Award Banner
Award Banner

GE2020: PSP says they won't object repeal of Section 377A, but there's more to the 'proxy combat zone'

GE2020: PSP says they won't object repeal of Section 377A, but there's more to the 'proxy combat zone'
PHOTO: Facebook/ Progress Singapore Party

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has issued their official stance on Section 377A of the Penal Code.

A spokesperson for the party said: "We would not object to a repeal of S377A if it is only to remove the criminal punishment against homosexuals. But currently the debate over 377A is not just about criminal punishment.

"377A has become a proxy combat zone for other issues like the sanctity of traditional family structures, marriages, parenthood and gender identities.

"These are long-standing human and moral institutions. So before 377A is removed, there must be guarantees that these institutions remain undisturbed."

Section 377A criminalises sex between men, stating: "Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years."

Since the election campaign began on June 30, some Singaporeans have said online that they hope to hear political parties and candidates talk about Section 377A.

Terence Soon, PSP's candidate for Tanjong Pagar GRC, had allegedly talked about his stand on LGBT issues and Section 377A during an Instagram Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on July 5.

According to a screengrab of his reply posted on Facebook by a user, Soon had said: "This is a rather complicated subject, and I'd like to discuss in further detail. But in short, the party stance is that we would like to repeal the criminal aspect of 377A, and we respect the rights of all LGBTQ people in the country."

However, the netizen pointed out that this particular reply was curiously missing from the highlights of his AMA session on Instagram.

The current Parliament's stance is that Section 377A will not be proactively enforced.

Last year, the Workers' Party's chief Pritam Singh said the party will not call for a repeal of the law as there is no consensus within its leadership committee on the matter.

kwokkarpeng@asiaone.com

For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.

homepage

trending

trending
    Singapore has never stayed neutral and does take positions on trade with US and China: Gan Kim Yong
    PM Lawrence Wong's Cabinet reshuffle 'cautious' and with succession in mind: Analysts
    Little Monsters flock to Maxwell Food Centre table that Lady Gaga dined at
    Tom Cruise sends BTS' Jin on secret-agent challenges in variety show
    US and China embassies in Singapore clash online over South China Sea; MFA cautions against stirring local sentiment
    Cool paint, clean power: These are the sustainable innovations that Temasek Foundation are backing for $2m
    'Mixed emotions': Ministers Chan Chun Sing, Desmond Lee and Chee Hong Tat reflect on their Cabinet movements
    Tay Ying holds 'guo da li' ceremony, jokes she's 'sold'
    ICA reviewing PR status of Ian Fang, Lev Panfilov following convictions for sexual offences
    Kopitiam offering 60-cent hot kopi-o and teh-o from June to mark SG60
    Supermarket meets kopitiam: New FairPrice Finest outlet featuring food hall opens in Sembawang
    Scandal-ridden Mickey Huang and actress wife Summer Meng said to have divorced

Singapore

Singapore
    • Man who sexually assaulted stepdaughter despite wife's warning gets jail, caning
    • Jail for man who devised bogus wine investment scheme, pocketed $12.67m of investors' funds
    • Singapore keeps 2025 growth forecast at 0-2%, sees slight boost from US-China truce
    • 'Global problems require global solutions': PM Wong stresses world coordination to tackle future health challenges
    • Daily roundup: New FairPrice Finest outlet featuring food hall opens in Sembawang — and other top stories today
    • Daily roundup: Cat A COE premiums remain above $100k despite slight dip in second bidding for May 2025 — and other top stories today
    • PM Wong unveils Cabinet line-up; new faces David Neo and Jeffrey Siow to be acting ministers
    • SCDF rescues trapped driver from car following accident involving lorry along CTE
    • 'We apologise for the operational lapse': NUS responds to backlash over disposal of Yale-NUS books
    • 'One reckless moment can destroy a life': Pet owner appeals to cyclists after hit-and-run leaves dog injured

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Lady Gaga visits Maxwell Food Centre, signs fan's vinyl record
    • Eleanor Lee's former assistant confesses to editing audio clip that landed actress in controversy
    • Ex-Mediacorp actress Le Yao condemns Ian Fang: 'You want the benefits from the limelight but don't set strict standards for yourself?'
    • Ayumi Hamasaki, CL, Show Lo: Singapore concert calendar for 2025
    • David Duchovny is married
    • US singer Chris Brown granted $8.6 million bail for world tour by UK court
    • Miley Cyrus unwilling to remove 'very large' polyp on vocal cord in case it changes her voice
    • David Beckham says receiving a knighthood would be an 'unbelievable honour'
    • Violet Affleck was stuck in a hotel room arguing with her mother Jennifer Garner during the California wildfires
    • Stolen memorial bust of Jim Morrison found

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Back with a bang: Burgs ends 2-year hiatus with new standalone restaurant at Arab Street
    • 'You asked, we listened': Don Don Donki brings back plastic bags
    • Furry capabara EVs, self-driving mini bar, and more - here are the wackiest cars we saw at Auto Shanghai 2025
    • Heiress Kim Lim 'disappointed' after finding Chanel bag she sold for charity listed on Carousell
    • Bak kut teh or laksa? Uniqlo's latest drop features Singapore food-inspired collection
    • Cat A COE premiums remain above $100k despite slight dip in second bidding for May 2025
    • Jurassic World, inflatable playgrounds and more: Family-friendly events and activities this June holiday
    • New theme park to open in Japan's Okinawa this July offering scenic treks, hot air balloon rides and more
    • We check out Hiap Joo Bakery's new vending machine selling its famous banana cake
    • Singapore's beef kway teow ranks 18th in best stir-fried dishes list, Indonesia's sambal goreng takes crown

Digicult

Digicult
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
    • Taiwan says China using generative AI to ramp up disinformation and 'divide' the island
    • Russian court fines Telegram app for refusal to remove anti-government content, TASS reports
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game

Money

Money
    • Wall Street equity indexes close higher after US-China tariff truce
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Newly MOP-ed 3-room HDB flat in Bedok sold for record $730k
    • Ang Mo Kio's most expensive 5-room HDB flat sold for $1.5m, here's why
    • US climate pullback threatens planned debt-for-nature deals
    • This rare HDB maisonette in Queenstown just set a $1.51m record: Here's why
    • HDB BTO July 2025 review: Locations, resale, values, amenities and more
    • Selling your condo? This overlooked factor could quietly undercut your selling price
    • Using a personal loan for a used car purchase: What you need to know
    • 6 prime HDB shophouses for sale at $73m in Singapore: A look inside the rare portfolio

Latest

Latest
  • Haiti calls for urgent regional gang-fighting support as US shies off funding 
  • South Korea's defence ministry says no talks held with US on troop withdrawal
  • Russia says it downs at least 159 Ukrainian drones, fires Iskander missile
  • Japan minister wants rice on shelves for under 3,000 yen, Jiji reports
  • European leaders to ask EU for easier expulsion of foreign criminals
  • North Korea launches probe into accident during warship's launch 
  • Covid shots should target newer strains of JN.1 variant in 2025-26 campaign, US FDA advisers say 
  • Trump's image of dead 'white farmers' came from Reuters footage in Congo, not South Africa 
  • Iran warns Israel, US against any attack on its nuclear sites

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • No joke: Bangkok condo resident releases snakes in corridor to protest neighbour's noisy dog
  • 'Only one chance at life': Chinese student, 18, misses exam to save classmate suffering heart attack
  • Baby suspected to have been eaten by monitor lizard in Thailand, only head found
  • 'Dog will return soon': GE2025 independent candidate Jeremy Tan wants to contest again
  • Ong Ye Kung leads PAP team to victory while elder brother Howard Ong loses in Australia's election on the same day
  • Tan Kiat How weighs in on viral video of Gan Kim Yong being ignored by passers-by in Punggol
  • PSP's Tan Cheng Bock turns 85; SDP's Paul Tambyah joins celebration at Teban Gardens
  • PM Wong urges voters to 'choose leaders of good character' in PAP's first party political broadcast
  • It is 'important for Singapore's democracy' that WP wins more seats, says Pritam in election broadcast
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.