Law and homosexuality in Singapore : an exploratory study

This exploratory study examines how law and homosexuality is perceived by Singaporeans, and how those perceptions come together to shape one’s attitudes towards laws such as S.377A of the Singapore Penal Code. Using the data from in-depth interviews with 16 heterosexual undergraduates, the paper seeks to deepen our understanding of the issues around S.377A through two theoretical layers. First, a conceptual separation of beliefs of and attitudes towards homosexuality is made. Second, an interactionist approach towards legal consciousness is adopted to understand the respondent’s interpretation of law. This paper will argue that the current liberal/conservative discourse around S.377A is insufficient in accounting for the interplay of law and homosexuality in the perception of Singaporeans.Bachelor of Art