Ong Ming Johnson, Choong Chee Hong, and Tan Seng Kee, all activists, brought three separate lawsuits in 20 challenging the constitutionality of 377A. The court bundled the three cases into one. It is uncertain whether the Highest Court in Singapore will opt to stay with its narrow interpretation of the country’s constitution, or whether it might deviate from its previous approach in light of the growing acceptance of sexual minorities and the global trend toward decriminalizing consensual same-sex conduct.
In fact, all three of them have already indicated their intent to appeal. Upon the dismissal by the High Court, the activists are left with one channel unexhausted - the Court of Appeal in Singapore. With a highly technical reading of the law, High Court Justice See Kee Oon concluded that section 377A of the criminal code is “not so patently unreasonable,” leaving gay and bisexual men without their fundamental rights. On March 30, 2020, the Singapore High Court has dismissed three cases seeking to strike down a colonial-era law that makes consensual gay sex a crime.
