Even though Section 377A was repealed, the LGBTQ+ community still faces many challenges. We gather their thoughts on issues such as marriage and housing in Singapore.
Last Saturday’s Pink Dot celebration marked the first year since Singapore officially repealed Section 377A. While the LGBTQ+ community warmly welcomed the announcement, it posed the question: now what?
In an Instagram post after the repeal, Pink Dot SG describes the decision as “the first step on a long road towards full equality.” According to 33-year-old Clement Tan, the organisation’s spokesperson, most policies have either remained or regressed. “We are still being sent a message that our families do not deserve the same rights and protections as ‘ordinary’ Singaporeans.”
These policies touch on housing, marriage, starting a family, and even discrimination in the workplace. How do these things affect the queer community, and what can be done about them in post-repeal Singapore?
It’s a family affair
Imagine being rejected by people who are meant to love and support you. That’s the reality most LGBTQ+ folks still face and will continue to deal with, even after the repeal. There are also conversations about “protecting family values from the community”. But what is family, exactly?
For Pink Dot SG’s fifteenth edition this year, this family theme is chosen to respond to this narrative. It also reflects a fundamental concern shared by LGBTQ+ people and allies. The collective advocates for a broader definition of “family” – one that includes bonds formed through love, care, and support.
Several community speakers took to the soapbox and passionately spoke about the theme during the Pink Dot congregation. Cally Cheung, 28, director of Prout, who’s expecting her first child with her wife, shared her concerns: “What if my child is bullied in school for having two mothers? Further, our family is not legally recognised. As the birthing parent, I can adopt our child. But what if I pass away?”
Meanwhile, gay fathers in Singapore face a tough time if they want to start a family. Surrogacy and same-sex adoption are prohibited here; because of this, couples have no choice but to go abroad to have children. While it’s possible, it can be a lengthy and expensive process. There’s also the fact that when the kids are brought to Singapore, they’re considered “illegitimate” in the eyes of the law.
Marry me – even if the law doesn’t recognise us
When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the repeal during last year’s National Day Rally, he followed it up with this: “Even as [the government] repeals 377A, they will uphold and safeguard the institution of marriage.” This means only marriages between a man and a woman are recognised in Singapore. The decision was met with a less-than-favorable response from many.
Andee Chua, 33, co-founder of Kampung Collective, recently went to Taiwan to officially register his marriage with his partner. Even though it was meant to be a happy occasion, Andee shares that he “felt nasty” after being wedded. “I feel like a married couple, but I don’t enjoy the benefits of other heterosexual couples in Singapore.”
This includes housing matters, emergency hospital visits, and even truthfully answering marital status questions in forms. “It’s a small thing, but it’s like you’re not provided with the choice to speak the truth,” he says resignedly.
While there are LGBTQ+ folks who don’t intend to get married – declaring it a “heteronormative practice” – others do. Not being allowed this option here is a sobering reminder. “We, like many others, just want to be able to love who we love, for our love to be legally recognised,” Cally states in a heartfelt Instagram post via Prout.
A house is a home
Housing is another significant hurdle the queer community in post-repeal Singapore has a tough time overcoming. As same-sex partners are not legally recognised here, they must wait until they turn 35 before purchasing a house. Even then, couples can only get a flat under the Joint Singles Scheme. Their options are limited to a new two-room build to order (BTO) flat in a non-mature estate or resale flats anywhere in Singapore.
“Basically, we’re left with choices other people don’t want,” Andee laments.
But Sherry Singham (not their real name), design team lead of a boutique agency, begs to differ. They don’t mind getting a resale flat. The 37-year-old just wants a safe place to call their own, where their partner won’t have to sneak around, and they can be themselves.
Alternatively, LGBTQ+ folks can consider purchasing studio or condominium units. According to housing agent JM (not her real name), 29, the only requirement for private properties is to be above 21. “However, looking at the market and how the prices have skyrocketed, even the private property market brilliant ‘loophole’ seems like a far stretch for a home,” she adds.
Juggling faith and sexuality
As Singapore’s pride movement and the queer community grows in size and attention, conservative segments of society have been publicly taking their stand. An Islamic religious teacher started a Wear White campaign in 2014, calling all Muslims to dress in white as a protest against homosexuality. This effort gained support from a megachurch. Today, the campaign continues to hold conversations about its efforts.
There’s also Truelove.is, an initiative by a church to reach out to queer Christians via the message of “come out, come home”. However, this gained backlash from the community and its allies, who perceived the movement as “conversion therapy”.
After the repeal, there was tension among religious groups and the queer community. Muslims were understandably upset when the Mufti of Singapore, who oversees Islamic rulings in the country, declared in an interview that LGBTQ+ issues were “not black and white”. Many groups also urged the government to enshrine the current definition of marriage.
Amidst all this, there are support groups for queer folks who want to reconcile their sexuality and spirituality. “Now is the time for Buddhists to show their love and support for the community,” says 43-year-old Kyle Neo, leader of Rainbodhi Singapore, via his group’s website.
Are we out of the woods?
In the face of post-repeal Singapore, there are other issues LGBTQ+ people have to contend with, like negative media representation, suppression and denial of the community in local education, workplace harassment and discrimination, and psychological well-being.
Transgender folks, a minority in Singapore’s queer community, face additional setbacks compared to their cisgender counterparts. They deal with gender dysphoria, heightened discrimination, and expensive medical bills if they want to transition.
The community and its allies believe there are ways to circumvent the current policies. JM suggests lowering the age limit for public housing to 28, saying it’s the “ideal age” as most have notched a few years in the workforce. For Andee, same-sex marriages will end lots of hurdles. “Us getting married will affect policies such as housing and education,” he opines.
The road towards equality may be long, but eventually, there’ll be light at the end of the tunnel. The LGBTQ+ community seeks to witness a transformed Singapore which accepts everyone, regardless of sexuality and gender. Until then, the fight continues.
