Old Man could not be bothered if you are gay, straight, transgender or lost as long as you could serve him politically. And he had known gays and lesbians in grassroots organisation since early days. In those days, homophobia was not not even a fad, people accepted that you were different but you could not officially marry. The classic case was Ahmad Mattar the minister. .
The Govt on the other hand like most govts around the World at that time had a policy of not allowing civil servants to hold sensitive positions and it applied to NS men and regulars. They were never ever asked to leave the civil service but moved to a less sensitive position where blackmail and extortion would not be a factor to compromise state secret. Their pay and grade remained intact as well as their opportunity for promotion.
In 2001, cabinet quietly changed the policy about gays and sensitive positions. Subsequently the change in policy was announced by GCT in 2003.
His grandson his inclination and associating with likes of Stuart Koe and company took place long before any changes even occurred. The 377(a) and the decision to retain was made by PAP MPs in their caucus like meeting and he Cabinet deferred to them. The MPs was used as a sounding board and 2 factors played a part - loss of support from religious groups - christians and Muslims and the conservative older generation. It was a politely expedient matter.
The Govt on the other hand like most govts around the World at that time had a policy of not allowing civil servants to hold sensitive positions and it applied to NS men and regulars. They were never ever asked to leave the civil service but moved to a less sensitive position where blackmail and extortion would not be a factor to compromise state secret. Their pay and grade remained intact as well as their opportunity for promotion.
In 2001, cabinet quietly changed the policy about gays and sensitive positions. Subsequently the change in policy was announced by GCT in 2003.
His grandson his inclination and associating with likes of Stuart Koe and company took place long before any changes even occurred. The 377(a) and the decision to retain was made by PAP MPs in their caucus like meeting and he Cabinet deferred to them. The MPs was used as a sounding board and 2 factors played a part - loss of support from religious groups - christians and Muslims and the conservative older generation. It was a politely expedient matter.
Old fart had long been a homophobic. Unmarried senior male civil servants were closely monitored and stalked. If it transpired that they had a male partner, they were asked to go discreetly. Male unmarried applicants above 35 were routinely interrogated about their 'undesirable' marital status.
Then it turned out that one of his grandsons was gay. He summoned a team of specialists and demanded to know how this came about. It was only when he was told that there could be a prenatal and genetic basis to homosexuality that he became 'enlightened' and went easy on gays. About the same time the govt started wooing the 'pink' dollar.