It was a landmark judgement and one that very large number of Indians,approximately about 7 million in number, India's gay population,had been waiting for.Along with those who saw this as the only possible way to move forward in this day and age.
The day that the Delhi High Court of decided that Delhi High Court ruled that homosexual sex between consenting adults is not a criminal act, was an extraordinary day indeed, as it overturned a 149-year-old British colonial law which described a same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence".
Simply because this was 'one of a kind' judgement, making India only the 127th country in the world to allow consenting same sex adults to make up their own minds. At least as far as their sexual preferences are concerned..
So what really is the ruling- Very simply, it boils down to this-
Scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code earlier this week, the court ruled that the law outlawing homosexual acts was discriminatory and a "violation of fundamental rights".
Leading gay rights activist and the Editor of India's first gay magazine Ashok Row Kavi welcomed the judgement. Yet in a media interview he said that "the social stigma will remain. It is (still) a long struggle. But the ruling will help in HIV prevention. Gay men can now visit doctors and talk about their problems. It will help in preventing harassment at police stations."
However, the real area of debate has only just begun.And I suspect, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
With someone like Laloo Prasad Yadav, among many, many others, opposing this in it's entirety. According to him, the Indian government must appeal this in a higher court and have it quashed.The real fact of the matter is that many people in India still regard homosexuality as 'illegitimate', including voices from Christian and Muslim organizations.
My point of view- 'Live and let live' and let each adult be able to independently arrive at their own decision making process.
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