377A debate

On 3 October 2007, an online appeal was launched via the website Repeal377a.com to gather signatories to an open letter to the Prime Minister advocating the repeal of section 377A. In response, a counter-petition on the website Keep377a.com was set up to give citizens a channel to voice support for the Government’s retention of the law. By 1:30 pm on 20 October, Keep377a had overtaken Repeal377a by 7,068 to 7,058 signatories in just two days of its launch.

On 22 October 2007, Nominated Member of Parliament Siew Kum Hong tabled a Parliamentary petition to the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore in support of the repeal of section 377A. The petition is required to pass through the scrutiny of the Public Petitions Committee in order for the issue to be fully debated in Parliament. In response, fellow NMP Thio Li-ann gave a speech in Parliament arguing to keep section 377A.

NMP to present petition to repeal anti-gay law to Parliament – Straits Times, 11 Oct 2007
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_166111.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGdW1y673Ws

NMP Siew Kum Hong’s full speech
http://siewkumhong.blogspot.com/2007/10/speech-on-penal-code-amendment-bill-22.html

NMP Thio Li-Ann’s full speech
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/10/23/377a-serves-public-morality-nmp-thio-li-ann/

PM Lee: Why Singapore must leave Section 377A alone – Straits Times, 23 Oct 2007
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Singapore/STIStory_169745.html
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Keep377A.com vs Repeal377A.com – TODAY, 19 Oct 2007
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/217510.asp

Sections 377 and 377A of the Penal Code (Singapore) – Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_377_of_the_Singapore_Penal_Code