Xue called the constitutional amendment

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"The outcome itself is significant. We are decriminialising sex between men — a longstanding issue, and not just for gay Singaporeans," he wrote. "At the same time we are protecting the definition of marriage — as a union between a man and a woman — from Constitutional challenge. Taken together, these are balanced, wise steps forward."

Parliament noted on Monday that passing both bills aimed "to address the concerns of various parties who are for and against the repeal" of Singapore's previous ban.

Still, the country's LGBTQ+ community reacted with relief once Section 377A was struck down, AFP reported. Roy Tan, a doctor who had previously challenged the now-defunct law in court without telegram database success, said he felt "grateful and privileged to have witnessed the endpoint in our 12-year-long struggle to strike down," before describing the repeal as "the birth of a new chapter in the history of Singapore's LGBT community," according to AFP.

"With the law repealed, we can progressively dismantle impediments to the visibility and progress of queer citizens because there no longer remains a reason for prejudicial treatment," Tan reportedly told the outlet, while Benjamin Xue, identified as a 39-year-old gay man, said the repeal could help the community start "opening up the doors to have that frank conversation about our queer lives in Singapore." "an uneasy thing to swallow right now," according to AFP.

Iran has for the first time reported that more than 300 people have died in over two months of protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

The Islamic republic has deployed state security forces against what it labels "riots" that broke out after the 22-year-old died on September 16, three days after her arrest for allegedly breaching Iran's dress code for women.