Singapore government’s dangerously archaic stance on gay sex laws

Ethan Low
Ethan Low
Sep 8, 2018 · 2 min read

So this happened in another country which is generally perceived to be “not that liberal” (quoting LHL). And most pertinently to the Singapore context, part of the Chief Justice’s decision stated this:

“majoritarian views and popular morality cannot dictate constitutional rights”.

I couldn’t possibly put it in better words. So now, it’s up to our 3 branches of government to decide this: the executive (aka the cabinet: take heed Shanmugam in particular, what with your recent disappointing and logically-skewed remarks on how society should be deciding this issue), the legislative (the MPs who should be taking leadership on this and to represent the people’s voice) and our judiciary (the courts who should and can take the lead from our common law brothers in India now and step up as the ultimate gatekeepers as to the question of constitutionality). All require an enlightened form of leadership and this government, by consistently relying on the “society is not ready” argument, has got it the wrong way round. It should quit hiding behind its constituents and citizens, and take charge for once, this important issue of human rights so that the rest of society can finally progress to a phase that is free of institutionalised bigotry and intolerance.

Image credit: The Economist
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