Singapore’s Education Minister claims LGBT people experience ‘no discrimination’
Ong Ye Kung claimed that the LGBT community do not experience discrimination in Singapore.
Singapore’s Education Minister has claimed that LGBT people experience “no discrimination” in the country.
Ong Ye Kung made the comments during the annual Singapore Summit, a conference for business leaders to discuss global affairs, Today Online reports.
When asked how the country can be more inclusive towards people of different sexualities and gender identities, Kung said: “The fact is they (the LGBTQ community) live in Singapore peacefully, no discrimination at work, housing (and) education. They go about their lives.”
He added: “However, on the issue of LGBTQ, it is also an issue of social mores and societal values.”
The comments prompted complaints on social media and LGBT activist Rachel Yeo slammed Kung, stating that LGBT discrimination in Singapore was “widespread”.
Kung’s comments come during a debate about whether to keep or repeal a law banning male gay sex in the country following India’s landmark ruling earlier this month.
Over the last week, more than 100,000 people have signed a petition to maintain the law banning gay sex. Under the law, a man found to have had “gross indecency” with another man could be jailed for up to two years, though prosecutions are rare.