India’s Supreme Court Decriminalizes Gay Sex
History has been made in India as their Supreme Court just ruled that gay sex is no longer illegal.
In the twelve months preceding this landmark decision, India had already taken huge strides towards greater equality for its LGBTQ citizens. Last year, laws were created to protect all citizens right to privacy, and it was hoped this might lead to a better life and greater protection for LGBTQ+ Indians. Those hopes have been realized, and the Supreme Court has officially scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex.
The ruling overturns a 2013 judgment that upheld a colonial-era law, known as section 377, under which gay sex is categorized as an “unnatural offence”.
Section 377
Section 377 was a piece of legislation instated in Indian law back in the 1860s by British rule, and it penalized sex that was “against the order of nature” with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
That legislation has now been struck down and means gay people can finally feel safer in India.
India’s more prominent cities were already in favor of removing the law, but religious groups and conservative rural areas were opposed to scrapping Section 377.
This Supreme Court ruling is, according to the BBC, “now the final say in the matter and cannot be challenged. As such, it represents a huge victory for India’s LGBT community.”
Online Reaction
We join the people of India & the LGBTQIA+ community in their victory over prejudice. We welcome the progressive & decisive verdict from the Supreme Court & hope this is the beginning of a more equal & inclusive society. #Section377 pic.twitter.com/Fh65vOn7h9
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2018
Historical judgment!!!! So proud today! Decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing #Section377 is a huge thumbs up for humanity and equal rights! The country gets its oxygen back! 👍👍👍💪💪💪🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/ZOXwKmKDp5
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) September 6, 2018
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