Sedition Act for homophobes?

iveco SG

If the Sedition Act can be so freely applied to racists, shouldn’t it be extended to homophobes as well? The latter is far worse, considering that they have the luxury of hiding behind the sacred scriptures when they launch their tirades.

ditzy SG

And the worst of the lot paedophiles. Laughing

earthlings73 SG

But then, there's a sodomy law that's still against GBLT..

How can the Sedition Act be employed to protect gay interest? Crying or Very sad

And sedition act (just like internal security act, etc) can be used arbitrarily in the favour of the Government to protect Government's interest in general, we might even want to think whether such an act contravenes human rights and freedom of speech in general..

There's quite an interesting debate on this issue at a local gay mailing list recently.. you can sign up at www.plu.com..

alexkusu SG

it sounds funny coming frm iveco

iveco SG

These days, people are threatening one another with it just because of some unfavourable remarks about their religion.

Something must be done to raise awareness that the worst form of discrimination isn't just about race or religion, but that of sexual orientation. I would like to see harsh penalties meted out to homophobes, regardless of religious affiliation.

laurence82 SG

Sedition Act is meant to perserve racial and religious harmony.

Yes, it is a preventive measure against discrimination, but the end point is to preserve harmony.

If everything discriminatory is to be written into laws, i foresee age and racial discrimination be written into law first.

earthlings73 SG

If the society is matured enough, it would render something like the sedition act redundant.

Hence, IMHO, the use of sedition act to protect against gays interests is rather moot. The most important thing is still to allow people to understand gay issues based on more objective viewpoints.

Also, you are right in saying that discrimination is rather widespread in the society over many different demographic lines that can split people up. The move towards tolerance and acceptance of diversity is not simply through the Sedition Act, but to educate people.

But then, there might still be a long route ahead.

earthlings73 SG

Just to add that the discrimination against gays has a deep impact.. since gays can still be criminalised.. If sodomy law is still in place..

IMHO, it's time for the government to review all the outdated laws and help the citizens to accept the diversity in life..

shade343 SG

I was thinking of the same thing too! Laughing

laurence82 SG

erm, i think what i meant was, the laws Singapore, if to be enacted is something along the line of Equal Opportunity Act. The Sedition Act is for a different purpose altogether.