SINGAPORE SEX LAWS II

While drafting the previous post, I felt the need to point out the weirdness of Singapore's sex laws. Consider the following:

(a) There is rather old legislation still on the books that bans oral sex. It is on rare occasions enforced. Typically it is enforced as an offence that is tacked-on to other charges (ie., a sex offender would get charged for having oral sex alongside his other charge in much the same people get fined for not wearing seatbelts when they are caught speeding.)

(b) Pornography, even softcore stuff like Playboy, is banned.

(c) Prostitution is legal.

Under existing laws, owning a Playboy could get a man arrested but he could legally hire several prostitutes. He could have sex with these prostitutes, but if he took pictures he could be charged with possession of pornography. And if he were, he could also get an extra charge tacked-on if he received a blow job.

The government's position on homosexuality is equally as odd.

Homosexuality is technically illegal, although no recent prosecutions have occurred. The government also recently announced that it had lifted its ban on hiring gays.

The decision, notes the Economist (subscription required), was made "after researchers found that cities with high concentrations of gay residents tend also to be centres of innovation."

Essentially, the government decided that it wanted to attract homosexual talent to help stimulate economic creativity.

Personally, I'm hoping that the state eventually lifts its ban on porn after realizing that it's also something that creative people also indulge in.