October 24th, 2007, 17:31
Singapore retains its gay sex ban
Singapore's parliament has voted against a proposal to decriminalise sex between men, despite receiving a petition signed by thousands of people.
The plan was part of a wider reform of sex laws, many dating from the British colonial era half a century ago.
The chamber passed a bill legalising oral and anal sex for the first time, but only between heterosexuals.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government did not consider gays to be a minority with minority rights.
In a rare speech to parliament, he said Singapore was a conservative society, and he wanted to keep it so.
Tuesday's vote means Singapore's anti-gay law 377A remains, although prosecutions are rare.
Under the legislation, a man caught committing an act of "gross indecency" with another man could be jailed for up to two years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7059300.stm
Singapore's parliament has voted against a proposal to decriminalise sex between men, despite receiving a petition signed by thousands of people.
The plan was part of a wider reform of sex laws, many dating from the British colonial era half a century ago.
The chamber passed a bill legalising oral and anal sex for the first time, but only between heterosexuals.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government did not consider gays to be a minority with minority rights.
In a rare speech to parliament, he said Singapore was a conservative society, and he wanted to keep it so.
Tuesday's vote means Singapore's anti-gay law 377A remains, although prosecutions are rare.
Under the legislation, a man caught committing an act of "gross indecency" with another man could be jailed for up to two years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7059300.stm