Tracing the 'obscure' origins of Section 377A, which dates back to a hastily passed law in Britain 137 years ago

of the Penal Code can be traced back to the British parliament more than 137 years ago, when a handful of lawmakers passed a"last-minute amendment to an entirely unrelated bill".

This was when then-Attorney General of Singapore CG Howell moved a Bill here stating that Section 377A was being introduced to bring Singapore's laws in line with the UK's criminal law. The unrelated amendment on male homosexuality was introduced by a member of parliament Henry Labouchere. "After that short explanation, he then simply said he did not think it was necessary to discuss the proposal at any length, because the government was willing to accept it," Mr Shanmugam said, adding that this explanation raised more questions than it answers.

The amendment was also dealt with in the British parliament in less than four minutes, where there was no discussion on its substance before it was passed. "The reason this law was passed was linked to a specific important historical event in British history and not because there was any specific intention to make sodomy a crime," Mr Shanmugam said.

"When you go through this history, into the origins of the offence of sodomy, we see that it was introduced as part of a power struggle between Henry and the Catholic Church, and not because of any view that sodomy per se ought to be criminalised," Mr Shanmugam said.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Timeline: Repealing Section 377A and amending the Constitution to protect the definition of marriageSection 377A of the Penal Code is a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men. Marriage is defined under Section 12 of the Women’s Charter as being between a man and a woman.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Tracing the 'obscure' origins of S377A, which dates back to a hastily passed law in Britain 137 years agoSINGAPORE — The origins of Section 377A of the Penal Code can be traced back to the British parliament more than 137 years ago, when a handful of lawmakers passed a 'last-minute amendment to an entirely unrelated bill'.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Live: MPs debate repeal of gay sex law, amending Singapore's Constitution to protect the definition of marriageSection 377A penalises sex between men while marriage is defined in Section 12 of the Women's Charter as being between a man and a woman.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Repealing 377A does not signal state’s hostility towards the family unit or religious freedom: Pritam SinghThe Leader of the Opposition also lifted the party whip for Workers' Party MPs on this debate. Let's talk it straight. Repealing 377A will degenerate and undermine the family unit and cohesion. Don't pretend. Over time when it ever becomes normalised here, we would grieve over the irreversible situation. It is not the end but only the beginning.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »