Indian Court Decriminalises Gay Sex

[Coggeh]

Its a first step on a long road for rights of homosexuals in India but it is a subtle stepping stone in the right direction. Obviously it is welcomed but the struggle there is far from over.

The law existed under a British colonial law, introduced by Lord Macaulay in 1860, homosexual intercourse is ranked alongside paedophilia and bestiality as “sex against nature” and punishable by up to ten years in prison.

However:
The ruling is non-binding outside Delhi, and can be appealed at the Supreme Court, but is being hailed nonetheless as a landmark in an increasingly vocal campaign to have Section 377 repealed.

Link:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6623241.ece

[Anarkiwi]

Thats good for freedom of choice eh,
when will the states follow suit?

[Revy]

I am so happy about this. I knew it was going to come soon. I just want it to be legal everywhere (and for there to be complete equality).

[gorillafuck]

The law existed under a British colonial law, introduced by Lord Macaulay in 1860, homosexual intercourse is ranked alongside paedophilia and bestiality as “sex against nature” and punishable by up to ten years in prison.
Wait, this law was just repealed? Oh my.....

Well, this is definitely a start in the right direction:thumbup1:

[khad]

The responses are infuriatingly funny! :lol:

The judge(s) who have legalized deferring the IPC377 should think of their sons and daughters and even their wives going gay in their life.
C. Sachidananda Narayanan, From India

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

EVERYONE IS GOING TO GO GAY! WE'RE ALL GOING TO GO GAY?! I MIGHT EVEN GO GAY RIGHT NOW?!!! ARE YOU GAY? THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CHEER GIRLS HADN'T COME WITH THEIR POM-POMS AND LESBIANISM. ALL THE BAD BOOK OF RECORDS IS GOING TO RECORD US AS THE NATION OF POLYGAMISTS, CHEER GIRLS AND GAYS. :blink: :laugh:

But seriously, that's brilliant news and I actually didn't expect anything like this so soon. A great step forward!

[pastradamus]

A good step forward. Fantastic news.

[amandevsingh]

About time this bizarre law introduced by the British colonialists was scrapped.

Is there anything British law that wasn't bizarre or oppressive? Makes me sad considering it. :crying:

A good choice for India! :thumbup1:

[OneNamedNameLess]

A step in the right direction. Indian cities have gay nights and clubs anyway which I believe are well enough attended. This has been on the horizon for some time now. Maybe this could solve India's overpopulation problem :D

[Sam_b]

When I was in India I spent some time with LGBT support groups and in particular a refuge and social centre for the Delhi transgender community. The amount of stories I heard about serious discrimination and attacks were unreal. I'm pleased that this has gone through, its a step in the right direction, but the struggle will obviosuly continue. If there's one thing that has flourished under the circumstances in India its a certain level of militancy and self-organisation of large sections of the LGBT community, and long may this continue.

[amandevsingh]

LOL, I mistook 'astrologer' for 'astronomer'. Either way, he is a ridiculous fool. For example: 'The petition contended that homosexual acts, by all standards, were "unnatural" and could not be permitted. "No one can imagine the consequences of the unnatural acts. Even animals don't indulge in such activities," he said in his petition.'

:glare:

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

What an idiot!

1. Define unnatural. Food colouring is unnatural; it could even be argued that lightbulbs are unnatural. And since when has 'unnatural' been synonymous with 'bad'?

2. The 'consequences' of the acts? Let's see, the consequences are that the couple have sex, finish having sex and the world keeps moving. That's pretty much it.

3. 'Even animals don't indulge in such activities'. Hate to break this to you...

4. Where has it been 'amply proven'? I want names of credible, modern studies with proper statistics. HIV can be transmitted through sexual acts, yes, but it's a sexually transmitted disease, not a homosexually transmitted disease.

5. The scriptures are ancient and they hold the views of the time they were written in, not the views of God. I've never read Hindu literature, but I'm sure it'll be open to interpretation in much the same way as Leviticus is.

6. 'tomorrow people might seek permission for having sex with animals'. This argument infuriates me so much I can't even begin to counter it. It really does make me want to kill the person who came up with it. How can you compare a relationship between two human beings to a relationship between two different species?

7. 'were likely to affect the institution of marriage'. What is the Institution Of Marriage that people love to rant about? The divorce of straight couples affects the institution of marriage more than the marriage of gay ones. Forced arranged marriages affect the institution of marriage, abusive relationships affect the institution of marriage. Marriage isn't even a religious ceremony, or at least it didn't begin with religious connotations.

[Rjevan]

Well, I guess the typical burgeois/conservative/fascist replies that are quoted above are inevitable, sad to see how ignorant and intolerant many people still are.

But even if it's only binding in Delhi this is the first step into the right direction, so, good news! :cool:

[Ultra_Cheese]

How can you compare a relationship between two human beings to a relationship between two different species?
Sarek and Amanda had a beautiful relationship, and nothing you can say will change that! :crying:

[PetalPinkPeace]

Well, it's not much, but at least it's something! ^_^