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Nudity Banned From Singapore Sex Expo

For a country that is known for being on the bottom of the list for most sexually-active nations, it is no surprise that Singapore`s media watchdogs would pull the nudity and sex toys out of public viewing for this year`s Sexpo 2005. The exhibition, which prohibits anyone under the age of 21, is seen as a milestone for the tightly controlled city-state that bans pornography and has tight censorship laws that routinely cut nudity and sex scenes from movies.

The organizers, who spent over a year obtaining police approval to have Singapore host the event, said the exhibition was not intended to copy Australia`s Sexpo, which had seen autograph sessions with porn stars, strip shows, bondage and love-making demonstrations.

In an attempt to get rid of its stiff image and attract tourists, the city-state`s authorities are gradually relaxing social controls, allowing bar-top dancing and recently lifting a ban on the sale of Cosmopolitan magazine and on the television series "Sex and the City", which had previously been deemed too racy for public viewing.