Winter Is Coming

377A. The law which has been cited in the blogosphere time and again. In fact, it appears that 377A has been cited more regularly than the law of defamation or the laws on public gatherings itself.

However matters have finally come to a head. As of this moment, NMP Siew Kum Hong would have submitted the petition to repeal Section 377A. Needless to say such a move is unprecedented, with some fellas beating their chests. In fact there was even a letter (part of a chain of letters whose quality was far from satisfactory) that deigned to chide NMP Siew for “overstepping” his role as an NMP. Indeed besides the usual “high” quality letters to the ST forum affirming 377A and demeaning fellow humans, some people went even further; several sites dedicated to the retention of 377A were created, and there were calls for a massive walk near St Andrew’s Cathedral (this brings to mind the People’s Crusade and the Children’s Crusade; though of course the two events where part of the skeletons in the wardrobe of the Catholic Church). Of course the validity of these websites must be doubted given the fact that “Jesus” was a signatory to the petition to keep 377A.

Of course, being the pessimistic person that I am I tend to think that the law would remain the same; the government would probably resort to the arguments that the majority say nay, that we are an Asian society with those mysterious Asian Values and then talk about how they will not actively enforce the law. Singapore being Singapore, the fact that there is no clear economic benefit to be gained from repeal, vis a vis the clear economic benefit to be reaped in allowing the Casinos (aka Intergrated Resorts), the law would remain, equality and fairness be damned, as far as homosexuals are concerned. Regretable but true. Nevertheless one must applaud NMP Siew for daring to make a formal challenge.

My fellow blogger FO has written a rather interesting post on this issue. However with all due respect I have to disagree with certain portions of his article.

It is of course, desirable to seek to change the mindset of the pro-retention camp. Education, either expressly or implicitly, could help change the mindsets of people so that in time to come the idea of repeal will not be anathema to some.

Unfortunately such a situation is unlikely to flourish in Singapore for a variety of reasons.

A perusal of the ST archives will show how much space those who are anti repeal have in the mainstream media. Observe the level of homophobic content and the scarcity of rebuttals. Thus it is unsurprising that Prof Michael Hor decided to publish his article on TOC instead; this would keep his content free from adulteration. Furthermore anecdotal evidence proves that the Christian lobby is rather prevalent, what with those family groups hiding a rather Christian agenda to influence people against homosexuality. Of course I admit that I am taking a rather pessimistic view of the situation but unfortunately as the facts stand there is nothing to make me feel that the “soft” approach can work, given the evidently skewed field. In fact I daresay it is entirely possible that with the dominance of certain groups in the public sphere there is a high chance that more impressionable people will be imprinted with the idea that homosexuality is disgusting, criminal.

Of course, that is not to say that this petition will do anything other than to raise hackles on both sides, in fact judging from the current parliamentary debates it is highly unlikely that parliament will decide to repeal and will probably leave it as it is, no doubt to the delight of some. Nevertheless this formal challenge constitutes a baby step in progress and is a sign to all those seeking to exert insiduous influences in society that there are people who do not take too kindly upon these sheenanigans and will try to stop them, as far as possible.

As of this moment I have had a chance to look at the parliamentary debates. I must say that I am rather confused by the logic of NMP Thio’s argument. It seems to lack the clearness that underlies Prof Hor’s article, with the fudging of issues. In fact i find it rather interesting that she actually says homosexuals deserve rights, the same as we all have. If that is the case should there not be a stronger case for repeal given the fact that the 377A criminalises the homosexuals right to intercourse? If heterosexuals can have intercourse then why can’t homosexuals do so? Once again the slippery slope argument materialises; by repealing 377A you will open the door to more demands for rights. Though it may be true that there will be those who will argue for same sex marriages, conversely the same could be said for the Christian Right, if the law is retained than this would serve to empower these rightists who will attempt to foist more of their dogma upon “right thinking” members of society.

Regarding her point on harassment, it is true that there are many times where criticism becomes nothing more than ad hominems, unfortunately this is a risk all bloggers, and I daresay most people take. Rather than gripe about it would it not be better to consider the reasons behind it? And if one does so one would realise it is inevitable to be subject to such harrassment. After all, you are essentially advocating an argument that a person is immoral, base and depraved just because he happens to have a different orientation from the norm. Sure it all sounds fine if you start talking about protecting children but if you pause to think, are homosexuals not children too? Are they not fellow humans who should be entitled to protection of the law and not have a section of the law which deals expressly with them?

Most of the above is just a mere restatement of what I have been saying. In fact NMP Siew and Mr Hri Kumar have done a better job at this. Nevertheless I really wonder what is so moral about dehumanising a fellow human being through the use of laws. Furthermore to those who think that homosexuality will result in the downfall of Singapore, might I remind you that Ancient Greece had some rather interesting homosexual practices, and yet their philosphies and ideals have lived on. Indeed it was the adaptability of the Romans which spelt the end of Ancient Greece and not homosexuality. But I am tired of this debate where I essentially rephrase and restate what ever I have said. The only way out in this deadlock would be to repeal 377A, because it is fair and just to do so.  Perhaps all of us should just stop and “climb into the skin” of a homosexual; how will you feel if you were a homosexual and there is this law which makes you criminal? How would you feel reading the ST letters labelling you as an anathema to man kind? How will you feel being dehumanised? And having done that we could then understand the anger and sadness that some experience and will be less likely to dismiss calls for repeal as activism, shit stirring and what have you. Or not if you believe that you have received divine instruction.

Anyway I find it rather interesting that homosexual is considered immoral while marital rape is not. How queer. As my fellow blogger puts it, man have more ways to rape wives with the repeal of section 377(?). So much for morality.