Singapore has officially repealed section 377A of the Penal Code yesterday, which criminalises intercourse between men, after 2 days of speeches on the issue.
The bill was passed after 93 members of Parliament voted for the repeal, with only WP MPs Gerald Giam and Dennis Tan, as well as Nominated MP Hoon Hian Teck voting against it.
A separate bill that amends the Constitution to safeguard the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, was also passed, with 85 MPs voting in favour and another 2 voting against it; 2 other MPs abstained from voting.
WP’s He Ting Ru and Sylvia Lim abstained from voting in regards to the constitutional amendment.
The repealing of a law requires the majority of MP to vote in favour, while the amendments to the Constitution needs at least 2/3 of the MPS voting in favour of it, excluding the NMPs.
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh said that 377S is conceived through the religious lens by many in Singapore, in addition to being a matter of conscience for a no less significant number.
He added that he would lift the party whip on the voting on the bills, given the unique nature of the debate on the law.