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22 Dec 2015

India votes to keep gay sex illegal

India’s parliament have blocked a member’s bill to decriminalise gay sex, much to the disappointment of LGBT and human rights activists

Indian congress’ Shashi Tharoor sought to introduce a bill to amend section 377 of India’s penal code. Section 377 bans homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature.”

The bill was introduced to the lower house of parliament. 71 members voted against and 24 for the motion.

Hindu-leaning Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a majority. Local media also reported that members of Tharoor’s own party walked out.

"This is not about homosexuality as the opposition has caricatured it. It is about freedom, justice, equality of treatment and upholding the values enshrined in our Constitution," Tharoor told AFP."This law is from the 1860s and it has no place in the 21st century nor in people's private lives or in their bedrooms," he added.

India has had ups and downs when it comes to this colonial era law that states "whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished.“

Sentences including life imprisonment, though prosecutions for same-sex activity have been rare.

In 2009 the Delhi High Court ruled that the law was a violation of a person’s fundamental rights. However in 2013 India’s Supreme Court restored the ban on homosexuality, ruling that the law rested with lawmakers not judges.

Activists nationwide have vowed to fight this latest setback. LGBTI activists in Bengaluru, India staged a protest outside the Town Hall on Saturday to condemn the Parliament’s decision.

Reader's Comments

1. 2015-12-24 16:45  
2. 2015-12-24 16:48  
What a tragic outcome for LGBT in India. They, India is still stuck in 19th century of colonial era.
3. 2015-12-25 01:27  
India is not a country known for it's value of equal rights, as attested by the caste system which, despite protestations to the contrary, is alive and well.
4. 2015-12-25 07:44  
Rare? This needs stats.

It sounds like bad activism again. When will they learn?
5. 2015-12-26 07:34  
small mindlessness remains
6. 2015-12-27 11:35  
Third world country with fourth world mentality.
7. 2015-12-27 13:40  
We are talking about a country where women are not protected. Do you expect gays to be?
8. 2015-12-27 19:17  
"We are talking about a country where women are not protected. Do you expect gays to be?"

Are you mad!!?? Gays should be allowed to do anything at anytime!!! :)
9. 2015-12-31 04:37  
The last time i checked is that gays are Humans too right!
what two people do in the bedroom is their own business.
do any families check on their relatives or siblings sex lives the answer to that is No as its none of their business.
10. 2016-01-02 06:00  
Ronmac, do some research. In India some families take a real interest on what goes on in their younger relatives lives.

And what two people do in a bedroom should always be legal. Either campaign for democratic change or leave the country.

Or, just do what you like and don't be surprised when someone shoots you even tho it was "illegal" at the time.

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