Recognition of same-sex unions in Singapore

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Part of the LGBT rights series
Marriage

Recognized

Civil unions and
registered partnerships
Minimal recognition
Unclear legal status
See also
Notes
  1. GR: Neither performed nor recognized in the Monastic community of Mount Athos.
  2. KoN: Performed in the Netherlands proper, including the Caribbean Netherlands. Registered in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  3. NZ: Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  4. UK: Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
  5. US: Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
  6. Israel: Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
  7. EU: The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. All EU member states except Romania follow the ruling.
  8. Cambodia: Recognition of a "declaration of family relationship", which may be useful in matters such as housing, but they are not legally binding.
  9. China: Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
  10. HK: Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
  11. India: Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
  12. Japan: Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
  13. Namibia: Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.
  14. Romania: Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.
* Not yet in effect
LGBT portal

Currently, there is no legal recognition of same-sex unions in Singapore.[1]

Laws regarding homosexuality in Asia
Same-sex sexual activity legal
  Marriage performed
  Marriage recognized
  Other type of partnership
  Legislation or binding domestic court ruling establishing same-sex marriage, but no supporting legislation has been passed
  Legal guardianships or unregistered cohabitation
  Limited foreign recognition (residency rights)
  No recognition of same-sex couples
  Restrictions on freedom of expression
Same-sex sexual activity illegal
  Prison but not enforced
  Prison
  Death penalty on books, but not enforced
  Enforced death penalty

Housing[edit]

In Singapore, access to public housing is the biggest benefit granted to married couples and is officially recognized as key pillar of support for relationships. Public housing is the most affordable type of housing for the middle and working class due to the high price of housing in Singapore.[2] Purchasing a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat is a major step towards married life for almost all couples intending to formalize their relationship and is entrenched in Singapore society. Upwards of 80% of Singaporean families live in public housing apartments sold by the government.

Same sex couples in Singapore, whether citizens or foreigners, cannot own their own homes through the public housing scheme, and many rent as they are unable to afford private housing. Same-sex partners - both must be above 35 and Singapore Citizens - can purchase a flat under the Joint Singles Scheme.[3]

Private housing, a type of property typically several times more expensive than public housing, but open to the public and foreigners, may be purchased by same-sex couples both Singaporean and foreign.

Immigration rights[edit]

Legal and immigration rights are not awarded to binational couples, where one partner is a Singaporean or Singaporean permanent resident. Dependent visas, which are usually issued for heterosexual spouses, are not available for same-sex couples. Tax rights, wills, and spousal insurance benefits do not include same-sex couples. There is no recognition of same-sex couples in most areas of concern such as hospital visitation and Central Provident Fund benefits.

Public opinion[edit]

According to 2013 polling, some 75% of Singaporeans opposed same-sex marriage.[4]

In 2019, a poll conducted by YouGov with 1,033 respondents showed that about one-third (34%) of Singaporeans backed same-sex partnerships, while 43% opposed their legalization, and the remaining 23% were uncertain. Support was more notable among younger respondents: 50% of people aged 18 to 34 supported civil partnerships and 20% were opposed. In contrast, only 22% of those aged 55 and over supported. 41% of university degree holders agreed with the legalisation of same-sex partnerships, whereas only 26% of respondents without a university degree were in favour. Of those who considered themselves "very much" religious, only 23% supported civil partnerships. 51% of people who considered themselves "not at all" religious expressed support. Apart from irreligious people, majority support for same-sex partnerships was also found in respondents who identified as LGBT (71% against 22%) and those who personally knew a person in a same-sex relationship (52% against 33%).[5][6][7][8]

A survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies between August 2018 and January 2019 revealed that Singaporean society was still largely conservative but becoming more liberal on LGBT rights. The survey showed that more than 20% of people said that sexual relations between adults of the same sex were not wrong at all or not wrong most of the time, a rise of about 10% from 2013. Around 27% felt the same way about same-sex marriage (up from 15% in 2013) and 30% did so about same-sex couples adopting a child (up from 24% in 2013).[9][10]

A mid-2019 poll conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies found that opposition to same-sex marriage in Singapore had fallen to 60%, down from 74% in 2013. The poll also found that nearly six in ten Singaporeans aged between 18 and 25 believed same-sex marriage is not wrong.[11]

In June 2019, an online survey conducted by Blackbox Research revealed that 56% of Singaporeans are opposed to other countries following Taiwan’s example in legalising same-sex marriage, while 44% said “yes”. When asked on how they feel that more than 300 same-sex couples were married in Taiwan the first week after the new law was passed. About 49% of those surveyed felt positive about the statement, with 14% feeling “strongly positive”, while 35% feeling “somewhat positive”. Conversely, 51% responded negatively to that, 20% felt “strongly negative” while 31% were “somewhat negative”.[12]

A poll by Pew Research Center in 2023 found that support for same-sex marriage in Singapore has risen to 45% and opposition has fallen to 51%. 53% of Buddhists, 60% of Hindus and 62% of irreligious people support same-sex marriage.[13]


Government's view[edit]

On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Government will repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, effectively ending criminalisation of sexual relations between men both de facto and de jure.[14][15][16] Sex between women has never been criminalised. On 22 August 2022, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam added that the Constitution will be amended to protect Parliament's right to define marriage instead of the judiciary, leaving open the possibility for Parliament to legalise same-sex marriages or civil unions through a simple majority.[17] Read in conjunction with the Women's Charter, this currently only allows heterosexual marriages.[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Women's Charter (Ordinance 18, Section 12). Legislative Assembly of Singapore. 15 September 1961.
  2. ^ "Singapore's home sales approach record high_English_Xinhua". 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  3. ^ "LGBTQ+ guide: Things you should know about buying an HDB flat". AsiaOne. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Wear white to protest pink gay rally, religious groups say". Reuters. 23 June 2014. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. ^ Ho, Kim (18 February 2019). "Singaporeans split on same-sex civil partnerships". YouGov. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  6. ^ Glauert, Rik (19 February 2019). "A third of Singaporeans support same-sex civil partnership". Gay Star News. London. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Singaporeans remain deeply divided on the issue of recognizing gay civil partnerships here". Yahoo! News. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Singaporeans remain deeply divided on the issue of recognizing gay civil partnerships here". Coconuts Singapore. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Greater public acceptance of gay sex and marriage: Survey". The Straits Times. Singapore. 3 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  10. ^ Yuen-C, Tham (2 May 2019). "Singapore society still largely conservative but becoming more liberal on gay rights: IPS survey". The Straits Times. Singapore. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  11. ^ Beh Lih Yi (2 May 2019). "Support for gay rights seen growing in Singapore". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  12. ^ "56% of Singaporeans opposed to more countries following Taiwan on same-sex marriages: survey". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  13. ^ Lim, Ida (12 September 2023). "Pew survey: Eight in 10 Malaysians oppose same-sex marriage, local Buddhists most supportive". Malay Mail. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  14. ^ Yuen-C, Tham (21 August 2022). "NDR 2022: Govt will repeal Section 377A, decriminalise sex between men". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Singapore will decriminalize sex between men, prime minister says". Reuters. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  16. ^ Sim, Dewey (21 August 2022). "Singapore to lift ban on gay sex, amend constitution to ban marriage equality". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  17. ^ Yuen-C, Tham (22 August 2022). "Section 377A: Constitution will be amended to protect Parliament's right to define marriage, says Shanmugam". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  18. ^ Hui Min, Chew (27 November 2022). "CNA Explains: How does Article 156 in the Constitution 'protect' marriage?". CNA. Mediacorp. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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