in LGBTQ rights") [1984](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_in_LGBTQ_rights "1984 in LGBTQ rights") [1985](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_in_LGBTQ_rights "1985 in LGBTQ rights") [1986](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_in_LGBTQ_rights "1986 in LGBTQ rights") [1987](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_in_LGBTQ_rights "1987 in LGBTQ rights") [1988](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_in_LGBTQ_rights "1988 in LGBTQ rights") [1989](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_in_LGBTQ_rights "1989 in LGBTQ rights") | | [1990s](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1990s_in_LGBTQ_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 "1990s in LGBTQ rights (page does not exist)") | [1990](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_in_LGBTQ_rights "1990 in LGBTQ rights") [1991](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_in_LGBTQ_rights "1991 in LGBTQ rights") [1992](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_in_LGBTQ_rights "1992 in LGBTQ rights") [1993](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_in_LGBTQ_rights "1993 in LGBTQ rights") [1994](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_in_LGBTQ_rights "1994 in LGBTQ rights") [1995](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_in_LGBTQ_rights "1995 in LGBTQ rights") [1996](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_in_LGBTQ_rights "1996 in LGBTQ rights") [1997](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_in_LGBTQ_rights "1997 in LGBTQ rights") [1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_in_LGBTQ_rights "1998 in LGBTQ rights") [1999](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_in_LGBTQ_rights "1999 in LGBTQ rights") | | [2000s](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2000s_in_LGBTQ_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 "2000s in LGBTQ rights (page does not exist)") | [2000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_in_LGBTQ_rights "2000 in LGBTQ rights") [2001](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_in_LGBTQ_rights "2001 in LGBTQ rights") [2002](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_in_LGBTQ_rights "2002 in LGBTQ rights") [2003](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_in_LGBTQ_rights "2003 in LGBTQ rights") [2004](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_in_LGBTQ_rights "2004 in LGBTQ rights") [2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_in_LGBTQ_rights "2005 in LGBTQ rights") [2006](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_in_LGBTQ_rights "2006 in LGBTQ rights") [2007](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_in_LGBTQ_rights "2007 in LGBTQ rights") [2008](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_in_LGBTQ_rights "2008 in LGBTQ rights") [2009](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_in_LGBTQ_rights "2009 in LGBTQ rights") | | [2010s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010s_in_LGBTQ_rights "2010s in LGBTQ rights") | [2010](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_in_LGBTQ_rights "2010 in LGBTQ rights") [2011](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_in_LGBTQ_rights "2011 in LGBTQ rights") [2012](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_in_LGBTQ_rights "2012 in LGBTQ rights") [2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_in_LGBTQ_rights "2013 in LGBTQ rights") [2014](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_in_LGBTQ_rights "2014 in LGBTQ rights") [2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_in_LGBTQ_rights "2015 in LGBTQ rights") [2016](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_in_LGBTQ_rights "2016 in LGBTQ rights") [2017](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_in_LGBTQ_rights "2017 in LGBTQ rights") [2018](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_in_LGBTQ_rights "2018 in LGBTQ rights") [2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_in_LGBTQ_rights "2019 in LGBTQ rights") | | [2020s](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2020s_in_LGBTQ_rights&action=edit&redlink=1 "2020s in LGBTQ rights (page does not exist)") | [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_in_LGBTQ_rights "2020 in LGBTQ rights") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_in_LGBTQ_rights "2021 in LGBTQ rights") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_in_LGBTQ_rights "2022 in LGBTQ rights") [2023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_in_LGBTQ_rights "2023 in LGBTQ rights") [2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_in_LGBTQ_rights "2024 in LGBTQ rights") [2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_in_LGBTQ_rights "2025 in LGBTQ rights") | | Ideological | [Communism and LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism_and_LGBTQ_rights "Communism and LGBTQ rights") [LGBTQ conservatism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_conservatism "LGBTQ conservatism") [Opposition to LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_LGBTQ_rights "Opposition to LGBTQ rights") [Libertarian perspectives on LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_perspectives_on_LGBTQ_rights "Libertarian perspectives on LGBTQ rights") [New Left](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Left "New Left") [Queer anarchism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_anarchism "Queer anarchism") [Queer radicalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_radicalism "Queer radicalism") [Socialism and LGBTQ rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism_and_LGBTQ_rights "Socialism and LGBTQ rights") | | ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/20px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png) **[Category](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBTQ_rights "Category:LGBTQ rights")** | | | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Criminalization_of_homosexuality "Template:Criminalization of homosexuality") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Criminalization_of_homosexuality "Template talk:Criminalization of homosexuality") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Criminalization_of_homosexuality "Special:EditPage/Template:Criminalization of homosexuality")[Criminalization of homosexuality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminalization_of_homosexuality "Criminalization of homosexuality") | | |---|---| | [Death penalty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_for_homosexuality "Capital punishment for homosexuality") | [Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Afghanistan "LGBT rights in Afghanistan") [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Brunei "LGBT rights in Brunei") [Iran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iran "LGBT rights in Iran") [Mauritania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Mauritania "LGBT rights in Mauritania") [Saudi Arabia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia "LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia") [Uganda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Uganda "LGBT rights in Uganda") ([Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Homosexuality_Act,_2023 "Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023")) [Yemen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Yemen "LGBT rights in Yemen") | | Active | British colonies ([Section 377](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377 "Section 377"), 1860–) [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Malaysia "LGBT rights in Malaysia") (1860–, with caning) [Uganda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Uganda "LGBT rights in Uganda") (1894–) | | Invalidated | [Ecuador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality_in_Ecuador "Decriminalization of homosexuality in Ecuador") (1871-[1997](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_No._111-97-TC "Case No. 111-97-TC")) India ([Section 377](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377_of_the_Indian_Penal_Code "Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code"), 1861–2018) Sri Lanka ([Article 365](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_365_of_the_Sri_Lankan_Penal_Code "Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code"), 1883–) [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_laws_in_the_United_States "Sodomy laws in the United States") | | Repealed | [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_same-sex_sexual_activity_in_Australia "Legality of same-sex sexual activity in Australia") (1975/1997) [Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_homosexuality_in_Brazil "Legal status of homosexuality in Brazil") (1533–1830) Canada (?–[1969](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Law_Amendment_Act,_1968%E2%80%9369 "Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69")) Cyprus ([Section 171](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_171_of_the_Criminal_Code_of_Cyprus "Section 171 of the Criminal Code of Cyprus"), 1929–1998) Germany ([Paragraph 175](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paragraph_175 "Paragraph 175"), 1871–1969/1994) New Zealand (1840–[1986](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_Law_Reform_Act_1986 "Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986")) Singapore ([Section 377A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_of_the_Penal_Code_\(Singapore\) "Section 377A of the Penal Code (Singapore)"), 1938–2007/2022) Norway ([Section 213](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_213_of_the_Norwegian_Penal_Code "Section 213 of the Norwegian Penal Code"), ?–1972) Romania ([Article 200](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_200 "Article 200"), 1968–1996/2001) [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_history_in_Russia "LGBT history in Russia") (1832–1917, 1933–1993) South Africa ([Section 20A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_20A "Section 20A"), 1969–2007) United Kingdom ([1533](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buggery_Act_1533 "Buggery Act 1533")–[1967](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_Offences_Act_1967 "Sexual Offences Act 1967")/[1982](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_Offences_\(Northern_Ireland\)_Order_1982 "Homosexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1982")) | | Related articles | [Decriminalization of homosexuality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization_of_homosexuality "Decriminalization of homosexuality") [Sodomy law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_law "Sodomy law") [LGBT rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights "LGBT rights") [Sharia law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia#LGBT_rights "Sharia") | | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:LGBTQ_in_Singapore "Template:LGBTQ in Singapore") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:LGBTQ_in_Singapore "Template talk:LGBTQ in Singapore") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:LGBTQ_in_Singapore "Special:EditPage/Template:LGBTQ in Singapore")[![LGBTQ flag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Gay_Pride_Flag.svg/40px-Gay_Pride_Flag.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_\(LGBTQ\) "LGBTQ flag") [Lesbian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian "Lesbian"), [gay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay "Gay"), [bisexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual "Bisexual"), [transgender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender "Transgender"), [queer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer "Queer") topics in [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore "Singapore") [![Flag of Singapore](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/40px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Singapore "Flag of Singapore") | | |---|---| | *Main article: [LGBT in 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**Section 377A** was a [law in Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Singapore "Law of Singapore") that criminalised sex between consenting adult males. It was introduced under [British colonial rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_of_Singapore "Colony of Singapore") in 1938 when it was added to the [Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_Code_\(Singapore\) "Penal Code (Singapore)") by the colonial government. It remained a part of the [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore "Singapore") body of law after the Penal Code review of 2007 which removed most of the other provisions in Section 377. It was subsequently repealed in its entirety in 2023. Prior to the repeal, Section 377A, while retained *[de jure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_jure "De jure")* in the Penal Code, had been for many years *[de facto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto "De facto")* [unenforced](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unenforced_law "Unenforced law") – there had been no convictions for sex between consenting male adults in decades.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) While a small number of people were convicted under the law for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, enforcement effectively ceased outright following the Penal Code review, despite the law being formally retained until 2022.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 42–47 On 28 February 2022, the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") of the [Supreme Court of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore "Supreme Court of Singapore") reaffirmed that 377A could not be used to prosecute men for having gay sex.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1) That same year, an Ipsos survey found that 44% of Singapore residents supported retaining the law, with 20% opposing it and the remaining 36% being ambivalent.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4) On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister [Lee Hsien Loong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Hsien_Loong "Lee Hsien Loong") announced during the annual [National Day Rally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_Rally "National Day Rally") that the government intended to repeal Section 377A, ending criminalisation *de jure*.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:3-6) On 29 November 2022, the [Parliament of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Singapore "Parliament of Singapore") passed a bill to repeal Section 377A.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) The law was formally repealed after the bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halimah_Yacob "Halimah Yacob") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-8) ### The Indian Penal Code \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: The Indian Penal Code")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg/250px-Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Babington_Macaulay,_Baron_Macaulay_by_John_Partridge.jpg) Lord [Thomas Macaulay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Macaulay "Thomas Macaulay"), who chaired the commission that introduced laws such as 377A. The [British Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Parliament "British Parliament") formed the [Indian Law Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_Commission_of_India "Law Commission of India") in 1833.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 10–11 Lord [Thomas Macaulay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Macaulay "Thomas Macaulay") was appointed to chair the commission. The 1837 draft of the [Indian Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Penal_Code "Indian Penal Code") was largely his work. It took 23 years for his work to be reviewed by the commission and the Supreme Court judges in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Madras. The code was adopted in 1860 and took effect 1 January 1862.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11 Macaulay's draft did not reflect existing Indian (or other Asian cultures) laws or customs. It was largely a rewrite of the British Royal Commission's 1843 draft code.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Sanders-3): 11 The adopted draft included a Section 377 (quoted above), but there were many ambiguities in the section, including the question of what had to penetrate what. These in turn let future jurists redefine what these provisions actually punished.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 18 Under [Buddhist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_law "Buddhist law") and [Hindu law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_law "Hindu law") in most of Asia, consensual intercourse between members of the same sex was never an offence. In the new Indian Penal Code, however, Section 377 criminalised "carnal intercourse against the order of nature", derived from words attributed to Sir [Edward Coke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Coke "Edward Coke") in the seventeenth century.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 14–15 Section 377A "(Outrages on decency" was added to the sub-title "Unnatural offences" in the [Straits Settlements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_Settlements "Straits Settlements") in 1938.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-Legacy-9): 20 Both sections were absorbed unchanged into the [Singapore Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Penal_Code "Singapore Penal Code") when the latter was passed by Singapore's [Legislative Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislative_Council "Legislative Council") on 28 January 1955. ### Original Section 377 \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Original Section 377")\] Unnatural sex or [sodomy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy "Sodomy") was not defined in the Indian Penal Code drafted by the British. Legal records show that Indian legislators in the 19th and early 20th centuries interpreted "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" between individuals (of all sexes – the law being non-gender specific with its use of the word "whoever") to include [anal sex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_sex "Anal sex"), [bestiality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestiality "Bestiality") and, often after much courtroom deliberation, [oral sex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_sex "Oral sex") as well, i.e. any form of sexual penetration which did not have the potential for procreation. Therefore, both heterosexual and homosexual oral and anal sex were criminal offences. In this particular positive sense, Section 377 did not discriminate against homosexuals, although the permission of vaginal penetration left homosexuals exclusively prohibited from performing penetrative sex. The prohibition against oral sex was at odds with [British sodomy law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buggery_Act_1533 "Buggery Act 1533"), whose case law did not cover oral penetration.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-10) Section 377, however, in early cases tried in India mainly involved forced [fellatio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellatio "Fellatio") with unwilling male children and one unusual case of [sexual intercourse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_intercourse "Sexual intercourse") with the nostril of a [buffalo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Buffalo "Water Buffalo"). In the Singaporean context, the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") eventually held that [heterosexual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexual "Heterosexual") [fellatio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellatio "Fellatio") was exempted if indulged in as [foreplay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreplay "Foreplay") which eventually leads to [coitus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coitus "Coitus"):[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-11) This rationale explicitly confirmed that oral or anal penetration as a *substitute* for vaginal-penile penetration was permitted, whereas oral stimulation - including penetration of the oral cavity - could be practised as an introduction (or even prerequisite) to heterosexual sexual penetration, and hence outside the scope of the law. > \[I\]t is a fact of life, in humans as well as in animals, that before the act of copulation takes place there is foreplay to stimulate the sex urge. Kissing is the most common although there are several others... > > Of course, this form of contrectation \[fellatio or cunnilingus\] may not recommend itself to everyone for stimulating the sex urge. Even a man and a woman engaged in consensual sexual intercourse may draw the line at fellatio or cunnilingus. But the fact remains that it is practised by some. We note...that \[there is\] some statistical evidence...of these forms of oral sex being practised in Singapore. We cannot shut our minds to it. > > \[W\]hen couples engaged in consensual sexual intercourse willingly indulge in fellatio and cunnilingus as a stimulant to their respective sexual urges, neither act can be considered to be against the order of nature and punishable under s 377 of the Penal Code. In every other instance the act of fellatio between a man and a woman will be carnal intercourse against the order of nature and punishable under s 377. The Singaporean margin note of the original Section 377 further explained that mere penetration of the [penis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_penis "Human penis") into the [anus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anus "Anus") or mouth even without orgasm would constitute the offence. The law applied regardless of the act being consensual between both parties and done in private. Section 377 was repealed in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-12) and replaced with a new Section 377 criminalising sex with dead bodies ("Sexual penetration of a corpse"), which was substituted in its place.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-13) Section 377A was introduced into the Singapore Penal Code in 1938 to criminalise all other non-penetrative sexual acts. It is descended from the [Labouchere Amendment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labouchere_Amendment "Labouchere Amendment").[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-14)\[*[unreliable source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources "Wikipedia:Reliable sources")*\] In the local context, "[gross indecency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_indecency_between_men "Gross indecency between men")" is a broad term which, from a review of past cases locally, has been applied to [mutual masturbation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_masturbation "Mutual masturbation"), genital contact, or even lewd behaviour without direct physical contact. As with the former Section 377, performing such acts in private does not constitute a defence. The law does not criminalise sex between females, only between males.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-nus-15) > Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-16) — *Outrages on decency*, Section 377A, Singapore Penal Code Its original mother statute, Section 377 (since repealed), criminalised any sexual act that went "against the order of nature":[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-17) > Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animals, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation. Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section. — Singapore Penal Code, Section 377 The [Ministry of Home Affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Home_Affairs_\(Singapore\) "Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)") (MHA) was quoted in *[The Straits Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Straits_Times "The Straits Times")* of 18 September 2007 saying that public feedback on the issue had been "emotional, divided and strongly expressed", with a majority of people calling for Section 377A to be retained.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-18) The MHA also said that it recognised that "we are generally a conservative society and that we should let the situation evolve". On 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the "Repeal 377A" website[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-19) to gather signatories for an [open letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_letter "Open letter") to the Prime Minister calling for the repeal of Section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website "Keep 377A"[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-20) was set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government's retention of the law. By 1:30 p.m. on 20 October, Keep377A had overtaken Repeal377A by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-21) As [online petitions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_petition "Online petition"), both websites suffered the same doubts regarding the credibility of the numbers of their signatories. There was no mention of whether technical measures were taken to ensure that multiple-voting by the same person was prevented. In 2018, an Ipsos survey found that 55% of Singapore residents supported retaining Section 377A.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-22) Shortly after the [Penal Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_Code_\(Singapore\) "Penal Code (Singapore)") review report was released on 9 September 2018,[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-23) a movement known as Ready4Repeal launched a petition to campaign for Section 377A to be repealed, even though MHA and [Ministry of Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Law_\(Singapore\) "Ministry of Law (Singapore)") said there were no plans to do so. The petition attracted 44,650 signatures. Ready4Repeal also held a town hall meeting on 30 September 2018, which over 800 people attended. In contrast, a petition calling for Section 377A to be kept attracted more than 109,000 signatures after it closed on 24 September 2018.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-24) In 2022, Ipsos made another survey, noting that this figure had dropped to 44% compared to its 2018 survey, amid changing attitudes towards same-sex relationships.[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-2022_survey-4) ## Constitutional challenges \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Constitutional challenges")\] Section 377A was repeatedly challenged before the [courts of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Singapore "Judicial system of Singapore") as being [unconstitutional](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconstitutionality "Unconstitutionality"). All challenges were chiefly based on [Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_12_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore "Article 12 of the Constitution of Singapore"), which guarantees all persons [equality before the law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_before_the_law "Equality before the law"), and [Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore "Article 9 of the Constitution of Singapore"), which guarantees all persons the [right to life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_life "Right to life") and the [right to personal liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_freedom "Political freedom"). ### *Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General* \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Tan Eng Hong v. Attorney-General")\] On 24 September 2010, criminal lawyer [M Ravi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_Ravi "M Ravi") filed an application in the [High Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_Singapore "High Court of Singapore") to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting adult male in a locked cubicle of a public toilet.[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-25) On 19 March 2011, Tan's case was thrown out of court by High Court justice [Lai Siu Chiu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lai_Siu_Chiu "Lai Siu Chiu"), citing "a lack of a real controversy" for the court to deal with.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-26) This is important, as according to the [Rules of Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threshold_issues_in_Singapore_administrative_law "Threshold issues in Singapore administrative law") ([Cap. 322 § 80, O 18 r. 19, 1996 Rev. Ed.](http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident=07b5ba9f-456a-4e84-92b8-4f894c953dd7;page=0;query=DocId%3A9c08961a-718d-4fe6-b2e0-df0963d62b05%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0#legis)), only cases which are not "frivolous" may be argued. However, on 21 August 2012, the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") reversed Lai's decision, ruling that 377A did "affect the lives of a not insignificant portion of \[Singaporeans\] in a very real and intimate way" and that the case would proceed once again in the High Court.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-27) Tan's case was finally heard on 6 March 2013,[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-28) and decided against him by justice Quentin Loh on 2 October 2013.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-29) In his ruling, Loh wrote that the issue was one of "morality and societal values" and if it were to be changed, it would have to be by Singapore's [Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament "Parliament"). Tan appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and his case was joined at his request as an [intervening party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervention_\(law\) "Intervention (law)") with *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General* (below), which was also pending before the Court of Appeal, on 11 October 2013.[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-30) ### *Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General* \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Lim Meng Suang and another v. Attorney-General")\] After Tan's successful appeal to be heard by the court, a separate constitutional challenge was filed on 30 November 2012 on behalf of Lim Meng Suang and Kenneth Chee Mun-leon, a gay couple of fifteen years, by attorney Peter Low.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-31)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-32) The case was heard *[in camera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_camera "In camera")* on 14 February 2013,[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-33) and decided against them by justice Quentin Loh on 9 April 2013, for much the same reasons as his decision against Tan (above).[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-34) Lim and Chee appealed to the Court of Appeal on 30 April 2013.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-35)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-36) In July 2013, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, they hired two highly esteemed lawyers: Deborah Barker, Senior Counsel at [KhattarWong LLP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sat_Pal_Khattar#Business_career "Sat Pal Khattar"), and British lawyer, [Debevoise & Plimpton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debevoise_%26_Plimpton "Debevoise & Plimpton") [partner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partner_lawyer "Partner lawyer") and former [Attorney General for England and Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_General_for_England_and_Wales "Attorney General for England and Wales") [Lord Peter Henry Goldsmith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Henry_Goldsmith "Peter Henry Goldsmith").[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-37) Goldsmith had agreed to take the case [without pay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_bono "Pro bono"),[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-38) but that September was disallowed from arguing the case before the court by Justice [V. K. Rajah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._K._Rajah "V. K. Rajah"), as he believed that the legal issues were arguable by domestic lawyers, which is preferred by [Singapore law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_law "Singapore law").[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-39) On 29 October 2014, more than four years after the original challenge by Tan, the Court of Appeal, the highest court in Singapore, rejected Lim and Chee's challenge, finally ending the case.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:0-40)[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:1-41) The court held that 377A was consistent with Article 9 as it is meant to protect against [unlawful imprisonment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_imprisonment "Unlawful imprisonment"), and that it was consistent with Article 12 as it only mentions [religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion "Religion"), [race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_\(human_categorization\) "Race (human categorization)") and [place of birth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_of_birth "Place of birth")—not [gender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender "Gender"), [sexual orientation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation "Sexual orientation"), or [sex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex "Sex").[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:0-40) As in all judgments before, the court held that any [legal remedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_remedy "Legal remedy") would have to come about through an [Act of Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Parliament "Act of Parliament").[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:0-40) Compared to news of [LGBT rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights "LGBT rights") in other nations such as [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia "LGBT rights in Russia") and [the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_States "LGBT rights in the United States"), the case and final appeal received little attention outside Singapore.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-42) *[The Huffington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huffington_Post "The Huffington Post")* featured Chee and Lim's story prominently under the headline "How One of the World's Richest Countries Is Limiting Basic Human Rights"[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-43) and [*Bloomberg*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_News "Bloomberg News") also published an article on the ruling.[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:1-41) ### *Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters* \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Ong Ming Johnson v. Attorney-General and other matters")\] On 29 August 2018, Professor [Ho Kwon Ping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Kwon_Ping "Ho Kwon Ping") in his talk questioned the need for Section 377A in Singapore.[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-44) After India's Supreme Court decriminalised sex between two people of the same sex, with Professor [Tommy Koh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Koh "Tommy Koh") encouraging a constitutional challenge of Section 377A and chief of Singapore government communications Mr [Janadas Devan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janadas_Devan "Janadas Devan") hoping that Section 377A would go,[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-45) several constitutional challenges have been brought to the [Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Singapore "Supreme Court of Singapore"). The first challenge after India's ruling was filed on 10 September 2018 by Johnson Ong, known by stage name DJ Big Kid, and was based on Article 9 of the [Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Singapore "Constitution of Singapore").[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-46) The second challenge was filed by [LGBT rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights "LGBT rights") activist Choong Chee Hong in November 2018 and argues that Section 377A is inconsistent with Articles 9, 12 and [14](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_14_of_the_Constitution_of_Singapore "Article 14 of the Constitution of Singapore") of the Constitution.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-47) A third was filed by retired general practitioner Tan Seng Kee on 20 September 2019, also based on Articles 9, 12 and 14 of the Constitution. In addition, he argued that although the Government will not enforce the law on acts done in private, the Public Prosecutor can decide whether to prosecute someone under Section 377A, which would be inconsistent with Section 14 of the [Criminal Procedure Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Procedure_Code "Criminal Procedure Code"), which requires the police to "unconditionally investigate all complaints of suspected arrestable offences".[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-48) On 30 March 2020, justice [See Kee Oon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_Kee_Oon "See Kee Oon") consolidated the three challenges into one case and ruled against them, arguing that the law was intended to safeguard morals and prosecute all forms of indecency between men whether in public or private, and not just male prostitution when the law was made in 1938. He also stated that there's no strong scientific evidence that a person's sexual orientation is unchangeable, and once again ruled that [Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Singapore "Parliament of Singapore") is the proper venue for repeal.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-49)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-50) Appeals were filed on 31 March 2020.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-51) On 28 February 2022, it was ruled by the [Court of Appeal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_Appeal_of_Singapore "Court of Appeal of Singapore") that, because the law is not enforced, the constitutional challenges against it had failed.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-NFCOL-1)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-52) ## Repeal of Section 377A \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Section_377A_\(Singapore\)&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Repeal of Section 377A")\] On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee announced during his 2022 [National Day Rally](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_Rally "National Day Rally") speech that Section 377A would be repealed by the government. Lee stated that "I believe this is the right thing to do and something that most Singaporeans will now accept. This will bring the law into line with current social norms and, I hope, provide some relief to gay Singaporeans." Laws to repeal 377A were introduced on 20 October, with a two-day debate that started on 28 November.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:2-5)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:3-6) [![Wikisource logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) English [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: On 29 November 2022, the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which repealed Section 377A, passed in Parliament following a 10-hour debate that had begun the day prior. A total of 96 MPs voted on the topic of repeal, with all 83 [People's Action Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Action_Party "People's Action Party") (PAP) MPs and three WP's MPs voting in favour, while two other WP's MPs, Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck, voted against.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) All members of the ruling party PAP voted according to the party's position as the party whip was not lifted, while WP lifted its party whip.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-53) With a vote of 85 to 2, a constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage from legal challenge was approved. Two Workers Party MPs, [Sylvia Lim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Lim "Sylvia Lim") and [He Ting Ru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Ting_Ru "He Ting Ru"), abstained from the vote.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-StraitsRepealed-7) [Hazel Poa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Poa "Hazel Poa") and [Leong Mun Wai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leong_Mun_Wai "Leong Mun Wai"), both [Progress Singapore Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_Singapore_Party "Progress Singapore Party") [non-constituency Members of Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-constituency_Member_of_Parliament "Non-constituency Member of Parliament"), declared that they would oppose the proposed amendment because they think a national referendum should be held to decide what constitutes marriage.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-54) The bill was assented by President [Halimah Yacob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halimah_Yacob "Halimah Yacob") on 27 December 2022 and gazetted on 3 January 2023, thus Section 377A was struck off the books.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:4-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-:5-56) The Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, told Parliament in November 2022 that only a "small" number of people were convicted under the section for private consensual acts between adults from 1988 until 2007, when enforcement effectively ceased outright.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-strangio_2022-2) The Minister stated he would direct the Ministry for Home Affairs (MHA) to consider how these records could be purged. Days after the repeal bill passed, the MHA added that the records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A during that time period could have their criminal records [expunged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expunged "Expunged") and rendered spent.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_note-57) - [Criminal law of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law_of_Singapore "Criminal law of Singapore") - [LGBT rights in Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Singapore "LGBT rights in Singapore") - [Paragraph 175 (Germany)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paragraph_175_\(Germany\) "Paragraph 175 (Germany)") - [Pink Dot SG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Dot_SG "Pink Dot SG") - [Sodomy law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_law "Sodomy law") 1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-NFCOL_1-2) Lum, Selina (28 February 2022). ["Court of Appeal rules Section 377A stays but cannot be used to prosecute men for having gay sex"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/court-of-appeal-rules-section-377a-stays-but-cannot-be-used-to-prosecute-men-for-having-gay-sex). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. 2. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-strangio_2022_2-1) Strangio, Sebastian (30 November 2022). ["Singapore Repeals Archaic Law Criminalizing Sex Between Men"](https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/singapore-repeals-archaic-law-criminalizing-sex-between-men/). *The Diplomat*. Retrieved 9 December 2022. 3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Sanders_3-3) Douglas E. Sanders (2009). "377 and the Unnatural Afterlife of British Colonialism in Asia". *Asian Journal of Comparative Law*. **4** (1): 1–47\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.2202/1932-0205.1176](https://doi.org/10.2202%2F1932-0205.1176). \[D.E. Sanders: Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia; LL.M. Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Academic Committee Member, Doctoral Program in Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University\]. [PDF available](http://www.sxpolitics.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-version_377_sander.pdf) 4. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-2022_survey_4-1) Tham, Yuen-C (16 June 2022). ["Support for Section 377A drops as attitudes towards same-sex relationships shift, survey finds"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/support-for-section-377a-drops-as-attitudes-to-same-sex-relationships-shift-survey-finds). *[The Straits Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Straits_Times "The Straits Times")*. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 5. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:2_5-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:2_5-1) Ong, Justin (21 August 2022). ["NDR 2022: Govt to repeal Section 377A, amend Constitution to protect marriage definition from legal challenges"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ndr-2022-section-377a-repeal-constitution-1974206). *TODAY*. Singapore. Retrieved 21 August 2022. 6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:3_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:3_6-1) Tham, Yuen-C (21 August 2022). ["NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, but also amend Constitution to protect marriage from legal challenges"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2022-govt-will-repeal-section-377a-decriminalise-sex-between-men). *[The Straits Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Straits_Times "The Straits Times")*. Retrieved 7 November 2022. 7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-StraitsRepealed_7-2) Goh, Yan Han (29 November 2022). ["Parliament repeals Section 377A, endorses amendments protecting definition of marriage"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/parliament-repeals-section-377a-endorses-amendments-protecting-marriage-definition). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022. 8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-8)** ["S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. 3 January 2023. 9. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-Legacy_9-2) [""This Alien Legacy: The Origins of 'Sodomy' Laws in British Colonialism", Human Rights Watch, 2008"](https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/lgbt1208_web.pdf) (PDF). 10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-10)** R v Jacobs (1817) Russ & Ry 331 confirmed that buggery related only to intercourse per anum by a man with a man or woman, or intercourse per anum or per vaginam by either a man or a woman with an animal. Other forms of "unnatural intercourse" may amount to indecent assault or gross indecency, but do not constitute buggery (see generally: Smith & Hogan, Criminal Law (10th ed.) ISBN 0-406-94801-1) 11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-11)** *Public Prosecutor v Kwan Kwong Weng* \[1997\] 1 SLR(R) 316 at \[29\]–\[31\]. 12. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-12)** ["Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 - Singapore Statutes Online"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Acts-Supp/51-2007#pr70-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 13. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-13)** ["Penal Code 1871 - Singapore Statutes Online"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377-#pr377-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. Retrieved 23 August 2022. 14. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-14)** ["Romantic rabble v coy court"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/romantic-rabble-v-coy-court/). *Yawning Bread*. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2019. 15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-nus_15-0)** ["Section 377A in Singapore and the (De)Criminalization of Homosexuality"](http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/socrgb/radics_reconstruction_15.2.pdf) (PDF). [National University of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_University_of_Singapore "National University of Singapore"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180920152649/http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/socrgb/radics_reconstruction_15.2.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2019. "Section 377A only criminalizes sex between males, but not between females." 16. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-16)** ["Penal Code 1871"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PC1871?ProvIds=pr377A-). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-17)** Chua Kher Shing, Lynette J. (2003). ["Saying No: Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24868200). *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\. [JSTOR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSTOR_\(identifier\) "JSTOR (identifier)") [24868200](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24868200). 18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-18)** ["Singapore Lawmakers Debate Petition to Abolish Gay Sex Ban"](https://www.foxnews.com/story/singapore-lawmakers-debate-petition-to-abolish-gay-sex-ban). *[Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News")*. Associated Press. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2019. 19. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-19)** ["Repeal377A.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071011034642/http://www.repeal377a.com/). Archived from [the original](http://www.repeal377a.com/) on 11 October 2007. 20. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-20)** ["Keep377A.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516084324/http://www.keep377a.com/). 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.keep377a.com/) on 16 May 2008. 21. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-21)** ["keep377a overtakes repeal377a"](https://familyoverfreedom.blogspot.com/2007/10/keep377a-overtakes-repeal377a.html). Family\&Freedom. 20 October 2007. 22. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-22)** Ng, Gilaine (10 September 2018). ["55 per cent of Singapore residents support Section 377A: Ipsos survey"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/55-per-cent-of-singapore-residents-support-section-377a-ipsos-survey). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-23)** Mokhtar, Faris (9 September 2018). ["Penal Code set to undergo overhaul, to better protect vulnerable victims against abuse and sexual crimes"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/penal-code-set-undergo-overhaul-better-protect-vulnerable-victims-against-abuse-and-sexual). *Today*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2019. 24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-24)** Chua, Alfred (30 September 2018). ["Activists submit online petition, but Govt has 'no plans' to repeal S377A"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-has-no-plans-repeal-s377a-online-petition-gets-almost-45000-signatures). *Today*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 October 2019. 25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-25)** Keat, Leong Wee (29 November 2010). ["Lawyer challenges gay sex law"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101129195210/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100924-0000220/Lawyer-challenges-gay-sex-law). *[Today](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_\(Singapore_newspaper\) "Today (Singapore newspaper)")*. Archived from [the original](http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100924-0000220/Lawyer-challenges-gay-sex-law) on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 26. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-26)** Waipang, Alex Au (19 March 2011). ["High Court waves away 377A controversy"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/high-court-waves-away-377a-controversy/). *[Yawning Bread](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning_Bread "Yawning Bread")*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 27. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-27)** Andrew Phang Boon Leong JA, V K Rajah JA and Judith Prakash J (21 August 2012). ["Tan Eng Hong v Attorney-General"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161123061559/http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/14979-tan-eng-hong-v-attorney-general-2012-sgca-45). *singaporelaw.sg*. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/14979-tan-eng-hong-v-attorney-general-2012-sgca-45) on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 28. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-28)** ["Second of two 377A challenges may have to wait a long time for a decision"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/second-of-two-377a-challenges-may-have-to-wait-a-long-time-for-a-decision/). *Yawning Bread*. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 29. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-29)** ["Singapore High Court upholds anti-gay law in Tan Eng Hong's case"](http://www.fridae.asia/gay-news/2013/10/02/12449.singapore-high-court-upholds-anti-gay-law-in-tan-eng-hongs-case). *Fridae: Connecting Gay Asia*. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 30. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-30)** ["Court of Appeal Does Right By Tan Eng Hong: Joint hearing for section 377A appeals"](https://ionsg.blogspot.com/2013/10/court-of-appeal-does-right-by-tan-eng.html). IonSG. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 31. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-31)** ["Singapore couple sue to end sodomy law"](http://sdgln.com/news/2012/12/01/singapore-couple-sue-end-sodomy-law). *San Diego Gay and Lesbian News*. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 32. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-32)** Waipang, Alex Au (2 December 2012). ["New constitutional challenge to Section 377A filed"](https://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/new-constitutional-challenge-to-section-377a-filed/). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 33. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-33)** Lim, Leonard (14 February 2013). ["Legal challenge to Section 377A begins in the High Court; judgment reserved"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/legal-challenge-to-section-377a-begins-in-the-high-court-judgment-reserved). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 34. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-34)** Wong, Tessa (9 April 2013). ["High Court upholds anti-gay sex law, dismisses legal challenge"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/high-court-upholds-anti-gay-sex-law-dismisses-legal-challenge). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 35. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-35)** ["Gay Singaporean couple file appeal over ban on private consensual sex"](http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/07/12/gay-singaporean-couple-file-appeal-over-ban-on-private-consensual-sex/). *LGBT Weekly*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 36. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-36)** AndrewPhang Boon Leong JA, Belinda Ang Saw Ean J and WooBih Li J (28 October 2014). ["Lim Meng Suang and another v Attorney-Generaland another appeal and another matter"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220090911/http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/15754-lim-meng-suang-and-another-v-attorney-generaland-another-appeal-and-another-matter-2014-sgca-53). *singaporelaw.sg*. Court of Appeal of Singapore. Archived from [the original](http://www.singaporelaw.sg/sglaw/laws-of-singapore/case-law/free-law/court-of-appeal-judgments/15754-lim-meng-suang-and-another-v-attorney-generaland-another-appeal-and-another-matter-2014-sgca-53) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 37. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-37)** Xin, Sia Ling (9 July 2013). ["S'pore gay couple hire top lawyers for Section 377A appeal"](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/s%E2%80%99pore-gay-couple-hire-top-lawyers-for-section-377a-appeal-032652503.html). *Yahoo! News Singapore*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 38. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-38)** Kriegler, Yun (11 July 2013). ["Goldsmith to challenge Singaporean government on anti-gay laws"](https://www.thelawyer.com/issues/online-july-2013/goldsmith-to-challenge-singaporean-government-on-anti-gay-laws/). *The Lawyer*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 39. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-39)** Burton, Lucy (20 September 2013). ["Goldsmith kicked off anti-gay challenge by Singapore High Court in favour of local counsel"](https://www.thelawyer.com/issues/online-september-2013/goldsmith-kicked-off-anti-gay-challenge-by-singapore-high-court-in-favour-of-local-counsel/). *The Lawyer: Advancing the business of law*. 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Retrieved 1 October 2019. 45. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-45)** Yahya, Yasmine (7 September 2018). ["Tommy Koh's Facebook comment reignites debate on Singapore's gay sex law"](https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/tommy-kohs-facebook-post-on-gay-sex-law-reignites-debate-on-singapores-penal-code). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 1 October 2019. 46. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-46)** Chua, Alfred (12 September 2018). ["Repeal of section 377A will end 'online vitriol and abuse' against LGBTQ community, says DJ who filed legal challenge"](https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/dj-mounts-fresh-legal-challenge-against-section-377a). *Today*. Retrieved 1 October 2019. 47. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-47)** Alkhatib, Shaffiq (22 January 2019). 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Retrieved 30 March 2020. 50. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-50)** *Ong Ming Johnson v Attorney-General and other matters* , 2020 SGHC 63 ([High Court of the Republic of Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_the_Republic_of_Singapore "High Court of the Republic of Singapore") 30 March 2020). 51. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-51)** Kurohi, Rei (31 March 2020). ["Two men file appeals against High Court decision to dismiss Section 377A challenge"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/two-men-file-appeals-against-high-court-decision-to-dismiss-section-377a-challenge). *The Straits Times*. Retrieved 19 April 2020. 52. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-52)** ["Singapore's top court dismisses attempt to overturn gay sex ban"](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapores-top-court-dismisses-attempt-overturn-gay-sex-ban-2022-02-28/). *Reuters*. 28 February 2022. 53. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-53)** ["'Only reason why we can have a decision in Parliament': Shanmugam on PAP imposing whip for Section 377A"](https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/only-reason-why-we-can-have-decision-parliament-shanmugam-pap-imposing-whip-section-377a). *AsiaOne*. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022. 54. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-54)** Iau, Jean (28 November 2022). ["PSP supports repeal of S377A, calls for national referendum on definition of marriage"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/psp-supports-repeal-of-s377a-calls-for-national-referendum-on-definition-of-marriage). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 December 2022. 55. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:4_55-0)** Goh, Yan Han (3 January 2023). ["S377A officially repealed after President Halimah gives assent to Bill"](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s377a-officially-repealed-as-president-assents-to-changes-to-legislation). *The Straits Times*. Singapore. Retrieved 3 January 2023. 56. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-:5_56-0)** ["Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2022"](https://sso.agc.gov.sg//Acts-Supp/39-2022/Published/20230103?DocDate=20230103). *Singapore Statutes Online*. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023. 57. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377A_\(Singapore\)#cite_ref-57)** Ming, Lee Chong (30 November 2022). ["MHA to consider records of 17 people convicted under Section 377A between 1988 and 2007"](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/377a-criminal-record-rendered-spent-gay-sex-3112701). *Channel News Asia*. Retrieved 10 December 2022. - Heijmans, Philip (29 November 2022). ["Singapore Repeals Ban on Sex Between Men in a Cautious Step"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-29/singapore-parliament-repeals-colonial-era-ban-on-sex-between-men). *Bloomberg*. Retrieved 9 December 2022. - Young, Ted (24 October 2007). ["Our Time Has Come"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071025033626/http://www.trevvy.com/scoops/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3). [Trevvy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevvy "Trevvy"). Archived from [the original](http://www.trevvy.com/scoops/article.php?a_id=229&c_id=3) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007. - Original PDF version of the academic paper, "377 and the unnatural afterlife of British colonialism" by Douglas Saunders, August 2007:[\[1\]](http://signelwiki003.pbworks.com/w/file/36066434/douglas_sanders_377_unnatural_afterlife.pdf). - Au, Alex (May 2007). ["Why section 377A is redundant"](http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2007/yax-749.htm). *[Yawning Bread](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning_Bread "Yawning Bread")*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Gopalan, Mohan (May 2007). ["A heftier list of s. 377A cases"](http://www.yawningbread.org/guest_2007/guw-136.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Au, Alex (March 2005). ["The picture that emerges"](http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2005/yax-424.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Au, Alex (March 2005). ["List of section 377 and 377A cases"](http://www.yawningbread.org/apdx_2005/imp-192.htm). *Yawning Bread*. Retrieved 20 October 2007. - Chua, Lynette J. Kher Shing (2003). "Saying No : Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code". *Singapore Journal of Legal Studies*: 209–261\. . - \[Lim\], Wee Kuan (1 October 2002). ["Gay law : Emancipation and emasculation"](http://www.oursafehaven.com/activities/gaylaw.htm). Safehaven, Free Community Church. Retrieved 20 October 2007. A review of all Singaporean laws governing homosexual behaviour. - [Keep377A.com](http://www.keep377a.com/) – previous campaign for the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code - [Repeal377a.com](https://web.archive.org/web/20071011034642/http://www.repeal377a.com/) – previous campaign for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code - [Singapore Daily page on 377A](https://web.archive.org/web/20080618181545/http://singaporedaily.net/s377a/) – collection of blogger postings on section 377A of the Penal Code - [Archive of newsclips relating to Section 377A](https://www.youtube.com/user/groyn88#grid/user/F7E6986EBBDEF252) – a YouTube playlist - [Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A](https://www.blowingwind.io/forum/index.php?/topic/26979-wikileaks-usembassy-report-of-the-singapore-2007-section-377a-repeal/) Wikileaks US Embassy report of Section 377A

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