Singapore gay sex ban axed

SINGAPORE is to decriminalise sex between men by repealing a law dating from colonial times.

Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said he believed it is the ‘right thing to do now’ as most Singaporeans will now accept it

‘ Private sexual behaviour between consenting adults does not raise any law and order issue,’ Mr Lee told a National Day Rally.

‘There is no justification to prosecute people for it nor to make it a crime.

‘This will bring the law into line with current social mores and I hope provide some relief to gay Singaporeans.’

British rule over the island ended in 1963 when Singapore became a state of Malaysia. It became independent two years later but retained the law, known as Section 377A, which made sex between men punishable by up to two years in jail.