In the last decade, the winds of change have been brisk, even if they haven’t yet blown through every corner of Singapore’s tightly-woven social fabric. The nation known for its orderly streets and tradition-steeped values is at a crossroads of identity and acceptance when it comes to the rights and recognition of LGBTQ individuals. To use a local term: the journey from “tolerance” to genuine inclusion is still in progress—romantic love (cinta) and companionship (pertalian) between same-sex partners may no longer be viewed strictly as taboo, but full equality remains an aspiration rather than a reality.
A recent survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) gathered responses from 4,000 citizens and permanent residents in 2024 and found that the proportion of people who view gay sex and gay marriage as “wrong” has fallen significantly over the past decade. Still, the numbers tell a story of moderation rather than outright embrace: 52.9 % disapprove of gay sex and 50.8 % disapprove of gay marriage. That suggests that slightly over half the population remains unconvinced where acceptance is concerned—but the rapid softening of attitudes gives cause for hope.
Generational divides loom large in the broader metrics of acceptance. A 2024 study by Ipsos found that 72 % of Gen Z respondents and 69 % of Millennials in Singapore believed same-sex couples can successfully raise children, compared to only 44 % of Gen X and 40 % of Baby Boomers. That pattern is echoed in other questions: while a clear minority overall believe in legal recognition of same-sex marriage (32 %), that rises to 41 % among Millennials and 40 % among Gen Z, compared to just 16 % of Baby Boomers. These numbers point to a society in motion: the younger generations are ready to challenge the status quo even if the broader public remains tentative.
To understand how significant even these shifts are, we need to cast back to Singapore’s more conservative past. Until very recently, the colonial-era Section 377A of the Penal Code criminalised sex between men—though it was de facto unenforced for many years. In August 2022, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that 377A would be repealed, and the constitutional amendments required to protect Parliament’s definition of marriage were introduced. That repeal, formally completed in early 2023, stands as a landmark—yet it also underscores the compromises built into the change. While the law against same-sex acts was removed, the state maintained that marriage remains between a man and a woman—a position critics argue enshrines heteronormativity.
Cultural context is crucial. Singapore is a multiracial, multireligious society. Concepts such as keluarga (family) in Malay, or 家庭 (jiātíng) in Mandarin, carry weight in public discourse. Many citizens still view relationships through the lens of traditional marriage, progeny (anak), and lineage. Religious identities—whether Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or Christian—also play a powerful role in shaping views on sexuality and gender. The IPS survey found that older Muslim and Christian respondents showed “strong and persistent” disapproval of gay sex, while Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist youths and the non-religious showed much more rapid liberalisation. That suggests acceptance is not simply about age or generation, but about intersecting identities and beliefs.
So where are we today? Public events such as Pink Dot SG—which gathers supporters of LGBTQ rights in a sea of pink at Hong Lim Park each June—bear witness to growing visibility and engagement. Yet institutional barriers remain. The lack of recognition for same-sex civil unions or marriage means that same-sex couples still cannot access many of the legal and social benefits tied to matrimony: housing eligibility, taxation, next-of-kin status in hospitals and other perks remain largely the preserve of heterosexual wedlock. The public mood meanwhile shows signs of progress, but also signals frustration from both sides: those who desire faster change and those anxious that tradition is eroding too quickly.
The key takeaway is this: Singapore’s LGBTQ journey is neither linear nor guaranteed. Its trajectory is defined by gradual shifts—young Singaporeans increasingly open, older citizens slower, religious institutions cautious, and state policy half-measures in place. But even those half-measures matter. The drop of almost 30 percentage points in disapproval of gay sex and nearly 23 points in disapproval of gay marriage since 2013 shows that mindsets do shift. What remains is the work of bridging acceptance (penerimaan) into full-fledged equality (kesetaraan)—and that means shifting hearts as much as laws.
So, as Singaporeans sip their kopi o kosong on the walk to work, perhaps more among them now wonder: when love is love, why should the law, or public perception, treat it differently? The answer will emerge not overnight, but in a society where conversation, representation and empathy steadily replace inertia. And in that silent revolution—for which every hand-in-hand couple glimpsed in public, every voice raised for equal rights, and every story told of love unconstrained—Singapore inchingly writes a new chapter in its complex narrative of identity, family and belonging.
Singapore, my Singapore, you polished diamond of Southeast Asia — so shiny, so efficient, so good at keeping everything in neat little boxes. But guess what? Love doesn’t fit into boxes. It spills over, makes a mess, dances on tabletops, and occasionally kisses someone your auntie from Tampines isn’t ready to see holding hands on the MRT.
Let’s be real: repeal of 377A was a fabulous step. We popped a little pink champagne, waved rainbow flags at Hong Lim Park, and thought — “Wah, finally!” But then the government politely reminded us, “Ah ah ah, marriage still man and woman only, okay?” A bit like giving you a plate of char kway teow but saying, “Cannot eat, just look.” Thanks ah.
Still, I must take my hat off (my very stylish, wide-brimmed one) to the younger Singaporeans. You know lah — the Gen Zs with their tote bags, biodegradable cups, and zero tolerance for nonsense. They are leading this shift with confidence and sass. They look at a same-sex couple pushing a stroller and think, “Cute lah.” Meanwhile, Uncle Boh Bian in the kopi tiam is still muttering into his teh o about “culture” and “family values” as if LGBTQ people arrived last week on a budget flight from Mars.
Auntie has a message for those uncles and aunties afraid that accepting LGBTQ rights will burn down the entire fabric of society: Relax lah. Your marriage is not going to collapse just because two women in Toa Payoh want to adopt a cat together. Culture is not a fragile porcelain vase. It’s more like a good bowl of laksa — it evolves, it absorbs new spices, and it becomes even more shiok.
Singapore’s multicultural superpower has always been adaptation. Think about it: bubble tea, Korean BBQ, Taylor Swift concerts — none of this was in the textbook when you were in school. Yet here we are. So why should love be the only thing stuck in the past?
To the youth: keep being fabulous. Keep painting this city pink one heart at a time. You understand something essential: acceptance isn’t a threat — it’s a flex. And change? It’s already here. Progress moves like the MRT — maybe sometimes delayed due to “track signal fault,” but still arriving.
One day, Singapore will look back and wonder why it took so long. And Auntie will be right there, fanning herself dramatically and whispering: “See? I told you love always wins.”