Indian Foreign Affairs News & Discussions (non-US & Pakistan related

[Screaming Skull]

Indian media hails gay sex ruling​

Friday, 3 July 2009

The Indian media has hailed a ruling by a court ruling decriminalising homosexuality in the country.

The ruling on Thursday overturns a 148-year-old colonial law which describes a same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence".

Homosexual acts were punishable by a 10-year prison sentence.

Many people in India regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate. Rights groups have long argued that the law contravened human rights.

India's Gay Day, headlined The Times Of India

"..this historic ruling could act as a catalyst, encouraging our legislators to shed their blinkers and take a more progressive view on the issue," the newspaper said.

"In 21st century India, it is perverse to penalise adults for their sexual choices."

'Giant step'

Describing the ruling as a "giant step towards globalisation", the newspaper said India had become the 127th country "to take the guilt out of homosexuality".

It's okay to be gay, headlined Hindustan Times

Section 377 of the colonial Indian Penal Code, defines homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and made them illegal.

"It took 150 years for us India - and 42 years after Britain itself had made homosexuality legal- to figure out that we didn't have a problem with same-sex relationships," Hindustan Times said.

The newspaper said "homosexuality and heterosexuality aren't divisive, emotive issues in Middle India - sexuality is, especially when it concerns women and their perceived behaviour in a still male-dominated, anti-woman society at large".

Sexuality Equality, headlined The Indian Express

"Can a modern democracy intrude upon the private domain of consenting adults on the grounds of 'moral indignation'?," the newspaper wondered.

The newspaper said that the Delhi ruling "may not be the last word on the matter".

"But the government must read it for its enlightened constitutionalism".

Writing in the same newspaper, urban policy analyst Gautam Bhan said the ruling was victory for democratic India.

"The judgement should be seen by all of us, gay or straight, no matter what we think of sexuality and homosexuality, as a victory for a secular, democratic, constitutional and free India," he wrote.

"We should all be proud".

Gay and Finally Legal, headlined Mail Today

"Remember that in the end this is a judicial pronouncement that should serve as law only in the absence of legislation," the newspaper said.

"An overhaul of the law lies in the domain of the Parliament".

DNA said that the ruling was the "first step" in a "long battle ahead".

".. there will be reactions against this judgment. Religious groups have protested. But while their right to a point of view is acceptable, to bring religion into this debate is wholly unnecessary - this has to be a social and legal debate."

Sexual revolution in India headlined The Asian Age

"The symbolic significance of this judgement is beyond measure," a writer on the newspaper said.

BBC NEWS | South Asia | India media hails gay sex ruling

 

[paritosh]

Extremist religious groups now easily target guys because of declaration, so as result violence in society will increase .

nothing would happen for god's sake!
it's a simple ruling allowing a section of our society to liberate form the age-old and orthodox customs and taboos.I cant understand what is there to be so paranoid about!

 

[Screaming Skull]

nothing would happen for god's sake!
it's a simple ruling allowing a section of our society to liberate form the age-old and orthodox customs and taboos.I cant understand what is there to be so paranoid about!

Absolutely! and you know what? These "age-old and orthodox customs and taboos" are a British legacy! They made this law 148 years back and not us!

 

[SummerWine]

dont you guys think that this ruling would encourage more and more Indians to become Gay.....

 

[notsuperstitious]

^^^ How? Like one's girlfriend ditches him and he decides to date his best male friend now to take revenge? Come on.

 

[Always Neutral]

You are exceeding limits, attacking on religious believes of muslims , wait for a ban

waited for my ban but unfortunately the MODS have more sense than you. SORRY I AM STILL HERE.

 

[jeypore]

dont you guys think that this ruling would encourage more and more Indians to become Gay.....

:

 

[Always Neutral]

then wht abt this? then necrophiliacs,

HELLO MR CRETIN ( MODS USE THIS TERM)

SO YOU WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH THE DEAD ?
WELL YOU ARE WELCOME ONLY IF ITS CONSENSUAL! SO I GUESS U KNOW HOW TO SPEAK TO THE DEAD ? AND PLEASE DONT FORGET TO ASK THEIR PERMISSION BEFORE U DO THAT.



nymphomaniacs

WHY NOT AS LONG AS ITS CONSENSUAL. THATS IF U UNDERSTAND THE WORD.

should also be given the rights....people into doing it with animals

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO IT WITH ANIMALS BUT MAKE SURE ITS ABOVE 18 YEARS OLD, AND IT SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE SO ITS CONSENSUAL AND YOU DO IT IN THE PRIVACY OF UR BEDROOM. I CAN ACTUALLY IMAGINE U GOING TO DELHI COURT WITH A SHEEP UNDER YOUR ARM AND TELLING THE JUDGE IT WAS CONSENSUAL AS U SPEAK URDU / ENGLISH AND THE SHEEP SPEAK SHEEPISH !



should also follow!! they are also medically fit.

what abt child abuse n drugs, they must be fine in this regard,

ARTICLE 377 MAKES IT A OFFENCE TO HAVE CONSENSUAL SEX WITH ANYBODY BELOW 18, SO AGAIN U COME OUT WITH A EGG ON THE FACE. BTW MOHAMMED SLEPT WITH A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL AS PER WHAT YOU READ. IN TODAYS WORLD HE WOULD BE CALLED A DIRTY OLD MAN ?

n tell u wnat UK goverment is very close to pass this drugs bill.is this wht u want to follow? lets treat the problem, running around wont fix it mate.

WE ARE FAR AHEAD OF YOUR COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY GOD AND THATS WAY IT WILL BE.

Regards

 

[Omar1984]

How is this law going to change the society in India?

Did India throw gays into prison for being gay before this law?

 

[jeypore]

Now the next /debate is what happening in America today, which is same sex marraige. If I am not mistaken two states have already made this into law.

 

[Awesome]

Well done INDIA now you can call your legal justice system at par with the world. The muslims of India and the world rise and support this judgement.

Idiots like the one who posted this does not know

Turkey has laws protecting Gays ( Most Pakistanis always like their Country to be the next Turkey)

Milestone for gay rights as Indonesia gets first pink guidebook | World news | The Guardian

Indoneasia allows it except in Aceh

Islam is full of gay excerpts.

Well done Indians and India. Muslims of India who oppose this in a violent way should be given a one way ticket to hell or the Saudi.

Regards

Islam is full of gay excerpts? Whatever that means?

Whereas its a step towards human freedom, no doubt, shouldn't it be the job of elected officials to make such a significant change in the law. I see this being strongly rejected by Indians themselves. A bunch of liberal judges cant decide for a highly conservative India.

Whereas homosexuality is probably against a dozen religions, the point every religion makes is that you must CHOOSE to follow that religion and not be forced into it by the law of the land. Everyone has the right to preach against homosexuality, but it shouldn't be stopped by law.

 

[wtf]

How is this law going to change the society in India?

Did India throw gays into prison for being gay before this law?

No one has been actually prosecuted for a while. But there have been cases where police were chasing people down and threatening them. The cases were rarely bought to court. Sometimes a kidnapping charge was tacked on, which lasted until the case got to court and the involved denied being kidnapped.

Of course, this is a South Asian country, so the easiest way for cops to stop public displays of affection (irrespective of sex) is to call on a "public morality" or a "disruption of order" charge. These charges sometimes even stand up in court. This won't change until the culture changes drastically and the judges change their views.

 

[wtf]

Islam is full of gay excerpts? Whatever that means?

Whereas its a step towards human freedom, no doubt, shouldn't it be the job of elected officials to make such a significant change in the law. I see this being strongly rejected by Indians themselves. A bunch of liberal judges cant decide for a highly conservative India.

Whereas homosexuality is probably against a dozen religions, the point every religion makes is that you must CHOOSE to follow that religion and not be forced into it by the law of the land. Everyone has the right to preach against homosexuality, but it shouldn't be stopped by law.

Actually this judgment by high court turns the argument on its head. Now it will be up to the elected authorities to change the constitution to say that gay sex does not violate human rights. That has low chances of passing (need 2/3rds majority). India is conservative, but it is not that conservative that parliament is going to pass a constitutional amendment.

Before the judgment by courts the case was that a change of law was needed to make homosexuality legal. Again that would have been difficult to pass since no one wanted to stand up for homosexuals (Except the health minister).

BTW, this ruling does not stop religious authorities from preaching against homosexuality. What this ruling really does is to make the punishment of homosexuality an area for religious authorities and removing the state from this business. Religious authorities can ex-communicate homosexuals or criticize them.

 

[Awesome]

Church to oppose legalization of gay sex in India

Church to oppose legalization of gay sex in India

The Central Government on Sunday announced plans to repeal a 150-year-old law that criminalizes homosexuality in India.

The news has come as a major victory for Gay Right activists even as the government announced its intent to decide after consulting the Church and representatives of other religious groups.

The announcement was made by Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily who would be meeting Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to discuss on the controversial section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Section 377, which was formulated by the British in the 17th century, terms same sex relationships as a criminal act and makes it punishable with an imprisonment of 10 years.

"The Cabinet has mandated to have a re-look at the provision. But we are not going to rush to any conclusion. We will certainly take into account concerns of all sections, including religious groups like Christian church," Moily said at a press conference in Thiruvanthapuram.

So far the Church has remained mum and is yet to officially voice its discontent against the amending of Section 377.

"This is a very sensitive issue and the Church is yet to come out with its statements," Bishop Sahu of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) told Christian Today.

The general secretary of the ecumenical organization of the protestant and Orthodox Churches in India, however, opined that "church can’t remain silent and it should unitedly speak on this issue."

He very candidly pointed that homosexuality "is against our religion and is forbidden in the Bible."

Joseph Dias, general secretary of the Catholic Secular Forum, concurs. "The Church's stand on the issue has always been clear. For us it is an unnatural act, against the divine law. We will definitely oppose it,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of gay rights supporters walked through three Indian cities on Sunday, to celebrate gay pride and call for the decriminalization of homosexuality, which is still a taboo subject in world's largest democracy.

Thousands marched on the streets in Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi where gays, lesbians, transgender and bisexuals were seen holding play cards demanding "equal rights" and "gay-friendly laws".

Gay Right activists claim that the Section 377 law violates the Indian Constitution, which guarantees all citizens the right to equality and personal liberty.

A few publicity acts later when the euphoria of being recognized as a modern freedom loving nation dies down, if India's religious right had their way the homosexuals are in for a fight.

 

[Always Neutral]

Islam is full of gay excerpts? Whatever that means?

Whereas its a step towards human freedom, no doubt, shouldn't it be the job of elected officials to make such a significant change in the law. I see this being strongly rejected by Indians themselves. A bunch of liberal judges cant decide for a highly conservative India.

Whereas homosexuality is probably against a dozen religions, the point every religion makes is that you must CHOOSE to follow that religion and not be forced into it by the law of the land. Everyone has the right to preach against homosexuality, but it shouldn't be stopped by law.

AA,

Since you are one of the sane members here i will try to explain it in a much more saner version

Quran has its own interpretations and Indonaesia interprets it in a different way from Pakistan but both of you are Islamic Republics.

Turkey and China has far more liberal gay laws than India but the homophobics here have never told the muslims to rise up in those countries or hoped for their break up as the person who initiated this thread of his supporters have tried to do.

Now lets get to the laws in India widely reported on the UN website

It does not cancel Section 377 i.e. it is still

1. Illegal to have nonconsensual gay sex.
2. Consensual gay sex with anyone under 18 is illegal.
3. Consensual gay sex in public is a crime.

However, consensual gay sex between adults done in private can no longer lead to criminal prosecution and thats all. Who is the biggest looser- The corrupt Police blackmailers.

They have in no way legalised gay sex but have treated it on par with cancer or any other disease for which you can go to a hospital or a mosque, church etc and get your treatment.

That shows that the JUDGES ARE BRILLIANT.

Regards