Singapore may alter sex laws

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Nov 10, 2006, 12:45:05 AM11/10/06

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Singapore may alter sex laws

POSTED: 0422 GMT (1222 HKT), November 8, 2006

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- Singapore is considering decriminalizing oral and anal sex between consenting heterosexual adults, but not between homosexuals, official documents show.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday posted a public consultation paper about proposed amendments to the city-state's penal code, Singapore's primary criminal legislation.

"We intend to repeal s.377, rescoping it such that anal and oral sex, if done in private between a consenting adult heterosexual couple aged 16 years old and above, would no longer be criminalized," the paper said

Currently, section 377 of the Penal Code "criminalizes all forms of carnal intercourse against the order of nature, other than vaginal intercourse".

The paper makes no mention of the decriminalization of oral and anal sex between men.

"Homosexuality is not widely accepted or tolerated in Singapore," the pro-government Straits Times quoted a home-affairs official as saying on Thursday.

Under Singapore law, a man who is found to have committed an act of "gross indecency" with another man could be jailed for up to two years. Despite the official ban on gay sex, Singapore has a thriving gay scene.