16 Nov 2017

Gay Pride March in New Delhi Draws Hundreds

Gay sex remains punishable with a prison term, but marchers say they hope the laws on this issue will change.

Even though gay sex is illegal in India, hundreds marched through the country’s capital on Nov. 12, celebrating LGBT identities, AP reported in The Times of India.

The parade was the 10th Queer Pride march in New Delhi and featured attendees clad in colorful attire.

In India, homosexual sex is punishable with a prison sentence of up to 10 years. In 2009, this law was deemed unconstitutional by the New Delhi high court. However, in 2013, the Indian Supreme Court said that the decision had to be made by the legislature instead of the judiciary. In 2016, the Supreme Court said it would re-examine the ruling.

Those participating in the event said they hoped the law on this matter would change in the near future, with one marcher describing the measures as having “criminalized love.”

Pride march organizer Manek Matiyani said that a certain level of affluence allows him to live as gay man, but that poverty and a lack of education prevents many others from being able to exist as openly LGBT, particularly in rural areas.

"We're fighting for the right of everybody in this country to live as an equal citizen, which means that everybody should be able to live their life the way they want to," he told AP.