The Supreme Court’s judgement which declared that homosexuality is a criminal offence and people indulging in same sex relationship would be sentenced to life imprisonment or subjected to rigorous punishment has once again made the LGBT community vulnerable to
threats, humiliation and extortion. The verdict comes as a huge blow to lakhs of homosexuals who had started living together, especially after the Delhi High Court had decriminalized same sex relationships four years ago, by making it a crime yet again. Four years ago, India had certainly joined the leagues of those countries which encouraged its gay community to come out of the closet and openly express their sexuality without being reprimanded, but it’s arbitrary judgement has once again put India in regressive mode. The SC’s ruling is being viewed upon in India as well as globally as derogatory and irrational.
In a country, where ignorance about homosexuality is very high and rampant, more attention needs to be paid to enlighten the masses with the appropriate knowledge regarding homosexuality, in order to eradicate the misconceptions that one tends to associate with homosexuality .It is important to understand that homosexuality is not a disease or aberration but simply an alternate way of life. Homosexuality is not a disorder or sin which is curable, as it is biological. Also, traits of homosexuality are not something which is learnt or one acquires, but one is also born gay. The problem is that people who are gay are conditioned to keep their sexuality under wraps or socially hide it, as otherwise they would
be termed as deviants going against the social norms. Usually, we use the term ‘straight’ to refer to heterosexuals perhaps indicating that homosexuality is abnormal and indeed a social anomaly. Thus, homophobia is deeply ingrained in our society.
Also, it is wrong to suggest that homosexuality in India did not exist till the British arrived, since the medieval temples of Khajuraho and Konark have statues depicting homosexuality and in a graphic sense. So, homosexuality is not novice in India, as it has existed since medieval times
>What is more ironic is that the SC’s verdict on section 377 comes at a time when Britain is about to legalise same sex marriages, thus proving how India has taken several l steps backwards toward being liberal and open. The verdict is not just a violation of gay rights but also human rights as it deprives the sexual minorities from expressing their sexuality freely, thus making democracy seem like a mirage in one of the largest democracies of the world.
The verdict has come as a huge disappointment to the LGBT community, who are adamant to regain their rights, as it has sparked protests in the major metropolitan cities.
