Introduction
As the world becomes increasingly globalised, it is essential for people to embrace diversity to foster collaboration, innovation, and mutual understanding. Diversity encompasses not only a multicultural environment but also inclusivity across all sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGIE).
In Singapore, the landscape for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights is influenced by regulatory frameworks that inadvertently impact citizens’ societal attitude, causing challenges to expression and legal protection. Persistent biases against individuals based on SOGIE continue to limit the rights and access to benefits of LGBTQIA+ individuals. However, as society evolves, perceptions and rules also change, giving the public hope for a better reception to those belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Forms of Discimination
Although all individuals are entitled to human rights, minority groups often find that their liberties are not fully upheld by the law. LGBTQIA+ people in Singapore face regulatory barriers that hinder them from expressing themselves freely.
Section 377A of the penal code has existed since 1938 and is a remnant of the old laws from the British colonial era. It has disadvantaged certain groups and provided unclear guidance on the preservation of rights for equality, privacy, and protection from arbitrary arrests (Pearson & Reid, 2022). This prohibition has contributed to the ongoing stigma and mistreatment of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Singapore. Meanwhile, under Section 12 of the Women’s Charter, marriage is defined as an act conceived between a man and a woman. Over the years, Section 377A has received several legal challenges regarding its constitutionality; however, all of them have been dismissed by the High Court (Leo, 2022).
The legal petitions are based on the argument that the law does not conform to the country’s constitution. Articles 9 and 12 are particularly cited as they stipulate that no one should be deprived of their life and freedom, and everyone is equal under the law with the right to be protected by it (Ng & Tham, 2022).
Singapore is touted as a conservative society with social welfare tightly bound to a person’s civil status. For instance, to be eligible for government-subsidised housing, applicants must be either married or at least 35 years old (Ruehl, 2022). In this vein, the LGBTQIA+ community is also marginalised in terms of accessibility to housing, as they cannot get legally married in the country. Against this backdrop, other forms of discrimination manifest in different areas of society.
This has been particularly demonstrated on January 26th, 2021, when three activists who were peacefully demonstrating against the unjust conditions of transgender students outside the Ministry of Education were arrested by the police. The activists were prompted to action based on a post on an online platform, Reddit, submitted by a transgender girl who alleged that their school authorities inhibited her from carrying out her hormone treatment. In their demands to the government, the activists highlighted that transgender students are being obstructed from expressing their identities freely through uniforms and hair length (Human Rights Watch, 2021).
Correspondingly, a survey conducted in Singapore in 2022 disclosed the struggles of LGBTQIA+ people as they experience a larger percentage of workplace discrimination in comparison to those who do not identify themselves as LGBTQIA+. Forms of SOGIE-related discrimination include exclusion from job opportunities despite meeting the qualifications, verbal harassment, and sexual misconduct (Ng et al., 2024).
Road Ahead
In 2022, Singapore declared that it would finally scrap Section 377A of the penal code, which criminalises gay sex. Plans were introduced to amend the constitution in order to preserve the definition of marriage as a union of a heterosexual couple from legal disputes. While this shift may appear to be progress, activists described this decision as “window dressing” because it does not substantially promote LGBTQIA+ rights against the backdrop of the constitutional amendment (Ruehl, 2022).
Additionally, in January 2025, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) introduced the Workplace Fairness Legislation (WFL) to emphasise the importance of interpersonal harmony at work. This is in light of the country’s ageing demographic and narrow employment market. Hence, it supports caregivers, women, and senior workers in enhancing their roles in the labour force and expanding their career prospects. WFL establishes a dispute mechanism for discrimination cases through a formal complaint resolution procedure that allows any employee to escalate issues safely (AsiaOne, 2025).
However, this new bill is being criticised for not covering discrimination against gender identity and sexual orientation. Several Members of the Parliament questioned the scope of WFL and the notion that it projects that LGBTQIA+ people are not secure from workplace mistreatment (Ching, 2025).
Public Tolerance
According to an Ipsos survey on various countries’ outlook on LGBTQIA+ rights, released in June 2024, there has been a relatively increased support for LGBTQIA+ rights among Singaporeans. Similarly, when asked whether partners of the same sex should be allowed to adopt children, more people agree than disagree. However, despite this progress, it also revealed that a considerable number of people remain uncertain about how this issue affects their lives. While 73 percent of the responders concur that members of the LGBTQIA+ community should be safeguarded from discrimination in terms of housing and job opportunities, only 40 percent are open to the administration of anti-discrimination policies (Ang, 2024).
The survey results encapsulate the conflicting viewpoints of citizens towards the LGBTQIA+ community. Nonetheless, more people are acknowledging the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community and stand together with them in achieving an equal society. For instance, Pink Dot is a non-profit movement formed by people who aim to create a welcoming community for LGBTQIA+ Singaporeans and support them in forging closer relationships with their family and friends (Pink Dot SG, n.d.).
Every June, during Pride Month, the group organises the Pink Dot Rally to demonstrate solidarity with LGBTQIA+ individuals in Singapore. This became an annual event in 2009, and in 2024, thousands of people attended the event, with some politicians in attendance, including the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development and for Culture, Community and Youth, as well as several members of Parliament (Shiying, 2024).
Furthermore, My Family Matters, an initiative started by a counselling and support group called Oogachaga, which is co-hosted by various LGBTQIA+ organisations, aims to provide support to the families of LGBTQIA+ individuals. This issue has come to light as many parents are unaware of how to adequately respond when their children come out, and it proves challenging for them to access the right information to be compassionate towards their children during this milestone (Zachariah, 2024). Through this joint effort, both LGBTQIA+ people and their families can have a safe space to share their experiences with one another.
Conclusion
It is evident that Singaporean society remains divided in its stance and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Discrimination still prevails in various aspects of life, extending beyond housing and the workplace. This is detrimental to the people who are targeted with prejudice because not only can it harm their mental and physical health, but it also alters the way they experience life. At the same time, due to some policies, many are discouraged from disclosing their SOGIE and embodying who they truly are.
However, it is also clear that there is an increasingly progressive opinion towards the community, with an acknowledgement of the injustice that they face. This can serve as an opportunity for the government to uphold LGBTQIA+ rights and dismantle legal barriers that reinforce sustained oppression. Efforts to dismantle any kind of discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community would help obtain a just society that is welcoming of diversity and reduce inequalities.
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