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27/04/2007
SAFE responds to MM Lee's comments on homosexuality
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Below is a SAFE press release in response to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's comments on homosexuality and the Penal Code, as reported in a recent Reuters article.
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PRESS RELEASE
27 April 2007
SAFE is a group of family and friends who affirm and support gay and transgendered people as persons with equal rights to respect, dignity, acceptance and empowerment in society.
We are writing to express our appreciation and thanks to MM Lee for his recent comments at the dialogue with Young PAP and the interview with Reuters.
We appreciate the two cogent points he made,
1. That homosexuals are born with this propensity and not by choice. It is a genetic variation, not an aberration.
2. That the existing criminal law against homosexual acts in the Penal Code is outmoded.
We at SAFE fully agree with and support these points and are hopeful that the law that criminalises homosexual acts will be abolished in the proposed amendments to the Penal Code. We see this as a logical and responsible next step.
As with all complex human traits and behaviours such as intelligence, homosexuality is probably a result of many factors. Rather than arguing about whether particular genes can be found for these traits and behaviours, we should continue to accept our fellow Singaporean citizens and residents who deserve the same rights to respect, dignity, acceptance and empowerment as everyone else, and to be treated equally under the law.
We cannot agree with a law that proclaims our sons, grandsons, brothers, nephews, uncles, relatives and friends are criminals for a propensity that is not of their volition, is innocuous and part of their private lives. For far too long our gay loved ones from a young age, have suffered deep internalized oppression, often resulting in the disintegration of family, compromised relationships, low self-esteem, stunted maturity and unavoidable deceitfulness.
We therefore support the proposed decriminalisation of oral and anal sex as proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs this past November, and ask that it apply equally to all consenting adults.
Since the 1970s, the law has been used in Singapore as an educational tool; we implore the Government to use it again for the same purpose. This will be a first step in educating the public on the nature of homosexuality, educating them to become more understanding, respectful and accepting of our human diversity.
The homosexual community is an essential element in the tapestry of peoples that make Singapore such a unique and cosmopolitan community. Homosexual men and women enrich our lives through their participation in business, the professions, the arts, and government. They are our sons and daughters, colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
Legal discrimination against homosexuals is unfortunate, outdated, and regrettable. It tells them that they are less than fully welcome; that their participation in Singapore life is subject to government forbearance. It diminishes the entire Singaporean community by allowing laws to stand that criminalise many of our fellow citizens. While contributing to intolerance it leaves the government and legal authorities open to the charge of being hypocritical for not enforcing a standing law.
As we focus on the richness gay people bring to our lives and our love and support for them, we not only liberate them, we also become a society committed to the Asian values of real family – strong, whole and committed to love against all odds.
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Read the Reuters article: Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew questions homosexuality ban
10:25 Posted by soci | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this | Tags: Singapore
Comments
Oh my word! Here come the collectivists! Yet-another-special-interest-group seeking some sort of "validation".
This article is almost apologetic in its nature, and yet it complains about the "low self-esteem" suffered by LBGTs.
> 1. That homosexuals are born with this propensity and not by choice. It is a genetic variation, not an aberration. <
Incorrect in part because of a gross evasion of FACT. Fact: There are those who CHOOSE to *try* homosexuality (or bisexuality) out of "curiosity", and then make a WILLFUL choice to engage in it.
> Rather than arguing about whether particular genes can be found for these traits and behaviours, we should continue to accept our fellow Singaporean citizens and residents who deserve the same rights to respect, dignity, acceptance and empowerment as everyone else, and to be treated equally under the law. <
What a cowardly evasion. Finding the cause of homosexuality *is* important to some people. There is only but one right: PROPERTY RIGHTS, and it begins with the premise that every human is an end unto themself, and thus it follows that every individual OWNS himself and his life.
That being said, any "law" (so-called) which attempts to criminalise PEACEFUL behaviour or sexual preference is wrong.
But no, that is not enough... SAFE has to go on and make an issue out of it, and shoots itself in the foot in the process:
> We cannot agree with a law that proclaims our sons, grandsons, brothers, nephews, uncles, relatives and friends are criminals for a propensity that is not of their volition, is innocuous and part of their private lives <
Notice how it begins with male nouns fro examples of homosexuals, then switches over to gender-neutral nouns. Hey, where are the women? I protest! This is blatant sexual discrimination :0
> The homosexual community is an essential element in the tapestry of peoples that make Singapore such a unique and cosmopolitan community. <
Bullshit.
It is INDIVIDUALS who make up a tapestry, not the sexual orientation of individuals. That is narrow minded and concentrating on only one facet of a human being.
> For far too long our gay loved ones from a young age, have suffered deep internalized oppression, <
Small wonder why, with a "victim" mentality like that. show some fucken spirit — if you are different, by choice or whatever, stand up as an INDIVIDUAL and be proud, and hang the consequences!
> we implore the Government <
"Implore"? Fuck off. Who serves who? The government is the servant of the people, or have you forgotten?
> This will be a first step in educating the public on the nature of homosexuality, educating them to become more understanding, respectful and accepting of our human diversity. <
Sweet Jaysus...
Now it has become the job of the state to "educate the public" about homosexuality. I'm curious, by "educating the public" do you mean FORCE people to "accept" homosexuals, even if certain individuals like fundamental Christians (who also have rights — the right to reject an idea for whatever reason) reject it? Should it be possible to use the absolute power of the state to FORCE your ideas on others?
> Legal discrimination against homosexuals is unfortunate, outdated, and regrettable. <
Another evasion, skewed to make the homos "look all so innocent, helpless and oppressed". For goodness sake, if you are claiming "rights" for yourselves, do consider defending other people's rights too.
"Legal discrimination" on the grounds or race, culture, ethnicity, social stature, economic status, degree of health, age, religion has been practiced by statists wielding their iron fists of prohibition from time immemorial. What about these folks? Do they get support and empathy from SAFE? Or are these people "off the radar"?
> As we focus on the richness gay people bring to our lives [...] <
Huh? And what about those who aren't gay? don't they enrichen the lives of people also?
> we also become a society committed to the Asian values of real family – strong, whole and committed to love against all odds. <
*choke* *chunder*
Posted by: Matilah_Singapura | 29/04/2007