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Singapore’s decision to decriminalize sex between men is being hailed as a step in the right direction for LGBTQ rights in the Asia-Pacific region, a vast area of nearly 5 billion people with different laws and attitudes.
Although many places have decriminalized sexual acts between people of the same sex, only a few allow same-sex marriage, partnerships or unions. Singapore tempered its decision by saying it will amend its constitution to prevent such unions from ever taking place.
Many of the region’s bans on sex between men were instituted under British colonial rule in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the laws describe such acts as violations against the “order of nature.”
Here are some details on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region:
AUSTRALIA
All states and territories repealed gay sex bans between 1975 and 1997, while Parliament legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country in 2017. The age of consent became equal for all sexual acts as of 2016. People convicted for consensual sexual acts that are no longer illegal can have their criminal records cleared.
CHINA
Homosexuality is not criminalized by law, but same-sex marriage remains unlikely to be legalized in the near future. While the largest cities have vibrant LGBTQ scenes, the stigma remains strong in Chinese society. Further, LGBTQ people have little recourse in the law regarding such areas as child custody or property rights. In the past few years, Chinese LGBTQ groups have faced increasing censorship and official pushback as part of general restrictions on civil society, with one national-level organization focused on advocating LGBTQ legal rights forced to shut down last year in face of government pressure.
INDIA
The Supreme Court in 2018 struck down the section of the law that punished sexual intercourse by members of the same sex by up to 10 years in prison. Despite the landmark ruling, same-sex marriage remains illegal and multiple petitions seeking legal recognition have been met with resistance by the government. Over the past decade, the LGBTQ community has gained a degree of acceptance, especially in big cities, but the community generally remains stigmatized.
INDONESIA
Sex between consenting adults of the same sex is not illegal in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, except in conservative Aceh province. However, only marriages between a man and a woman are legal. The LGBTQ community in the country of 250 million people complains of regular harassment and persecution.
JAPAN
Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly, but legal protections are lacking for LGBTQ people, who often face discrimination at school, work and at home, causing many to hide their sexual identities. A number of same-sex couples have filed lawsuits demanding a right to legally marry, but court rulings have been divided. Same-sex couples cannot inherit a house or other shared assets and have no parental rights over each other’s children. They are often barred from renting apartments together, from hospital visits and from services available to married couples. About 12% of municipalities issue partnership certificates to same-sex couples since Tokyo’s Shibuya district became the first to do so in 2015. Still, it is not a marriage certificate and does not provide equal legal protection.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia has strict laws against same-sex intercourse that can result in up to 20 years’ imprisonment. A former deputy premier was jailed twice for sodomy. He was sentenced in 2000 and again in 2014, in cases that critics say were politically motivated. Parallel to its secular courts, Malaysia has an Islamic court system for Muslims that often jails and canes gays and lesbians caught by Islamic moral police for attempting to have sex. Malaysia has even tried to censor or ban movies which it deems to promote what it calls the LGBTQ lifestyle, including Disney’s recent animated film “Lightyear.”
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand decriminalized gay sex in 1986. Sex between men was first made illegal in 1961, while sex between women was never specifically made illegal although was stigmatized. In 2005, New Zealand began recognizing civil unions between same-sex couples, which conferred many legal rights to gay couples — but didn’t, for instance, allow them to jointly adopt children. In 2013, New Zealand became the first nation in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2017, lawmakers took the rare step of issuing a formal apology for the “tremendous hurt and suffering” inflicted on the hundreds of men who were convicted of homosexuality during the years that it was illegal. The following year, lawmakers passed a bill that expunged historic homosexual offenses.
TAIWAN
Taiwan legalized gay marriage in 2019, but LGBTQ activists want the law to be made more inclusive. It currently says both partners must be from a place where such marriages are already legal. So couples cannot register their marriage in Taiwan if one partner is from a place like Japan or another place where their marriage would not be legal.
Still, the island is a hotspot for LGBTQ life and its annual Pride parade attracts attendees from all over Asia. Taipei is known for having a vibrant gay community and nightlife.
THAILAND
Thailand is also among the most liberal nations in Asia regarding LGBTQ issues. Four bills alternatively offering to legalize either marriage equality or civil partnerships for same-sex couples passed their first readings in the House of Representatives in June. A committee is working to consolidate them into a package that lawmakers are expected to pass, which would make Thailand the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex unions.
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Better late than never. A step forward in the name of progress and equality is better than no steps at all.
Good on ya, Singapore! Kicking and screaming will Asia be dragged into the 21st century.
Singapore tempered its decision by saying it will amend its constitution to prevent such unions from ever taking place.
So one step forward, two steps back; that is not exactly progress…
I like the picture, people smiling, good for the soul 🙂
marriage is relationship man and woman.
this will not change this fact in any way.it will be always like that.same sex relationship may be called partnership but not marriage.
marriage is relationship man and woman.
Or a man and a man, or a woman and a woman.
Totally gay Gokai loves the progress, as slow as it is. My partner and I have been together since junior high (about 23 years), but we can’t get married. We’re waiting!
marriage is relationship man and woman.
Only to the dinosaurs!
this will not change this fact in any way.it will be always like that.same sex relationship may be called partnership but not marriage.
It has and those who refuse to accept it can go back to whichever age their brains are stuck in.
This article is an eye opener of sorts , Taiwan and Thailand are among the most progressive countries in Asia!
Though the Thais need to do something about the stupid laws protecting their monarchs!!!
Marriage is whatever it is. This book says this, that book says that. Different religions different cultures. A marriage must be of equals with equal rights protected by laws.
Or a man and a man, or a woman and a woman.
Not if you happen to be a God fearing Christian.
marriage is relationship man and woman
Marriage is between two adult people who love and care and respect each other and want to take the next step in their road to commitment. Doesn’t matter what sex or gender they are. Be happy that your fellow human being has found a partner that loves them that much to want to make such a commitment and pledge.
marriage is relationship man and woman.
this will not change this fact in any way.it will be always like that.same sex relationship may be called partnership but not marriage.
I agree.
Amid so many unhappy different genders’ marriages, LGBTQ couples seem to have strong respect as human beings for each other which makes me feel happy even though I’m not a part of their community.
Not if you happen to be a God fearing Christian.
You are welcome to conduct your life as your religion may dictate, noting that there are many within Christianity that argue the bibilical admonishments you refer to were prohibitions against Greek temple practice and not a monogamous homosexual relationship. But you are not free to impose the restrictions of your religion upon those of us who follow other faiths, or are not believers and reject religion altogether. As a citizen I am not obliged to adhere to any faith and a democratic government, which Singapore and Thailand are not, has no right to impose the obligations of any religion on its citizens.
You have the right to live under your faith but not to impose it on others, if you want to share your faith do it with love..
Whether you like it or not, the LGBTI community is just as human beings as you are, with the same duties and rights..
Live and let live..
marriage is relationship man and woman.
this will not change this fact in any way.it will be always like that.same sex relationship may be called partnership but not marriage.
I agree, too.
Totally gay Gokai loves the progress, as slow as it is. My partner and I have been together since junior high (about 23 years), but we can’t get married. We’re waiting!
I reckon it’ll be 5-10 years in Japan. Eventually the LDP will see inaction on this as a vote-loser.
The bellowing of the dinosaurs is getting weaker. I think they know their time’s up.
As is should be.
Anyway, does anyone here support banning gay sex? I’m very suspicious of those who do…
Singapore’s decision to decriminalize sex between men…
On what basis was the act decriminalized since the “order of nature” has not changed?
marriage is relationship man and woman.
this will not change this fact in any way.it will be always like that.same sex relationship may be called partnership but not marriage.
Agreed. How can one not agree since marriage is an objective standard?
@Jeremiah
You don’t agree with banning gay sex do you?
Not if you happen to be a God fearing Christian.
Or a secularist or anyone of any religion that recognizes the objective reality that marriage is a union of a man and woman.
Is it wrong to impose your religion on others? The truth is that every law intrinsically imposes morality on others, so unless all laws are revoked and/or religious people (including secularists who belief objective reality exists) are denied their right to vote or have a voice in the public square, morality will continue to be imposed.
Another truth is that everyone favors one or more boundaries on marriage (number of partners, age, consent, etc.) and thereby denies “marriage equality” to some category of couple or group. Therefore, even “marriage equalists” are not really for actual equality.
Not if you happen to be a God fearing Christian.
Thank you, God fearing Christians, for standing for marriage.
@Jimizo
You don’t agree with banning gay sex do you?
I will refer you back to my question…
On what basis was the act decriminalized since the “order of nature” has not changed?
…and ask it again.
—————-
If I am for banning gay sex, then my answer to my question would be “No, the order of nature has not changed.” If I am against banning gay sex, then my answer would be “Yes, the order of nature has changed.”
So the final dilemma is whether the order of nature has changed. If not, one cannot support gay sex. If it has, one does not have grounding to oppose it.
@Jeremiah
Slippery and dishonest.
Let’s argue the principle. Forget Singapore.
Do you think gay sex should be illegal?
If you do, just say so.
On what basis was the act decriminalized since the “order of nature” has not changed?
Eh? Homosexuality exists in nature. What are you on about?
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