Singapore: MP Hri Kumar Nair said that instead of looking to the government, it is time society talks more about Singapore’s approach towards homosexuality, reports theindependent.sg.
Nair is a Singaporean politician, lawyer and Member of Parliament representing the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
“The furor over Health Promotion Board (HPB)’s Frequently Asked Questions raises the issue of the Government sending mixed messages to the public,” he wrote on a recent Facebook note. “It is for the society to set the direction” on this matter.
The ‘FAQs on Sexuality’ posted by the health board website had sparked a nationwide debate earlier this month when it stated that ‘homosexuality and bisexuality are not mental illnesses’ and that a same-sex relationship is ‘not too different’ from a heterosexual relationship.
“While many have framed the HPB issue as a pro-gay or anti-gay one, let us not forget the reason for the HPB FAQs in the first place: there are people in our society who have questions concerning their sexuality and who are deeply affected by it. Their needs should not be ignored,” he explained, insisting that HPB should not retreat from its role to educate and help them.
However, Singapore society should “have a frank conversation about our approach towards homosexuality,” he wrote.
“Taking one side, whatever the reason will alienate the other,” he said. “The battle will not be resolved by the attacks that are usually associated with this issue – one side calling the other “evil, paedophiles and deviants” and the other responding with comments like “ignorant, religious bigots,” theindependent.sg reported Nair as writing.
While many netizens who have commented on Hri Kumar’s note applauded him, some questioned why the government should not lead in this matter.
Netizen Emeritus Robox remained adamant that the government should be the “catalyst” on the LGBT issue. He noted that if the government were to take the lead on the matter, it would give the LGBT community a sense of acceptance.
“We could begin – just begin – to reverse the effects of decades of deliberate exclusion, marginalisation, and demonisation that we have been subjected to,” he said.
Singapore has retained a British colonial-era law that criminalizes sex between men. Under Section 377A, any male person who, in public or private, commits, abets, procures or attempts to procure any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.
There have been various calls for Section 377A to be repealed in recent years and the issue of repealing or retaining it has also been brought up in Parliament in recent years.
The Singapore government says it will not actively enforce the ban on sex between men.
Source: theindependent.sg
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