Section 377A review: Govt considering how to safeguard 'current legal position on marriage', says Shanmugam

SINGAPORE — The Government is considering how to safeguard "the current legal position on marriage" from being challenged in the courts, after receiving feedback that most people want the current position on marriage to stay, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday (July 30).

“These matters really ought to be discussed in Parliament and decided in Parliament, and not decided in the courts,” he told reporters at the sidelines of community events in Yishun.

Mr Shanmugam was responding to media queries on updates about the Government's review of Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men.

He said that the Government has had “extensive discussions” with different people including religious leaders, grassroots leaders, Singaporeans from all walks of life, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) groups and more.

He noted that many agree that men who have sex with each other should not be imprisoned, and that gay sex should not be criminalised.

“In particular, most people that we've spoken with want the current position on marriage to be retained. And the current position is that the law defines marriage as being between a man and a woman,” he added.