Singapore

In 2022, Singapore decriminalized consensual same-sex relations between men by repealing Section 377A of the Penal Code 1871. This repeal took effect in January 2023. However, the government simultaneously amended the constitution to codify the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, effectively barring the legal recognition of same-sex marriages. Same-sex couples also face other challenges in forming families, including restrictions on adoption rights. 

Transgender individuals in Singapore can legally change their gender markers on the condition of undergoing gender-affirming surgery. In 1996, Parliament passed a law clarifying that individuals who had undergone gender-affirming surgery would be allowed to marry someone of a different sex.

Trans youth can access gender-affirming hormone therapy with both parents’ consent, provided they are over 16 through private health care or over 18 through public health care. However, access to hormone therapy for trans youth under 21 is subject to much stricter scrutiny, particularly in light of the global discourse surrounding medical transitioning for trans youth. They face more extensive evaluation than trans adults, and in some cases, individuals have been denied access to gender-affirming hormone therapy despite having consent from both parents.

While there are protections against incitement to violence, comprehensive antidiscrimination laws specifically safeguarding sexual and gender minorities are not in place. In 2018, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that discrimination in employment, housing, and education would not be tolerated. However, LGBTIQ topics are censored in the media and education by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. LGBTIQ activists in Singapore also face gendered threats online and government surveillance due to their activism, leading to specific mental health stressors. 

In 2021, the Singapore Psychological Society condemned “conversion therapy” and endorsed affirmative treatment for people of queer experience. 

LGBTIQ community organizing is thriving in Singapore, with Pink Dot as the main public Pride event promoting LGBTIQ inclusion. Other active groups include Pelangi Pride Centre, which acts as a resource center and queer library, and Oogachaga, which focuses on providing counseling to sexual and gender minorities. Organizing in Singapore operates within a sometimes restrictive environment where advocacy focuses on incremental change, fostering community resilience, and increasing public awareness.