Fridae

Following two days of intense debate and a petition presented to Parliament by a NMP, Singapore's anti-gay law 377A – a relic of its colonial past – will remain as the proposed amendment Bill was passed on Tuesday evening.

Lawmakers in Singapore began a rigorous debate on the retention or repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code in the Parliament yesterday as voices calling for equal treatment of Singapore's gay citizens was heard possibly for the first time in the Parliament House.

The parliamentary petition organised last weekend had garnered 2,519 signatures from Singaporeans and Singapore residents, organisers revealed in a press statement on Thursday.

For the first time in the history of forums on gay issues in Singapore, a member of parliament from the ruling People's Action Party and a Nominated Member of Parliament were part of a 5-member panel convened to discuss whether homosexual acts should remain criminalised.