Singapore Court Refuses To Strike Down Ban On Male Homosexual Conduct

In Lim Meng Suang v. Attorney General, (Singapore High Ct., April 9, 2013), a Republic of Singapore trial court refused to declare Singapore's ban on male homosexual conduct to  be unconstitutional. Holding that the  ban is "an issue of morality and social values," the court in a lengthy opinion concluded that it cannot substitute its own views for that of Parliament where Parliament's decision is not "undeniably wrong." The National Law Journal, reporting on the decision, quotes the reaction of the gay couple who unsuccessfully challenged the law: "it is disheartening that we are criminals in the eyes of the law because of a segment of society ... insist on pushing their version of religion and morality on us."