Singapore will repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Aug 21), confirming months of speculation that the government might move on to the law criminalizing sex between men.

But to guard against the move triggering a drastic shift in societal norms, the Government will also amend the Constitution to protect the definition of marriage as one between a man and a woman to stave off future legal challenges, he added.

Explaining the rationale for repeal, he noted that there is a significant risk of the law being struck down by judges in future legal challenges, and it would be unwise to ignore this and do nothing.

Societal attitudes towards gay people have also “shifted appreciably” and it is time to consider again whether sex between men in private should be a criminal offense, he added.