Regardless of sexual orientation

In a recent survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), nearly 70% of the 1800 respondents expressed their disapproval of same-sex relations in Singapore, reflective of Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam’s statement in 2018 where he mentioned that the majority of Singapore’s population is still in favour of keeping Section 377A of our Penal Code (A survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs last year also found that 55% of respondents were in favour of keeping the law). Hence, the result of this survey may not be surprising to many as it seems “normal” for us to disapprove of such relationships. However, with more countries growing more inclusive and accepting towards the LGBT community, perhaps it is time to shift our mindset and as someone who believes in equal rights for all, it feels apt to talk about why and how we should move in this direction and why we will move in this direction.

Why and how should we move in this direction?

To many Singaporeans, the issue of gay rights is not something that is always on our mind. There is clearly a lack of conversation on this issue. So, what should we start with? Perhaps one of the most common topics of this issue is same-sex marriage. As reflected in the survey, a majority of Singaporeans are against or have reservations against same-sex relations. Same-sex couples in Singapore are unable to officially marry here as the law forbids it and does not recognise these marriages. Similarly, the presence of Section 377A also seems to be an obstacle to the freedom to love as it criminalises sexual activities between men in both public and private areas. While criminalising such activities in public is normal, including “private areas” seems a tad bit too far. Yes, while it had been assured that this law is rarely enforced, it is however not about whether the law is enforced or if people are prosecuted for conducting such activities in private, it is about guaranteeing equal rights for the gay community in our Penal Code and this applies to the lack of ability for gay couples to wed as well. While some may argue that gay couples can still cohabit without an official marriage certificate, not having their relationship recognised by law means that it is not something they can express out loud with pride.

It is not simply just about the law, it is about respecting a minority community and ensuring that they have access to what the rest of the nation has. Not enforcing a law that is against the gay community or arguing that things can still be normal without laws protecting them is not enough because these are clear evidence that there is still a social stigma against them, against people around us, against Singaporeans who are no different from you and me.

So how can we approach this issue? We will have to target the crux of the issue: people’s mindset. Many people feel that homosexuality is scary or that it is a problem. This, while a wrong mindset, can be understandable. To a traditionally conservative nation, homosexuality is an unfamiliar topic and to fear the unfamiliar seems reasonable. However, it cannot be a mindset that stays because no matter how different the other community appears to be, there should not be a line between us. Hence, we will have to change our mindset.

Homosexuality is not a problem, it is an identity. No one chooses to be homosexual, people are gay because THEY ARE GAY, people are lesbians because THEY ARE LESBIANS and this is the same for transgenders, bisexuals and other sexual orientations. These are not things that need reverting or fixing, they are identities that need to be appreciated and accepted. When we adopt this mindset, everything will appear normal because we will see everyone as equals. Someone else’s gender inclination should not influence us in deciding what they deserve. We, as the majority, should open our hearts and minds and realise that by recognising their place in our society, we are creating a more vibrant community for ourselves as well.

Perhaps you are hindered by your beliefs or your warped perception of the community from adopting a fresh mindset. This is not a big issue, as long as we are willing to take steps to change, we can create change. Many countries have come a long way in shaping their inclusive society and it is not something that can change in an instance.

So why WILL we move towards this direction?

The world is moving towards inclusivity and protecting gay rights. In recent years, more countries are legalising gay rights - Ireland, USA, Germany and many more countries. The question of Section 377A was also only brought up when India repealed its Section 377A. Hence, it is certain that people are beginning to see the importance of providing equal rights to all communities and Singapore will not be an outlier. Domestically, we see a trend towards a more accepting society. Pink Dot movement began in Singapore in 2009 and just last year, it celebrated its 10th year with a clear increase in participants from its early years, signalling an increase in the number of Singaporeans willing to step up and make a stand in promoting gay rights.

Evidently, this is not something that can be accomplished by a few individuals, it requires a whole society to have a conversation on what is right and what is important. As we as a society decide on how we should progress in the next few years, hopefully, we will put the need to protect gay rights as one of our foci because remember, this is about respecting all Singaporeans and creating an inclusive community for all.

Regardless of race, language, religion or sexual orientation

(Cover photo by Peter Hershey)

By Eugene Goh