Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong is tabling a petition in Parliament to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code - a law that makes it a crime for men to have sex with each other, even in the privacy of the bedroom.

It is a law that carries a jail term of up to two years. "I truly do believe that Section 377A is unfair, unjust, and plain wrong," the 32 year old told The New Paper (TNP).

It is an action that has led people to question his agenda - meaning, is the lawyer himself gay?

It is a question he has avoided answering until now, because it has nothing to do with the issue at hand - not a gay issue, said Mr Siew, "but an issue of equality and non-discrimination", he told TNP.

"For the record, I am decidedly straight. I am in a serious and committed relationship with a wonderful woman," he said. Mr Siew added that his girlfriend is one of the people who signed the petition - a diverse group that included people of both sexual orientations and genders, from the young to the old, and even religious people.

It remains to be seen what effect Mr Siew's petition will have. But things do not look all that promising, given Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's comments at a forum last month.

There, PM Lee said the Government's view was that it should not push forward on this issue, but follow society's views. The majority of Singaporeans, he said, was not ready.

Earlier, the Government had said it would maintain the status quo, but would not actively prosecute people under Section 377A.

For the full story, read today's edition of The New Paper.