North West is governed by federal Singapore law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- Ambiguous
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in North West is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 3, 2023
Legal under federal Singapore law
On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced at the National Day Rally that the Government would repeal section 377A of the Penal Code 1871. Later, on the 29th of November 2022, the Singaporean parliament voted in favor of decriminalizing gay sex. Then, on December 27th, 2022, the act was assented to by the President.
The repeal took effect on January 3rd, 2023.
The repeal took effect on January 3rd, 2023.
Same-sex marriage in North West is banned.
Current status
Since Sep 9, 2018
Banned
At the same time as Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the clause in the penal code known as Section 377a would be repealed, he reiterated that the institution of marriage would remain "between a man and a woman". Further restrictions were imposed on gay marriage in Singapore on November 29th, the same year.
Until Sep 8, 2018
Unrecognized under federal Singapore law
There were no laws specifically banning same-sex marriage but it was not recognised by the government.
Censorship of LGBT issues in North West is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Jul 25, 1989
State-enforced under federal Singapore law
Censorship of LGBTIQ+ topics in Singapore largely began in the 1990s after the Censorship Review Committee recommended that materials promoting homosexuality be disallowed in their 1992 report. Gay clubs which had flourished in the 1980s and decades prior were also subject to police raids since 1989.
LGBT topics are also censored in media and education by the Ministry of Communications and Information, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Restrictions on topics date back to 1997 on the Internet and 2004 on radio. Even after decriminalisation, the government sought to keep its censorship laws.
LGBT topics are also censored in media and education by the Ministry of Communications and Information, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Restrictions on topics date back to 1997 on the Internet and 2004 on radio. Even after decriminalisation, the government sought to keep its censorship laws.
Right to change legal gender in North West is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Nov 25, 1973
Legal, but requires surgery under federal Singapore law
Gender reassignment surgeries are legal in Singapore, and in 1973 the government allowed patients to change their identity cards. This change implicitly recognized marriages that included an individual that had undergone surgery.
In 1996, Member of Parliament (MP) Abdullah Tarmugi made an announcement that individuals who have undergone surgery could marry someone of the opposite sex.
In 1996, Member of Parliament (MP) Abdullah Tarmugi made an announcement that individuals who have undergone surgery could marry someone of the opposite sex.
Gender-affirming care in North West is legal, but restricted for minors.
Current status
Since 1973
Legal, but restricted for minors
Trans youths with both parents’ consent can access HRT through private healthcare if they are above 16, and through public healthcare if they are above 18.
HRT approval for trans youths under 21 is much stricter, especially given the global climate surrounding transitioning for trans youths. You will be subject to significantly more evaluation than trans adults, and some individuals have been rejected for HRT despite having consent from both parents.
For trans adults, gender affirming health care has been legal since 1973, the first country in Asia to legalise it.
HRT approval for trans youths under 21 is much stricter, especially given the global climate surrounding transitioning for trans youths. You will be subject to significantly more evaluation than trans adults, and some individuals have been rejected for HRT despite having consent from both parents.
For trans adults, gender affirming health care has been legal since 1973, the first country in Asia to legalise it.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in North West is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
LGBT discrimination in North West is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Oct 7, 2019
Illegal in some contexts
The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) was amended in 2019 to include protections for individuals from the LGBTQ community.
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.”
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.”
LGBT employment discrimination in North West is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Oct 7, 2019
Ambiguous under federal Singapore law
It is generally ambiguous whether protections from the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) amendment in 2019 also applies in a workplace context.
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.” and added that action will be taken if anyone stirs hate speech either for or against any sexual or religious community.
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.” and added that action will be taken if anyone stirs hate speech either for or against any sexual or religious community.
LGBT housing discrimination in North West is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Singapore law
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Singapore.
Same-sex adoption in North West is single only.
Current status
Single only
Heterosexual couples may adopt as a couple if they are legally married under Singapore law. However same-sex couples must adopt by one parent as an unmarried person. LGBT couples or people are also much less likely to be permitted to adopt.
Intersex infant surgery in North West is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Surgery on intersex infants is legal in Singapore.
Serving openly in military in North West is legal.
Current status
Since 1990
Legal
There are no known restrictions on LGBT singaporeans serving in the armed forces.
Until 1990
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
If declared, it previously led to a medically downgraded status of Physical Employment Status C (PES C), and put through a modified Basic Military Training.
On graduation, they are deployed in a vocation which has no security risks, posted to non-sensitive units and given a security status which restricts their access to classified documents.
On graduation, they are deployed in a vocation which has no security risks, posted to non-sensitive units and given a security status which restricts their access to classified documents.
Blood donations by MSMs in North West is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Indefinite deferral for males; 1 year for females.
Conversion therapy in North West is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no explicit legal prohibition. In 2021, the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) denounced conversion therapy, and advocates affirmative treatment for LGBTQ clients.
Equal age of consent in North West is equal.
Current status
Since Jan 3, 2023
Equal under federal Singapore law
The age of consent in Singapore is 16 for opposite-sex sexual activity, female-female sexual activity and male-male sexual activity.
Legal Rights
44 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in North West to help improve its accuracy.
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North West LGBT Organizations
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