LGBTQIA+ travel in Singapore

While Singapore may not be as opposed to those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community as they once were, progress to wholeheartedly embrace and to further provide inclusions for the community has stalled in recent years. On a government level, discrimination is still quietly tolerated, with little to no policies and laws in place to legally protect the community. For this reason, travellers are advised to proceed with caution when visiting Singapore. 

Singapore's government is still extremely conservative, and this can be seen by the refusal of political leaders to abolish Section 377A of the Penal Code (the section of the law that allows a sexual relationship between adult males to be classified as illegal and punishable by up to two years in prison). This law has been challenged over the years, with the latest challenge happening in 2021, however, in all three trials to date, the appeal to remove the law has been dismissed. While this law may no longer be heavily enforced - offering a slight reprieve to members of the LGBTQIA+ community - it still represents the country's sometimes passive-aggressive stance towards the community and fellow international travellers. 

However, on a social level, the LGBTQIA+ community is widely accepted in most regions throughout Singapore (especially among the younger generations) and travellers are typically exempt from experiencing any kind of stigma. While discretion is recommended when showing public displays of affection, for the most part, LGBTQIA+ travellers to Singapore are welcomed and supported.