Singapore: Couple take country’s gay sex ban to Court of Appeal

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

A same-sex couple in Singapore have launched a legal appeal to overturn an archaic law criminalising sex between men.

Earlier this month, Singapore’s High Court r­ejected a petition to repeal a provision in the penal code known as Section 377A – the legality of which has been questioned by Gary Lim and Kenneth Chee.

The couple will now take their legal challenge to the Court of Appeal, the highest judicial body in Singapore.

“The journey to a fair Singapore is long and we may not succeed, but no matter if we succeed or fail, it is important to continue fighting,” the couple said in a statement.

“Because we are loyal Singaporeans who have served our nation and we do not deserve to be treated like lesser beings who can be put into prison at the whims of the police nor do we deserve to be treated as lesser beings by those who do not understand the obstacles and pain faced by LGBT Singaporeans.”

A fundraising campaign to raise money to fund their constitutional challenge has surpassed its $50,000 (£32,763) target.

Oral and anal sex between consenting heterosexual women and lesbians were sanctioned after the penal code was reviewed in 2007, however, the ban remains in place for men who have sex with men.

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