Blog-Writing Prompt #1 - Do you think that same-sex marriage will ever become legal in Singapore?

    I think that same-sex marriage in Singapore will not become legal in Singapore. This is because of law not accepting same-sex marriage, the low fertility rate of Singapore and their rights.

     The law in Singapore does not accept same-sex marriage. Section 377A of the Penal Code of Singapore is the main remaining piece of legislation which criminalises sex between mutually consenting adult men. Section 377A ("Outrages on decency") states that 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. This shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) is not encouraged in Singapore. Therefore, I think that the government will not want same-sex marriage to be legal in Singapore, since there is a part of law that discourages LGBT. 

     Also, Singapore's fertility rate is very low, at a record low of 1.16. As the low population of Singapore will cause a negative effect, such as affecting Singapore economically and not being able to support the aging population which is increasing because of low birth rates. Therefore, the government will want more adults to give birth to babies, increasing the birth rate. If same-sex marriage is legalised in Singapore, the birth rate will decrease even more, and that is not what the government wants. Therefore, the government will not allow same-sex marriage to become legal in Singapore.

     Lastly, legal and immigration rights are not awarded to binational same-sex couples, where one is a Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident. Dependent visas, issued for heterosexual spouses, as well as tax rights, wills, and spousal insurance benefits are not included for same-sex couples too. Also, thee is no recognition of same-sex couples in most areas of concern such as hospital visitation and Central Provident Fund (CPF) benefits. Since Singapore does not change its policies frequently and unnecessarily, I do not think  that same-sex marriage will become legal in Singapore.

     In conclusion, I do not believe that same-sex marriage will be accepted and legalised in Singapore, since the government does not encourage same-sex marriage and that even Singapore's law is discouraging such marriages.