Don't repeal Section 377: Homosexuals

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Don't repeal Section 377: Homosexuals

11 Aug 2008: MUMBAI: While the homosexuals in India have welcomed Health

Minister Anbumani Ramadoss' statement seeking the removal of provisions in

Section 377of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that classifies sex between two men as

a criminal offence, they do not want the repeal of the section to protect the

boy child from abuse.

Delhi based NGO Naz Foundation challenged arrests made under Section 377 and the

Delhi High Court is hearing a petition by the Foundation.

Says, Nitin Karani, Board of Trustee of Mumbai based Humsafar Trust " Section 377

is applicable even to the heterosexuals, as it prohibits anal sex (even) between

husband and wife. We are demanding that consensual sex in private between

individuals not be considered illegal. But Section 377 is needed so that

children are not abused. Hence, it should be read down but not abolished. "

The health ministry had supported the gay community's call to remove the law but

the home ministry was not in favour of it. " It's nice to know people at the top

level are speaking for us, " said Geeta Kumana of Mumbai based lesbian group

Aanchal Trust. She was reacting to Ramadoss' statement made on Friday at the

17th International Conference on Aids in Mexico City.

The gay and lesbian community is relieved that with immense pressure built over

a period of time the government was waking up to the rights of the homosexuals

in the country. However, they say the society as a whole is still to accept gays

and lesbians in their fold. " When one speaks individually to parents and friends

there is a conditional change and acceptance. But, when one starts agitating for

rights in front of police, politician etc I find there is a huge homophobia;

there is no acceptance, " rues Geeta.

A day after India's 61st Independence Day on 16 August this year, a Queer Azaadi

(Independence) March will be organised by the queer community (homosexuals,

lesbians, transgender, bisexual and all those marginalised by society that

labels them as 'strange') in Mumbai to state that while the rest of India had

achieved independence from the British on 15 August1947, queer Indians were

still bound by a British Raj law (Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code,

introduced in 1860) and n puritanism.

The March aims to highlight issues that affect queer communities in India - Like

Act that outlaws same-sex intercourse, forced marriage of homosexuals,

harassment of queer community by using sec 377 against them etc. The closeted

queer community, especially in small towns, hopes to gain visibility for their

cause through this rally. Leading gays and lesbian rights group Humsafar Trust

and Aanchal Trust are in the forefront of the three hours March that will start

from August Kranti Maidan and end at Girgaum Chowpatty in south Mumbai.

In June this year, gays in Delhi, for the first time, marched through the heart

of the city proclaiming their sexuality. The homosexual community gradually

seems to be coming out in the open in India

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