Singapore's LGBTQ community on Monday welcomed the government's plan to decriminalise gay sex but said amending the constitution to prevent legal challenges to the traditional definition of marriage would promote further inequality. Gay rights campaigners have long said section 377A runs counter to the affluent city-state's vibrant culture and have unsuccessfully challenged the law in court. To prevent that, Lee said the government will amend the constitution to "safeguard the institution of marriage" -- which will remain defined as between a man and a woman. This sparked concerns from activists that the changes would "enshrine" the definition of marriage in the constitution. Late on Monday, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said that was not the plan. The planned amendments would clearly state in the constitution that it is parliament's prerogative to define marriage as between a man and a woman, and to legislate policies on the basis of that definition, he told local media. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES