Singapore will decriminalise sex between men, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today.
He said that society in the city-state was becoming more accepting of gay people.
But he added the government had no intention of changing the city-state's legal definition of marriage - that is, between a man and a woman.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin met Mr Lee during a visit to Singapore last month during which he raised issues around human rights, specifically concerning LGBT rights.
Speaking in the annual national day rally speech today, the Singaporean Prime Minister said: "I believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most Singaporeans will now accept."
He said his government will now repeal Section 377A of the penal code, a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men.
"Even as we repeal Section 377A, we will uphold and safeguard the institution of marriage... Under the law, only marriages between one man and one woman are recognised in Singapore," Mr Lee added.
Singapore LGBT campaign group Pink Dot said it was a time to hope.
"We are no longer criminals but we are certainly far from equal. This chapter has ended but another now begins," a spokeswoman said.
"We can be hopeful for our future and the myriad positive outcomes that tomorrow could bring."
