Monday, October 22, 2007

377A

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to remain neutral, there is no doubt there may be a little skewing to different sides at any given time. however you want to interpret, this is a democracy, and any extreme views shall not be tolerated

99% of Singaporeans don't really know what is Section 377A of the penal code, until the last two weeks. Some liberals want it removed once and for all because it's so archaic in today's world (come on, 2 gay men having sex...there's one way right? or 2)
, and many conservatives demanding it be kept (i'd be damned sure it's forever)

Excerpt from keep377a.com: WE the Majority

A recent NTU study revealed that almost 70% of Singaporeans expressed negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. Singapore remains a country and a society that wants our children to grow up in an environment where wholesome family values are embraced, without a mainstreamed gay lifestyle.

Repealing Section 377A would be the first step towards eroding the family values we hold. We the majority can make our stand clear. It's time we speak up.
Keep S377A.

As far as I'm concerned This is going nowhere. I know the current climate is still inhospitalable for gays and yes, we're dealing with the religiously conservative generation of our parents. As a Believer I've to admit I'm not very open to unnatural sex behaviours. but credibility questions have to be asked: where's the youth voice? aren't they the ones more affected by the gay culture than their parents with the spread of information technology? and better still we're an Asian society, conservative in ideals, and to add, in speech. Our collective ideals triumph over individualism, in contrast to the west, and we are not known to speak against a big majority who has much sway.

I also need to ask: are lesbians and gays so heartless as to have no family values to speak of? like they're there only to annoy their parents with their unusual sex orientation? I dare say they also miss their family, but due to peer pressure from both sides, be it their family and friends, they steer clear of gays/lesbs like plague.

But isn't it too soon for 377A to be repealed? Our society is still kinda unopen to gays and their lifestyle. yes, it's all perpetuated in the stereotypes, but even most of us have not experienced first hand what the smallest extent of gay culture spread will bring. we kinda have this view that it's unnatural, and sometimes it's a kinda illogical...Also with the recent religious revival, there's gonna be contradiction of the ideals of gays and God, and these questions are best not answered

I think 377A should not be repealed for the next 5 years, but I'm looking forward to it being gone by 2012. Society and its laws should be gradually opened, and I'm sure there would be people wanting it to be retained forever. But forcing it open too quickly does no good in the long term

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