- Title: Singapore LGBTQ advocate says door to marriage equality should remain open
- Date: 22nd August 2022
- Summary: SINGAPORE (AUGUST 22, 2022) (REUTERS) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP OOGACHAGA, BRYAN CHOONG, SPEAKING WITH REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP, BRYAN CHOONG, 45, SAYING: "To be honest with you, it was more relieving that this is where we are. I don't particularly feel very joyful yesterday, to be honest with you, because it has been built up to the stage that I do not know what would be said. So, it was quite a stressful moment to be honest with you, but I think once that sort of sink in today, I do realise we are moving into a very different society. A society, hopefully, that LGBTIQ Singaporeans can dream of a possibility." REBOOTED PRIDE FLAG PIN ON CHOONG'S SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP, BRYAN CHOONG, 45, SAYING: "I think, by and large, people do feel that it is something that they welcome, a lot of people told me that it's long overdue. Some people do feel that a lot more can be done, some people feel that when the prime minister also talked about safeguarding the (current definition of) marriage itself, they were really curious what that means and people are still waiting for answers for that." CHOONG LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP, BRYAN CHOONG, 45, SAYING: "I think we can't control the parliamentarian, depend on which side they are on, what they're going to say. I do hope that the MPs (members of parliament), when they are debating in the parliament, they will ensure that the conversation, the discussion will be based on the evidence, it will be based on building, uniting the country. It's not just about taking a certain position but it's also coming from a place of how can we then unite the country over this issue itself and also reduce the possibility of it being even more divisive." CHOONG SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP, BRYAN CHOONG, 45, SAYING: "I'm also very aware that the younger population, the younger members of the LGBTQI community sees that (marriage equality) it's something that is important for them, and the doors to that possibility should not be closed. And I do hope that the Singapore government and the parliamentarians when they debate about this issue in the coming months, they're fully aware that the needs of the Singapore population will change, be it five or 10 years down the road. It will change because we are shaped largely by how the world has progressed." CHOONG LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION CUSHION WITH PRIDE BADGES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP, BRYAN CHOONG, 45, SAYING: "For many of us who was watching the (Singapore National Day) rally yesterday, it was a joyful occasion. But for many of them, it reminds them of the decision to leave Singapore, the sacrifice(s) they have to make, the compromise(s) they have to make as they give up their life in Singapore and move on elsewhere, so they can live safely as a gay person. I think it's an opportunity for them to reconcile -- how to reconcile their sexual orientation and their identity as a Singaporean." CHOONG'S HAND HOLDING PENCIL (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF LGBTQ ADVOCACY GROUP, BRYAN CHOONG, 45, SAYING: "We have to acknowledge the fact that the existence of the law, even if it was passed down by the British, left in Singapore lawbook itself, the past three process(es) -- the first time was when the petition in the parliament in 2007, the subsequent two constitutional challenge itself, has created a lot of hurt in (the) Singaporean population. And I do hope with the eventual repeal itself, we do have a chance to come back as a nation together and move forward." SIGN READING (English): "OOGACHAGA" SIGN OF ADVOCATE GROUP AND RAINBOW FLAG / SINGAPORE'S NATIONAL FLAG
- Embargoed: 5th September 2022 12:24
- Keywords: LGBTQ NGO Section 377A Singapore decriminalize law penal code
- Location: SINGAPORE
- City: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA001985622082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: LGBT advocacy group Oogachaga told Reuters on Monday (August 22) that some younger members of the community hope the door to marriage equality will remain open, after Singapore’s prime minister said there were no plans to change the legal definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
In his annual national day rally speech, Lee Hsien Loong said Singaporean society was becoming more accepting of gay people, as he announced the decriminalisation of sex between men as termed in Section 377A of the penal code.
LGBTQ groups welcomed Lee's decision to repeal Section 377A, a colonial-era law inherited from the British when Singapore was a colony.
“A lot of people told me that it's long overdue. Some people do feel that a lot more can be done, some people feel that when the prime minister also talked about safeguarding the marriage itself, they were really curious what that means and people are still waiting for answers for that," said Bryan Choong, Chairperson of Oogachaga.
Some in the LGBTQ community expressed fears that any upcoming debate in parliament on repealing 377A and the definition of marriage in Singapore could stirred up heated vitriol from both ends of the camp.
"I'm also very aware that the younger population, the younger members of the LGBTQI community sees that (marriage equality) it is something that is important for them, and the doors to that possibility should not be closed. And I do hope that the Singapore government and the parliamentarians when they debate about this issue in the coming months, they're fully aware that the needs of the Singapore population will change, be it five or 10 years down the road. It will change because we are shaped largely by how the world has progressed," Choong added.
Singapore was the latest Asian country to move toward ending discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.
Under Singapore's Section 377A, offenders can be jailed for up to two years under the law, but it is not currently actively enforced. There have been no known convictions for sex between consenting adult males for decades and the law does not include sex between women or other genders.
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