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23 Apr 2007

singapore's lee kuan yew questions gay sex law

Nearly a decade after his widely quoted remarks about the gay issue in Singapore in a 1998 CNN interview, former PM Lee Kuan Yew again commented on the issue over the weekend - this time acknowledging that homosexuality might be genetically determined and questioned the city-state's ban on sex between men.

Speaking at a weekend meeting with the youth wing of the People's Action Party, Singapore's ruling political party, Singapore's founding father was quoted as saying by the Straits Times: "If in fact it is true, and I have asked doctors this, that you are genetically born a homosexual - because that's the nature of the genetic random transmission of genes - you can't help it. So why should we criminalise it?"

He was replying to a question from Young PAP activist Loretta Chen, who feels that current censorship guidelines are ambiguous and had asked where censorship was headed in the next two decades. The theatre director referenced her recent controversial play 251 about Singaporean porn actress Annabel Chong which dealt with pornography, performance art and alternative sexualities.

Referring to homosexuality, Minister Mentor Lee - the father of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - said that it is an issue that "raises tempers all over the world, and even in America," further noting that there is a "strong inhibition" in all societies - be they Christian, Islamic, Hindu or Chinese.

"And we are now confronted "with a persisting aberration."

"But is it an aberration?" he asked.

"It's a genetic variation.

"So what do we do? I think we pragmatically adjust, carry our people...don't upset them and suddenly upset their sense of propriety and right and wrong.

"But at the same time let's not go around like this moral police...barging into people's rooms. That's not our business.

"So you have to take a practical, pragmatic approach to what I see is an inevitable force of time and circumstance."

In 1998, Lee responded to a question from an unnamed caller, who asked for the then Senior Minister's view about the future for gay people in Singapore during a call-in program on CNN International.

Lee replied: "Well, it's not a matter which I can decide or any government can decide. It's a question of what a society considers acceptable. And as you know, Singaporeans are by and large a very conservative, orthodox society, a very, I would say, completely different from, say, the United States and I don't think an aggressive gay rights movement would help. But what we are doing as a government is to leave people to live their own lives so long as they don't impinge on other people. I mean, we don't harass anybody."

Section 377A of the Penal Code currently provides for a 2-year jail term for "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."

The Home Affairs Ministry announced last year that although anal and oral sex in private among between consenting heterosexual adults will soon be decriminalised as part if the citystate's first major penal code amendments in 22 years, it would retain the ban on sexual acts between men. The ministry later added that it would not be 'proactive' in enforcing this law against consensual acts that take place in private.



Was MM Lee Kuan Yew asking a rhetorical question when he said, "Why should we criminalise it [homosexuality]?" Click here to read more from Alex Au as he picks MM Lee's remarks and related media reports apart.

读者回应

1. 2007-04-23 16:32  
Genetic variation, my foot. All i can say is, the govt is avoiding this issue cos of fear from the public going against their personal stand. Cos the public has been supporting the govt over the years. And a decision to change the 377A Penal Code law would provoke the ultra conservative people that makes up the majority of the society to vote against the govt in the next upcoming general election. The govt would do anything to keep their @$$ on the line.

Again, i have to mention that Singaporeans need to wake up and smell the roses, what century is this? Even China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan are repealing their laws of gay sex. ven though they are ultra conservative societies. C'mon, if Singapore is often claimed as a first world contry, then act like one!!
2. 2007-04-23 16:48  
Whatever lah.....
3. 2007-04-23 17:12  
is anal and oral sex less indecent between heterosexual couples?
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回应#5於被作者删除。
6. 2007-04-23 17:50  
i say a referendum on this is long overdue.
回应#7於被作者删除。
8. 2007-04-23 18:04  
at least it's slowly moving intot the 'right' direction.
回应#9於被作者删除。
10. 2007-04-23 18:21  
is this news?? or new??
time changes and people changed as time passed too.


but i have to admit this.
is never an easy task for anyone like him to talk about this at the age that most peope wil think whoever said this at this age must be having some thinking problem.
give a cheers for that

when we blamed all this people in banning this and that , maybe we should look at how are we going to improved in ourself. are we really so united ? do we actually care about each other that much ? are we really will stand up for one another when thing happened? will we lend a helping had when our 'friends' are in trouble?



i don't think so many will do that . is more like i do what i like and you can carry on with what you like . isn't that true for so many of the gay guys here in singapore? wen we point our little finger at someone or some area. there is always at least 3 of our finger that is pointing at us. think about that . when next time , before we point again . ask ourself this. have we united yet ????



everyone here talk about gay rights,
but actually how many peope stand up for that when thing happened ?
if so many of you guys out there have such strong feeling and mindset wanna make a change to all this? come on , stand up for it, don't just talk , action wil be so much better.
and please do question aout that right infront of those people and not when they talk about it and all you guys can do is just talk about it. formed a group, make it loud, let others hear you.
isn't that wil be so much better than just grumble here ???
11. 2007-04-23 18:51  
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew ruled with a hand of steel but with great wisdom. Singapore, once inconspicuous and behind, become an Asian dragon to recon with under his leadership.
Like many people who have heard and read his speeches, I have only kudos for him. And again, my kudos this time for his authoritative views on gays. 3 Cheers for him!
12. 2007-04-23 23:57  
It's time for Singapore to progress as open minden nation and legalize not only consenting gay sex but also first Gay Marriage and equal rights in Asia.

Government should never be moral police, that's right. What happened in the privacy, it's not anybody's business.

This is a good step for Singapore progress.

It's about time.
13. 2007-04-23 23:57  
I don't like that guy, never did, never will.
14. 2007-04-24 00:08  
Lets get one thing straight.
He's a politician, and a darn good one at being one.
A politician usually makes politically correct statement.
A good one can make a statement which gets both opposing sides to stand up and applaud.

Come the day of eternal rest, i plan to make a special trip to Sg soonest, stand over the stone and offer something that comes from deep within myself.
15. 2007-04-24 00:08  
Would a Fortune 500 boycott of trade shows, meetings, etc., help?
16. 2007-04-24 00:17  
Right, Singapore government shouldn't "proactively" enforce Section 377A of Penal Code against consensual acts that take place in private (not public/common places).

回应#17於被作者删除。
18. 2007-04-24 02:39  
screw u! enough of crap and bullshit.
19. 2007-04-24 05:21  
Genetic origin... Our likely next French president, Sarkozy, believes that paedophilia, suicide and criminality have genetic origins. If you liked this, you'll love the sequel: he laments that one has not found a cure for them yet. Did you say eugenism? Some gay activists in the US have campaigned for the genetic origin of homosexuality (activism is not a very scientific approach). Their reasoning is that people will react like Lee Kwan Yew. But they also got another result: that some people from the Christian right are now talking of curing homosexuality by genetic engineering.

Personally I think this is all scrap. But eugenism has some history. Some 80 years ago it was very much en vogue in progressive European circles, who wanted to "improve" humankind. Then it was taken up by the fascists (Mussolini and especially Hitler) with this twist: cleanse the "bad specimens". He implemented it thorougly and there were pink triangles.

The genetic temptation is double-edged. Let's never forget it.
20. 2007-04-24 05:56  
I wish men can also be satisfied with 1 man in ther life instead of being unfaithful but thats men. Men will be men

I wish my family can just live with the truth that I like men...

I want to love someone so that person can love me back

I want to be a happy person inside and outisde

Sometimes I question God why gay species was created. Some say its the work of the Devil but gays are known to be sensitive and have compasion but yet they are many who are just as self center as they can be but who isn,t...

This is my journey of life

I am 35..I don,t wish anymore, I don,t hope anymore but I have faith. I go as what has been plan for me in this life......

R u somewhere?...come close , don,t run..don,t go. Just be here....
21. 2007-04-24 07:10  
"Nearly a decade after" .... how sad is it to realize that after 10 years nothing has changed and that the "Singaporeans are by and large a very conservative, orthodox society" flag is still being shoved in peoples faces. Its a tired phrase already, and needs to be retired. It really shows how out of touch the gorvenment is with its people, but then considering they want to give themselves nice big fat pay rises isn't really surprising is it.
22. 2007-04-24 07:57  
He is standing on the fence. The speech is neither offensive to both homo and hetero. Basically we should be at where we are, hiding in the room....
Somehow the society sistem has to change. We are living in a globalisation era. There is no culture boundary as we used to have in the past. If the current thinking does not change, we will be bounded at where we are.
23. 2007-04-24 08:00  
Come on guys, you are still in the dark ages. How can Singapore pretend to be such a high tech society when your governors are still picking insects out of each other's hair?
24. 2007-04-24 08:48  
That was funny weisielei...lol
and you're right vincenttheon
25. 2007-04-24 09:53  
"Genetic variation"????
Singapore and The US are similar police states and they both go against homosexuality. This is very dangerous grounds we're getting into, here.
If the (corrupted) international medical establishment succeds (with the help of the state) in asserting we are a "genetic variation" , they will probably pass laws to exterminate us because we are "genetically defficient".
26. 2007-04-24 10:35  
MM Lee's telling us that he recognises that homosexuality is not a medical problem nor an aberration. However, he can't do anything about it as Singapore's society is a conservative one.. They won't actively pursue or condemn gay sex.

I'm quite relieved to know that MM Lee is clear-headed about this. *applauds*

By and large, I think the current younger generations are quite okay with homosexuality.. so we just have to wait a few more decades for.. the younger generation to become the older, and homosexuality become more widely accepted. I just hope it comes to a day when gay people can openly hold hands on the streets.
27. 2007-04-24 10:50  
And Singapore pretends to be a civilised society! How quaint!
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回应#29於被作者删除。
30. 2007-04-24 11:18  
to drelin and disundi -

There is a distinction between saying something is a genetic variation and that it is a genetic aberration (or deficiency as disundi puts it).

Recognising that something is a genetic predisposition is good for us. Why - because it puts being gay beyond the realm of morality. Morality connotes a choice between divergent paths, so if there is no element of choice, morality cannot speak. In the same way if you were born female, or black, etc. it is a genetic inevitability and persecution would be wrong.

Whereas if you say it is a genetic aberration, it is going one extra step. It is no longer value-neutral. It evinces the presumption that there are "desirable" and "undesirable" traits. Therefore being gay is inevitable but undesirable, and should be eliminated. I think there's a serious and very obvious moral boundary to cross from the former pronouncement to the latter; accepting genetic predisposition is not equable, and is in fact diametrically opposed, to endorsing eugenics.

I think we should all be fortified by the fact that conventional morality weighs heavily against genetic selectivity and "cleansing" - the legacy of World War II, no doubt.
31. 2007-04-24 11:50  
Well good morning sunshine! Did you just wake up to reality?
32. 2007-04-24 12:21  
My fellow gay S'pore citizens/permanent residents, Have u seen how the world news is talking about this news? Just do a search on S'pore news and almost every major news media gave coverage on MM Lee's speech on this. I would just like to take a view from one from Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSIN33351020070423

If S'pore Founding Father has spoken his peace/piece and thinks that while homosexuality shouldn't be criminalised and the root problem is not widely accepted in Singapore, yet the world over knows we have thriving gay scene, obviously something is not in sync. If even the Singapore's Law Society are clamoring for a review of the laws against homosexual sex, which they view as outdated and archaic, then isn't it time for us, the very subject that the country, government and people is watching, learn to be OUT & PROUD of ourselves? I believe it is ONLY then that we can be widely accepted. What & How can we get the uniquely S'poreans to accept the uniquely us? Is it really that hard? Being a S'porean myself, I really don't think so. The people here actually are a very understanding lot. I just came out being gay for slightly over a year old and being a new gay, I observed that even the rest of the community like, your mother/father/relatives, colleagues, business associates etc are aware of the growing number of gays and lesbians around them. Just look around you and bet you can spot a gay/lesbian around the corner (or at all four corners if not already). I believe there is ALREADY an undercurrent accpetance in our society about gays. Yet, I find it strange that we go around nary acknowledging & affirming ourselves, fearing & feeling almost a sense of shame on ourselves. If we don't hv guts to hold your partner's hand in public, how can the public EVER get use to it? Why keep saying things may change in 20 years? Why not in 20 weeks?Every sign is in favour for us to come out already, I think this IS the time for S'pore gay organisations to come together & do a acceptance campaign to our fellow citizens and with a rousing support and presence of the gay. Let this moment be the impedus and birth for the nation's first gay march & parade perhaps and let's seize the moment to change history!
33. 2007-04-24 20:19  
Shonda, I agree with u. We need to make revolutionary change in order to change people perception. That is really a good suggestion.
Lately, I made a first move to reveal to one of my close str8 fren. And it was a good feeling for both parties to be honest to each other after a long friendship. It's not a matter of seeking acceptance of others, but it's a matter being open to others and claim to be what we are.
34. 2007-04-24 23:55  
It's quite ironic that this old man gets away with this genetic, born gay nonsense.

Maybe it's 50% genetics, 50% peers and environment. I have met many bisexual married men who were clueless about gays even after they have their 4th or 5th children. But they like it, resonate to it and thats the bottom line.

Even if it is all due to genetics, what gives this old man the right to talk down to us as if we're FLAWED?

What ever it is, it's a lifestyle CHOICE!

Ironic to see this old man, who was pulling all the strings in Sg for decades, or maybe half a century, put up his hands and question his successors why they did what they did.

Come judgement day, what are you gonna say when God ask you why you discriminate on his children?
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36. 2007-04-25 10:26  
I don't think MM Lee was saying that homos are flawed. I think he hinted that he believes that we're born this way - which is the truth, isn't it? Either you are, or you are not. There's no 'half-pregnant'.

If it is not genetics, then what is it? A psychological aberration? I don't think so. The medical and psychological society has already come to a firm conclusion that homosexuality is not an illness. And if genetics come into it, then it's not a question of morality nor religion.

I disagree with what DukeNukem says about it being a lifestyle choice. Is it really as simple as that? A choice? Does that mean that at any point in time, I can choose to 'turn straight' and stop lusting after men on the streets? Doesn't that prove those bible-thumping (no offence to anyone here) organisations that they are in the right? That homosexuality is simply a choice of the 'culprit' and that we can all choose to give it up - we just don't want to?

In the past, the whole world - not just MM Lee - misunderstood gays, even ourselves. Even now, many of us would rather stay in the closet. If now, we are better understood by society, and by an important member of the government, as NOT being an aberration (and I believe he is saying thus), isn't that a good thing?
37. 2007-04-25 22:55  
>Does that mean that at any point in time, I can choose to 'turn straight' and stop lusting after men on the streets?

Well there are many people who choose not to live a lie by getting married to a woman.

Besides, I know a high percentage of people who come from the not so urban area. They get married at a young age, breed like rabbits and one day, a more obvious homosexual enticed them into something they never even thought of before. And the rest is history. It's not one or two cases, but I would say about half....... I'm not refering to your country though. I'm talking about a bigger picture....way way way bigger. Get the hint?

Sigh, I guess LKY is somewhat right about infecting the heartlands.
38. 2007-05-02 00:47  
I believe that being gay is genetic. Why would an individual choose to be gay so that he or she have to deal with the hostilities from the parents & discriminations from society?
39. 2007-05-10 10:15  
Personally, I don't think it's genetic. I'm an idential twin and my other half is dead straight. I have friends who are twins, one of them is gay and the other straight too.

But whether it's genetic or by the influence of our environment, the end product is that we are gay. We cannot choose to change, and like what gamindc02 has said, why would an individual want to deal with the hostilities by being gay?

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