By Huiyu Yin

On October 29, 2014, a ruling came down from Singapore’s Supreme Court to uphold the country’s ban on same-sex relations between consenting adult men, disappointing homosexual people in Singapore once again.

Singapore introduced Penal Code section 377A in 1938, which criminalized consensual acts of sodomy between heterosexual adults. In 2007, the Singaporean government conducted a review of section 377A but refused to eliminate the discriminatory law. In July 2014, the Supreme Court heard a joint appeal by three Singaporean citizens contesting section 377A. Gary Lim and Kenneth Chee had been involved in a romantic relationship for 16 years. They were joined in their appeal by Tan Eng Hong, who had been arrested in 2010 for allegedly engaging in a sexual encounter with another man. The Singaporean Supreme Court however held that section 377A does not violate articles 9 and 12 of the country’s constitution. Those articles are supposed guarantee the right to life and personal liberty and provide that all people are entitled to equal protection before the law.

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November 26, 2014

By Ena Cefo

A bill calling for life sentences for some homosexual acts has passed through Gambia’s National Assembly and is now awaiting approval by president Yahya Jammeh. President Jammeh has made his views on homosexuality clear when calling homosexuals “vermin” and homosexuality one of the “biggest threats to human existence.” Human Rights First sees the bill as another step in the rise of homophobia in many African nations, analogous to the strict anti-gay bill previously passed in Uganda, which was recently ruled unconstitutional by the Ugandan Supreme Court. In response to the Gambian bill, Secretary of State John Kerry urged the Government of Gambia to “protect the human rights of all Gambians.”

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September 26, 2014

By Julie Inglese

Citing widespread dismay with Russia’s anti-gay laws, a coalition of more than 30 human rights and gay rights groups is calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure that future Olympic host countries do not have discriminatory laws on their books. 

“Countries with laws designed to discriminate against or attack the dignity or human rights of any individual or group ... should not be given the honor and privilege of hosting the Olympic [g]ames” asserted the coalition in a letter to the president of the IOC.

A spokesman for the IOC has responded to these pleadings by explaining that the current charter includes provisions that do not allow discrimination, according to the Associated Press. However, he concedes the proposed language could be considered at the upcoming IOC deliberation.

The coalition includes Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Campaign, PEN, All Out, Athlete Ally, and the Russian LGBT Network. You can read more at Human Rights Watch.

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February 25, 2014

By Julie Inglese

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin said gay visitors should feel “relaxed and at ease” while in Russia for the Sochi Olympics, he also requested that they abide by a propaganda law and “leave the children in peace,” according to MSNBC. 

Russia has a propaganda law that bans the promotion of "nontraditional" sexual relationships among minors. However, the law does not define what propaganda means, leaving LGBT advocates fearful that anyone who is openly gay could be violating the law. 

Additionally, the International Olympic Committee has emphasized that the Olympic Charter bans political protests, so advocating for gay rights during the games could get someone sent home. 

Time will tell what the law really means and if it will cause trouble during the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, the mayor of Sochi said that his city has no gay people. 

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January 31, 2014