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5 Jul 2011

India Health Minister's homosexuality is a 'disease' comment creates uproar‎

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stunned many on Monday by calling homosexuality "unnatural", and a "disease" which is "spreading fast" in the country.

Just as India's LGBT community was celebrating the Delhi High Court's historic judgment in reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which effectively decriminalised consensual gay sex on July 2, 2009, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stunned many on Monday by calling homosexuality "unnatural", and a "disease" which is "spreading fast" in the country.

"The disease of MSM is unnatural and not good for India. We are not able to identify where it is happening as it less reported also," said Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who spoke in Hindi. He was speaking at a national convention on HIV/AIDS with parliamentarians and representatives from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and UNAIDS in attendance.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad

The minister, a member of the Indian National Congress, took over the health portfolio from Dr Anbumani Ramadoss after the elections in 2009. The Health Ministry, with Dr Ramadoss at the helm, was a strong advocate of legalising same-sex relations to advance the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Azad's comments has drawn strong condemnation from gay and HIV/AIDS activists, and local and international media coverage.

Sangama, a Chennai-based human rights organisation specialising in the rights of sexual minorities, has called for an apology and immediate resignation of the minister.

"The Honorable Minister’s statement reveals his abject ignorance of international medical and scientific opinion that homosexuality is not a disease... The honorable Minister needs to educate himself on public health and scientific opinion grounded in evidence before airing his views or continuing in his position," the group said in a statement.

It also expressed concern that the minister's is damaging the efforts of groups such as India's National AIDS Control Organization Programme (NACP-III), an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), that have been working to help MSM and transgender people access healthcare.

Onir, an openly gay film-maker (of My Brother... Nikhil fame), was quoted in the Times of India as saying: "Ghulam Nabi Azad must apologise. As a minister of the largest democracy, he can't deny equal rights to any citizen of this country because of his personal prejudice. He is answerable to the nation and the image of our nation internationally."

The Wall Street Journal has described Azad's comments as "pull(ing) an Mbeki" – referencing former South African President Thabo Mbeki's controversial comments in 2000 at a global conference where hundreds of delegates walked out after they were told by Mbeki that he didn't think the HIV virus is the sole cause of AIDS.


(In Hindi and English, 0.48 mins onwards)

Reader's Comments

1. 2011-07-05 20:23  
Why are asians in power so ignorant? Is it because they resort to an inflated ego to cover their basic insecurity and so they assume they know everything??
2. 2011-07-05 20:26  
becoz they are not civilised yet....still live in the 'Jahiliah' era....
3. 2011-07-05 20:31  
Ignorance, willful or otherwise is a human malady denseaus, not limited to any particular race or culture. Have not anyone heard of “Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.”
This case is just another political strawman and sockpuppet unworthy of any attention other than for a bored audience.

Comment edited on 2011-07-05 20:41:30
4. 2011-07-05 20:48  
i pity him.. i wonder if he ever picked up a good book.
5. 2011-07-05 21:23  
Oh, I thought India has moved forward with that judgment. Seemingly the minister speaks without thinking.

6. 2011-07-05 21:29  
I think straight sex is disease, bcos they spread like a plague.
7. 2011-07-05 23:12  
I think the real disease is ignorance... and unfortunately it seems to be spreading rapidly too.
8. 2011-07-05 23:23  
retarded ugly bald bean
9. 2011-07-05 23:40  
That level of ignorance and prejudice is unacceptable in a Health Minister, or any government minister for that matter. He should be fired. Very publicly. Can't imagine how he came to be appointed in the first place. The previous one appeared to be good at the job. Good thing that the media is so outraged, so they should be.
10. 2011-07-06 00:33  
Making a statement by Calling a homosexual an unnatural and a disease makes me wanna question your position and having doubt on your qualification as Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad
11. 2011-07-06 00:43  
Denseaus wrote: Why are asians in power so ignorant? Is it because they resort to an inflated ego to cover their basic insecurity and so they assume they know everything??

Why the need to make such a sweeping statement about 'Asians'?
12. 2011-07-06 00:45  
Azad resembles the actor Higgens from Magnum PI......
Comment #13 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-06 01:17
14. 2011-07-06 01:21    
This is a reminder to keep all your comments on topic. Personal attacks and generalisations about a country or nationality do not add any value to the discussion and in fact detract from it.
15. 2011-07-06 02:57  
dumb ass!
16. 2011-07-06 04:35  
There is no limit to these right wing religious lunatics! They spread hate wherever they exist.
17. 2011-07-06 04:35  
Earlier in his career he was a deputy Justice Minister and his views on homosexuality might have been warped by problems (including lots of rapes) caused by “situational homosexuality” in Indian prisons.

Judging from surveys, 50 to 90% of prisoners have had homosexual experiences. Quite astonishing and I’m not sure if I believe such statistics. But getting sentenced to prison is also one of the biggest HIV risk factors in India so obviously MSM sex in prisons is indeed common.

However, a Minister of Health should be informed enough to be able to distinguish between “situational homosexuality” practiced by thuggish straight guys (who make life ugly for everyone) and the biological homosexuality of us fabulous fags (who make life a lot more beautiful for everyone).

And what other sorts of misguided or dead wrong ideas percolate in this Minister of Health's brain? Epileptics are possessed by demons? Breast cancer can be cured by drinking the urine of virgins? If I were the Indian PM, I'd be thinking about moving Azad to another portfolio... quick.
18. 2011-07-06 07:40  
fuck the asshole. him too is a disease
19. 2011-07-06 07:50  
lol. He ashamed his own country. He should be fired right away. He did not use scientific evidence to prove that homosexual is a disease. How to be a Health Minister if he can't even have a clear mind of what he is talking about? Very funny.
20. 2011-07-06 08:41  
Let's see what these ppl hv got to say when their sons/daughters turn out to be gay/lesbian/transgendered :)
21. 2011-07-06 09:00  
luvgwm (#8) calling this guy a "retarded ugly bald bean" is not nice for the retarded, the ugly, the bald... and the beans.
:-)))
denseaus you're at it again with your disgraceful, pathetic racist comments. Did you join Fridae just because you hate everything about Asia and Asians and need a forum to say it over and over again ? The reactions to your blatant racism from our (sorry, MY) asian friends (#3, #11 and #14 the editor) here are polite and mild and thus show how much more civilized they are compared to you.
22. 2011-07-06 09:40  
From what we know about American politics, he's probably gay himself...
23. 2011-07-06 11:45  
What a sad man and backward thinking man, what an idiot. It has been proved that particularly in the male sexuality there is no such thing as 'heterosexuality'. The male psyche does not work like this but only in the cultural influence of complying to PRACTICING 'heterosexuality'.

He has shown jimself up without having done any full research other than thinking about pro-creation. What about males and females who constantly use condoms for sexual acts? It is the same end result -both are for sexual stimulation and have no other reason. Yes, my friends, it is sad that a persons's lack of intelligence has once again been highlighted in this day and age.
24. 2011-07-06 12:03  
just another idiot stupid uneducated scum, i just wonder how he got his education and got to be Minster of Health
25. 2011-07-06 12:37  
He should lose his job in a huge flourish over such a statement. You can't have a so-called Minister of Health (of ANY country) making such inaccurate and bigoted statements. Not only is the statement itself wrong from a medical perspective, it's socially irresponsible and exceptionally hateful. This guy failed as a health minister and failed as a diplomat with one sweeping statement.
26. 2011-07-06 13:50  
I feel a little sorry for this guy. He's obviously a deeply closeted homosexual. One day he'll come out...or be discovered cruising in a toilet or whatever. For his sake, I hope people are forgiving.
27. 2011-07-06 17:25  
He loves cock ... its obvious. Caught the disease!!!! lol
28. 2011-07-06 20:47  
Turn New Delhi into a gay capital city , into another San Francisco of old , and see how fast he changes his tune as he sees all those gay dollars pouring in !
29. 2011-07-06 20:48  
What an ignorant twat he is.
Comment #30 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-06 21:25
31. 2011-07-06 21:25  
Apparently, he's Kasmiri...here's a profile of the man:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghulam_Nabi_Azad

32. 2011-07-06 22:31  
Nazi...........................go to the fucking hell...
Comment #33 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-07 00:02
Comment #34 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-07 00:02
35. 2011-07-07 00:01  
mmmem or whoever you are...i think u r even more ignorant than the minister of health ..i dont understand the word u have used Jahiliah..perhaps it exits only in your head ..but for heavens sake use your judgement sparingly, u dont seem to have a brain to pass a judgement anyway. Pls visit India once in ur lifetime and then talk about its civility..for it is to this nation the chinese scholars used to visit to learn more about medicine and economics even in 4th Century AC..be careful..dont call the country names when u dont know much about it...u decided to paint the whole canvas with one colour because of the statement one person ..and that person was given a befitting reply by its own country..again be careful about what u say
36. 2011-07-07 04:24  
It's hilarious that he declared that he knows where the prostitutes are. Had he visited many of them?

It's really a poor judgment of the Prime Minister of India to have appointed such an ignorant, unsympathetic and politically clumsy person as the Health Minister. The only way to resolve this problem, beside having him resign voluntarily, is for the PM to sack him immediately, and appoint a more well-informed, compassionate and politically wise person to replace him.

Perhaps the Prime Minister should also ensure that the next Health Minister is sufficiently informed about public health. If that person isn't even aware of the latest views adopted by leading bodies such as WHO, UN, UNAIDS, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, etc. in basic public health issues such as HIV (and homosexuality's relationship to HIV), how's he going to lead the Health Ministry? How can the PM make a blind person like him lead?

I urge all Indian citizens to petition to the Prime Minister and the Parliament of India to remove this person as the Health Minister immediately.
37. 2011-07-07 04:33  
Anyway, I did some research on this ignorant fool's background. Ghulam Nabi Azad holds a Master's degree in Zoology (http://india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=126).

The former Health Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, who supported the removal of anti-gay law s377, is a medical doctor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anbumani_Ramadoss).

I think the Indian Prime Minister should appoint Ghulam Nabi Azad as a zoo-keeper. As a Zoology graduate, doesn't he even know that homosexuality occurs even among animals in nature? How can he call homosexuality 'unnatural' and a 'disease'? So, he should be re-educated in the field of Zoology in a zoo where he can see homosexuality even among animals himself.

38. 2011-07-07 04:41  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS6uhYpESaQ (Anti-gay Rep Roy Ashburn comes out, promises not to be homophobic anymore ).
39. 2011-07-07 13:44  
Solmateseeker, why are u so pretecting your Health Minister, are u one of them?

Did i say 'they' refer to Indians? I am referring 'they' as he and his same kind, are u one of their kind?

If you do not understand the meaning of 'Jahiliah', why did you comment?

Are you a racist or just to attack me personally?

Does civilisation in medicine and ecomomic have anything to do with civilisation in sexual-orientation?

I have even known of a Nobel-prize winner in Medicine who was also a racist...

Someone, please feel free to comment on what Solmateseeker has written here.......a personal attack.....maybe he is a spy here.....with no dignity?

Comment edited on 2011-07-07 17:22:02
Comment #40 was deleted by its author on 2011-08-13 17:18
41. 2011-07-07 15:14  
is he a doctor/physician?? if he is, i suppose indian medical council should reconsider his competency as a doctor, and send him back to his alma mater for more intensive psychiatry education...
42. 2011-07-07 16:25  
It's obvious, he's trying to cover his gayness from the publics.
43. 2011-07-07 17:57  
if being gay is "unnatural" and is a "diseases",

then being straight but causes a lot of violence at home and abusing their own wife and children,

i suppose that being straight is called as "horrifying" and supernaturally, "cursed" the life on your own house...

Mr. Azad, pity on you, to live a "horrifying" and "cursed" life, hope you have better chance next life :D
44. 2011-07-07 21:25  
#34 (Solmateseeker) and #39 (mmmem). I dont think there is any need to label anyone here of being ignorant of India. Just read the responses to the report on Chennai's gay pride march a few days ago. The support and goodwill that Fridae readers show for any move towards removing anti-GLBT laws in any country is, I think, heartfelt and full of good wishes, perhaps even some envy.

As an Indian myself, I dont see any racist overtones in anything published here. Yes they are very disparaging of Azad - and I agree with them. Unfortunately thats the way politics is in ALL countries. Occasionally there comes a clueless imbecile who becomes an important minister (or even Prime Minister - Berlusconi, anyone - or Thabo Mbeki or Dick Cheney). S/he does a disservice to his ministry, and his country. S/he is appointed because of political arithmetic or other such compulsions.

I suspect there may indeed have been some racist comments here, but they would have been edited out - well done, editors. #solmateseeker, if you feel as outraged and ashamed by Azad's comments as I do, then vent your anger and frustration here. But I know that many here are envious of the progress India has made with respect to GLBT issues. GLBT people here march increasingly without masks. Gay pride marches in India are called Gay pride Marches not pink dots, yellow commas or lilac apostrophes.

All this in a fractious, chaotic but functioning democracy, with substantial (but not yet guaranteed or all-pervasive) safeguards for human rights.
45. 2011-07-08 11:08  
How embarrassing it must be for a nation's government to put such uneducated people in such positions. There is only one right action to take. Fire the dumb ass and lock him up in a mental institution for diagnosed ignorance and stupidity.
46. 2011-07-08 12:25  
He speaks without thinking, embarassing the country. Idiots get to have some power from time to time. I feel really sorry for all the Indians that had to listen to this guy.
47. 2011-07-08 19:29  
so much for a minister of health....his comment is such an embarrassment for the country.
48. 2011-07-17 23:13  
mmmem - i leave it for u to first understand your own comment first, i dont think u just dont get it do you,,i dont give 2 hoots to your spy comments about me, its so immature of you and is not worth a response at all..the only think im trying to make u understand is DONT generalize ur statement about Indians. Everyone in India or anywhere in the world has criticised the statement of the health minister and forced him to eat his own words the very next day. Attack the individual not the whole country ...if u do not understand the diff between 'him' and 'they' then i rest my case.
Comment #49 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-17 23:15
Comment #50 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-17 23:15
51. 2011-07-18 17:38  
Don't you get it, Solmateseeker....I am referring 'they' as those who share the 'same frequency' between the ears with him, to be clear enough to you, the homophobic people....you really dont get it, do u?

Are you one of them?
52. 2011-07-18 17:38  
Don't you get it, Solmateseeker....I am referring 'they' as those who share the 'same frequency' between the ears with him, to be clear enough to you, the homophobic people....you really dont get it, do u?

Are you one of them?

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