Singapore repeals its prohibition on homosexual marriage, but there are certain restrictions.

In a blow to the LGBT community, Singapore's parliament decriminalized male-to-male sex on Tuesday while also amending the constitution to prevent legal battles that in other nations have led to the legality of same-sex marriage.s

The initiatives come at a time when other Asian nations, such as Taiwan, Thailand, and India, are adopting additional rights for the LGBT community.

.Activists applauded the repeal but criticized the constitutional amendment, saying it prevents citizens from initiating legal challenges to matters like the definition of marriage, the family, and policies related to them because these matters will only be resolved by the government and legislature.

The government has defended amending the constitution by arguing that such decisions shouldn't be determined by the judiciary.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his successor have ruled out amending the marriage legal definition as a relationship between a man and a woman.

Due to the dominance of the ruling People's Action Party in parliament, both the repeal and the constitutional amendment were approved by a huge margin. There is no fixed timeline for when the new legislation will come into effect.

It was a momentous moment, according to Bryan Choong, head of the LGBTQ advocacy organization Oogachaga, for those who have been fighting for the repeal of Section 377A for the past 15 years. However, he added, LGBT families and couples "have the right to be respected & legally protected."

In recent years, perceptions toward LGBT challenges in Singapore have shifted toward a more liberal stance, particularly among the youth, though conservative attitudes persist among religious groups.

An Institute of Policy Studies survey found that among individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, nearly 42% accepted same-sex marriages in 2018, up from 17% just 5 years earlier.

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