- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ State-enforced
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ Sexual orientation only
- Housing Discrimination
- Ambiguous
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
Public Opinion
Recent surveys in Singapore have revealed a mixed response towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 6 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Singapore.
Overall
Perceived Safety*
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Singapore is legal.
Current status
Since Jan 3, 2023
Legal federal law
On 21 August 2022, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced at the National Day Rally that the Government would repeal section 377A of the Penal Code 1871. Later, on the 29th of November 2022, the Singaporean parliament voted in favor of decriminalizing gay sex. Then, on December 27th, 2022, the act was assented to by the President.
The repeal took effect on January 3rd, 2023.
The repeal took effect on January 3rd, 2023.
Same-sex marriage in Singapore is banned.
Current status
Since Aug 21, 2022
Banned
At the same time as Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the clause in the penal code known as Section 377A would be repealed, he reiterated that the institution of marriage would remain "between a man and a woman".
Further restrictions were imposed on gay marriage in Singapore on Nov 29th the same year.
Further restrictions were imposed on gay marriage in Singapore on Nov 29th the same year.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Singapore is state-enforced.
Current status
Since Nov 29, 2022
State-enforced
LGBT topics are censored in media and education by the Ministry of Communications and Information, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
Right to change legal gender in Singapore is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Jan 24, 1996
Legal, but requires surgery
Gender reassignment surgeries are legal in Singapore, and in 1973 the government allowed patients to change their identity cards. This change implicitly recognized marriages that included an individual that had undergone surgery.
In 1996, Member of Parliament (MP) Abdullah Tarmugi made an announcement that individuals who have undergone surgery could marry someone of the opposite sex.
In 1996, Member of Parliament (MP) Abdullah Tarmugi made an announcement that individuals who have undergone surgery could marry someone of the opposite sex.
Gender-affirming care in Singapore is legal, but restricted for minors.
Current status
Since 1973
Legal, but restricted for minors
Trans youths with both parents’ consent can access HRT through private healthcare if they are above 16, and through public healthcare if they are above 18.
HRT approval for trans youths under 21 is much stricter, especially given the global climate surrounding transitioning for trans youths. You will be subject to significantly more evaluation than trans adults, and some individuals have been rejected for HRT despite having consent from both parents.
For trans adults, gender affirming health care has been legal since 1973, the first country in Asia to legalise it.
HRT approval for trans youths under 21 is much stricter, especially given the global climate surrounding transitioning for trans youths. You will be subject to significantly more evaluation than trans adults, and some individuals have been rejected for HRT despite having consent from both parents.
For trans adults, gender affirming health care has been legal since 1973, the first country in Asia to legalise it.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Singapore is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
No legal recognition.
LGBT discrimination in Singapore is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Oct 7, 2019
Illegal in some contexts
The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) was amended in 2019 to include protections for individuals from the LGBTQ community.
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.”
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.”
LGBT employment discrimination in Singapore is sexual orientation only.
Current status
Sexual orientation only
It is generally ambiguous whether protections from the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) amendment in 2019 also applies in a workplace context.
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.” and added that action will be taken if anyone stirs hate speech either for or against any sexual or religious community.
In 2021, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam stated that “LGBTQ persons, non-LGBTQ persons, we are all equal. We are not any lesser by reason of our sexual preferences.” and added that action will be taken if anyone stirs hate speech either for or against any sexual or religious community.
LGBT housing discrimination in Singapore is ambiguous.
Current status
Ambiguous
No laws ban or have no protections.
Same-sex adoption in Singapore is single only.
Current status
Single only
Heterosexual couples may adopt as a couple if they are legally married under Singapore law. However same-sex couples must adopt by one parent as an unmarried person. LGBT couples or people are also much less likely to be permitted to adopt.
Intersex infant surgery in Singapore is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Singapore is legal.
Current status
Since 1990
Legal
No restrictions on LGBTQ+ serving.
Until 1990
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
If declared, it previously led to a medically downgraded status of Physical Employment Status C (PES C), and put through a modified Basic Military Training.
On graduation, they are deployed in a vocation which has no security risks, posted to non-sensitive units and given a security status which restricts their access to classified documents.
On graduation, they are deployed in a vocation which has no security risks, posted to non-sensitive units and given a security status which restricts their access to classified documents.
Blood donations by MSMs in Singapore is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Indefinite deferral for males; 1 year for females.
Conversion therapy in Singapore is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no explicit legal prohibition. In 2021, the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) denounced conversion therapy, and advocates affirmative treatment for LGBTQ clients.
Equal age of consent in Singapore is equal.
Current status
Equal
The age of consent in Singapore is 16 for opposite-sex sexual activity, female-female sexual activity and male-male sexual activity.
LGBT Rights by District
View the LGBT laws in each individual district of Singapore.
Equality Rank
#10
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- gerwynharry 14 contributions
- danlev 11 contributions
- Unknownmiles 8 contributions
- jadeywadey 6 contributions
- Pizzaslices412653 5 contributions
- Notdog1996 5 contributions
- Ro_Guy 5 contributions
- un_mark 4 contributions
- vviet93 2 contributions
- daikman 2 contributions
Share Region
LGBT Singapore Flag
Compare Singapore
Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Singapore?
- Is homosexuality legal in Singapore?
- Is gay marriage legal in Singapore?
Alternative names: Singapore/Singapura/Xinjiapo/Singapur (local name)
