The Ministry of Communications and Information maintains that media content regulations will remain unchanged following the repeal of the law criminalizing gay sex.
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) announced on Monday (Aug 22) that LGBT media content will continue to receive higher age ratings, even as the Singapore Government moves to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalizes sex between men.
In response to media inquiries following Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s announcement regarding the repeal, MCI reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maintaining the existing societal tone. “This position also applies to our policies on media content,” the ministry stated.
MCI emphasized that media content is regulated to protect younger audiences from age-inappropriate material, while allowing mature viewers to make informed decisions about what they consume. “Media content with higher reach and impact is subject to more stringent requirements,” it added.
To gauge community opinions, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) regularly consults advisory committees comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds on specific titles, content guidelines, and regulations. “Our content regulatory approach has to be sensitive to societal norms and values,” MCI noted, reiterating that LGBT media content will continue to warrant higher age ratings.
MEDIA CLASSIFICATIONS
Under IMDA’s content code for television, service providers are reminded of the importance of family as the foundational unit of society, as well as the necessity to respect the institution of marriage. The IMDA evaluates several factors when assessing films, including violence, nudity, and sexual content.
According to the content code, films depicting “alternative sexualities,” such as homosexuality, must align with community values. “Films that center on alternative sexualities may be classified at the highest rating of R21. Non-explicit depictions of sexual activity between individuals of the same gender may be featured at the R21 rating,” the code states, indicating that this rating is restricted to viewers aged 21 and above.
A film may receive an M18 rating—restricted to those aged 18 and older—for featuring homosexual themes or content as a subplot, provided the treatment is discreet and not gratuitous. However, the Films Act prohibits content that promotes homosexuality or excessively depicts sexual activity between individuals of the same gender.
In June, the Disney animated film Lightyear was released in Singapore with an NC16 rating due to its “overt homosexual depictions.” The film showcased a same-sex couple and included scenes of the female lead character and her partner experiencing various milestones together. This marked the first instance of a children’s animated film receiving an NC16 rating in Singapore for LGBTQ content.
IMDA noted that Disney, the film’s distributor, opted not to pursue the option of releasing two versions of the movie under a dual-rating system, which could have allowed a younger audience to view a lower-rated version.
