Singapore Democratic Party politicians' views on homosexuality

 The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) supports LGBT equality in Singapore and is against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. It also supports the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises sex between men.

However, one of its Malay-Muslim candidates running in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC during the 2015 General Elections, Damanhuri Bin Abas thinks that Section 377A should not be repealed.

=For LGBT equality=

Chee Soon Juan
Dr. Chee Soon Juan, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party, has accepted People Like Us' (PLU) invitation to several IndigNation events where he has spoken up for LGBT equality. He has also attended Pink Dot SG with his wife and children.

During the IndigNation 2006 event entitled, "The 2006 General Election and the Gay Issue" held at Theatreworks' 72-13 along Mohamed Sultan Road on 1 August 2006 at 7:30pm, Chee made the following speech in support of LGBT equality.

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Chee also made a speech in support of fellow SDP candidate, Vincent Wijeysingha, during the 2011 General Elections, saying that his party does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

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Dr. Chee Soon Juan and his family at Pink Dot 2011. (Source of photo: ) 

Paul Tambyah
On 18 August 2015, Inconvenient Questions interviewed Prof. Paul Anantharajah Tambyah, an infectious disease expert and first-time candidate under the SDP for the 2011 General Elections, regarding his views on Section 377A amongst other issues. Prof. Tambyah was firmly in support of repealing 377A.  CCBj1NSeFc0  Transcript:

"In terms of 377A, the SDP has been very clear about this - that 377A should be repealed. And again, this is in line with the idea that there should be equality for all Singaporeans. We also don't believe that it makes sense to keep a law on the books if you have decided you are not going to enforce the law. So there has to be consistency in order for rule of law to be practised in Singapore."

=Against LGBT equality=

Damanhuri Bin Abas
 One of the SDP's Malay-Muslim candidates running in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC during the 2015 General Elections, Damanhuri Bin Abas thinks that Section 377A should not be repealed. He even had a hand in drafting the Fellowship of Muslim Students Association (FMSA) statement supporting NUS professor Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied when he dehumanised lesbians by describing them as ‘diseases’ and ‘cancers’ of society.  He contradicts himself by saying that he believes in a society where everyone is treated as equals and is against the discrimination of Hijabi Muslimahs and Malay-Muslims in the military while supporting the criminalisation of gay Singaporeans.

=See also=
 * PAP MPs against the repeal of Section 377A
 * PAP MPs for the repeal of Section 377A
 * Workers' Party politicians' views on homosexuality
 * Reform Party politicians' views on homosexuality

=References=