Singapore gay couple seeks to abolish gay sex law
SINGAPORE – A gay couple in Singapore seeking to abolish a long-standing law banning gay sex had their case heard in court recently, just days after a former department store manager sued his boss for alleged discrimination against homosexuals.
The first full hearing was heard on 15th February 2013 in a case brought by Mr Gary Lim and Mr Kenneth Chee.
The two cases are an indication to how the gay community in Singapore has become increasingly vocal, demanding changes to attitudes toward homosexuality by speaking out against discrimination & raising legal cases to challenge the law.
Mr Lim & Mr Chee hopes to have the law banning gay sex declared unconstitutional. Sex between mutually consenting adult men is a criminal act in Singapore and offenders can be jailed for up to two years.
On 11th February 2013, Mr Lawrence Bernard Wee Kim San, a former manager at Robinsons department store, filed a lawsuit claiming his former boss had harassed him into leaving his job because he did not agree with his homosexuality. Robinsons denied any “biasness”, “unfair treatment” or “persecution” by anyone at the store, or that Mr Wee faced “difficulties” or “threats” when he wanted to leave the company.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the issue at a conference last month.
“Why is that law on the books? Because it’s always been there and I think we just leave it,” he said. “These are not issues that we can settle one way or the other, and it’s really best for us just to leave them be, and just agree to disagree. I think that’s the way Singapore will be for a long time.”
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