Current Version
| Region | Singapore |
| Issue | Homosexual activity |
| Status | Male illegal, female legal |
| Start Date | Jan 1, 1862 |
| End Date | Jan 2, 2023 |
| Description | In the 1860 Penal Code under Article 377A, male homosexuality was criminalised and offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. The law took effect in Singapore in 1862. |
| Sources | https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/lgbt1208_web.pdf https://sxpolitics.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-version_377_sander.pdf |
| Federal Law | Yes |
Revision History (13)
edited by jadeywadey. fixed a minor date clash
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|---|---|---|
| End Date | Jan 3, 2023 | Jan 2, 2023 |
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. More information.
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|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 1860 | Jan 1, 1862 |
| Description | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A | In the 1860 Penal Code under Article 377A, male homosexuality was criminalised and offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. The law took effect in Singapore in 1862. |
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| Federal Law | No | Yes |
| Sources | https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/lgbt1208_web.pdf | https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/lgbt1208_web.pdf https://sxpolitics.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/new-version_377_sander.pdf |
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edited by Unknownmiles. Fixing date and putting a link that backs up the date
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| Start Date | Oct 23, 2007 | 1860 |
| Sources | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) https://sg.news.yahoo.com/america-legalises-gay-marriage-singapore-010058381.html http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22025e7646-947b-462c-b557-60aa55dc7b42%22%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/oct/24/gayrights.uk | https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/lgbt1208_web.pdf |
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edited by jadeywadey. Fixed end date to address gap.
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| End Date | Nov 29, 2022 | Jan 3, 2023 |
edited by jadeywadey. Added start date and source for it.
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| Start Date | (unknown) | Oct 23, 2007 |
| Sources | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) https://sg.news.yahoo.com/america-legalises-gay-marriage-singapore-010058381.html http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22025e7646-947b-462c-b557-60aa55dc7b42%22%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0 | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) https://sg.news.yahoo.com/america-legalises-gay-marriage-singapore-010058381.html http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22025e7646-947b-462c-b557-60aa55dc7b42%22%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/oct/24/gayrights.uk |
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edited by Unknownmiles. Removing “decriminalization pending” because it’s legal now
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| Description | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A (Decriminalization pending) | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A |
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Reports (3)
- Newer law has been passed
- Newer law has been passed "377a, the law prohibiting male sex, has been repealed"
- Status is not correct "In December the law has signed by President of Singapore to officially decriminalised gay sex"
edited by Notdog1996
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
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| End Date | (none) | 2023 |
Reports (1)
- Newer law has been passed "Singapore has already removed the law, there are pride parades in singapore"
edited by Pizzaslices412653
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0 | Old Value | New Value | |
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| Description | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A (Decriminalization pending) |
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Reports (4)
- Newer law has been passed "Singapore has repealed 377A"
- Status is not correct
- Status is not correct
- Status is not correct "377A is recently repealed in Singapore, decriminalizing sex between men. "
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A |
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| Sources | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) https://sg.news.yahoo.com/america-legalises-gay-marriage-singapore-010058381.html | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) https://sg.news.yahoo.com/america-legalises-gay-marriage-singapore-010058381.html http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22025e7646-947b-462c-b557-60aa55dc7b42%22%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0 |
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Reports (11)
- Newer law has been passed
- Newer law has been passed "377A repealed, it is now legal for both genders.
Prior to this, the law was also unenforced."
- Newer law has been passed "Male legal, female legal"
- Newer law has been passed "singapore repealed colonial era law banning homosexuality between men"
- Newer law has been passed
- Newer law has been passed "The law is de facto unenforced, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/court-of-appeal-rules-section-377a-stays-but-cannot-be-used-to-prosecute-men-for-having-gay-sex"
- Newer law has been passed
- Other "Law is not enforced as PM Son or grandson is Gay so he has to deactivate it"
- Status is not correct "Under the heading "homosexuality" you have two female symbols linked. That's it. There is thus no visible acknowledgement of the existence of gay men. This is most misleading - and dangerous. In 2007, Singapore enacted legislation making all forms of lesbianism LEGAL, absolutely, and at the same time making all expression of gay male sexuality ILLEGAL - the prescribed imprisonment for any gay man engaging in any sort of act of homosexual intimacy is 10 years. For heaven's sake, don't confuse the issue. Singapore is fine for lesbians, yes, but absolutely not for gay men. "
- Status is not correct "The first openly-gay politician, Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, contested in the General Election but did not win."
- Status is not correct "lesbians are also illegal"
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) https://sg.news.yahoo.com/america-legalises-gay-marriage-singapore-010058381.html |
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| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
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| Description | Imprisonment up to 2 years | Offenders can face a penalty of imprisonment of up to 2 years. |
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| Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Male illegal, female legal |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Imprisonment up to 2 years |
| Sources | Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed.) |
Reports (2)
- Status is not correct "Both are legal, but the act of sex (penetration of any form) between two males is illegal."
- All information is correct, just adding sources "Penal Code, Chapter XVI, Article 377A
Available at: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22025e7646-947b-462c-b557-60aa55dc7b42%22%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0"