Singapore’s first openly gay politician announced yesterday that he is quitting politics to focus on gay rights and other human rights issues.

Vincent Wijeysingha, who came out as gay last month, issued a statement on Facebook saying he was resigning from the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

“I believe that, as a nation, we have a limited appreciation of civil liberties: they have not penetrated deeply into our civic discourse and public administration. There is a great deal of work ahead if we are to achieve the full range of our fundamental liberties,” said Wijeysingha, who served as the party’s treasurer.

“I have taken the difficult decision to resign my membership of the SDP in order to explore how I can be of service to the wider cause of our civil liberties, a project which I believe to be the

dominant mission of this present period.”

Party chairperson Jufrie Mahmood said in a statement he was disappointed to see Wijeysingha leave, but fully supported his decision.

“Our loss is civil society’s gain,” he said.

Homosexual acts between men are still illegal in conservative, tightly controlled Singapore, although the law is rarely enforced.

- dpa