Singapore

Notwithstanding a highly visible campaign in 2007 to rescind article 377A prohibiting anal and oral sex between males, said article remains in force, even if the prime minister himself declared it to be a mere symbol of "a conservative society" and made reassurances that homosexuals would not be prosecuted. Abolishing the law could give off the wrong signal at the moment, he continued, as it was only a question of time until homosexuals would also demand the right to marry and adopt children. In recent years, the attitude in Singapore towards gay men has swung from extreme to extreme. From 2001 to 2004, it appeared as if the government's stance had softened, evidenced by events such as NATION (held on the eve of Singapore's National Day in August), recognised by Time Magazine and Wall St Journal as Asia's largest gay circuit party. However, this has changed since end of 2004 when the government has inexplicably hardened its position. Gay life still appears to be bubbling and very active, leading many visitors to comment that Singapore streets are "the cruisiest in all of Asia".