Decriminalizing Homosexuality in India.

Today, while traveling in the hot Mumbai heat, a certain event occurred, that shook me up, completely and compelled me to blog about this. I know my blog is supposed to be purely political, and thus I assure you, this post, has political implications.

There are 2.5 million male homosexuals in India according to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) estimation, and yet in this cramped compartment of the local train I was in, two men were having a conversation on how they felt homosexuals were the bane of society, and how they should be termed as terrorists in society, and burnt at the stake or thrown off a cliff. All this, mind you, in the compartment, with everyone hearing, and some even meekly nodding and shaking their heads in agreement.

Homosexual relations are legally still a crime in India under an old British era statute dating from 1860 called Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature.' The vague nature of the legislation has resulted in it being used against a wide range sexual behaviour like oral sex (heterosexual and homosexual), sodomy, bestiality, etc. The punishment ranges from ten years to lifelong imprisonment.

The relevant section reads:

Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine

There are several suggestions being made by several people, ranging from eminent personalities to the common man. While some are in favor of legalizing same sex marriages, others believe that the relationship of people belonging into the same sex, and thus engaging in sexual activities is natural, and thus not punishable by law. The truth is, in rural India even today one finds several cases of women belonging to lower classes marrying each other, and often seeking only approval of their family. These marriages are seldom registered as there are no government benefits to be obtained.

I'm straight and my sexual preferences are heterosexual, but I have friends who are homosexual, and they are amazing people, who contribute to society, have happy families and are socially, politically and environmentally aware and active. I hope this serves as a reminder to all of us out there, that Homosexuality is something that a person doesn't chose. You can't help who you are attracted to, and if you happen to be attracted to the same sex, that's your PREFERENCE and you are ENTITLED to it!

Decriminalizing Homosexuality in India will help us to reduce the spread of Aids and other such sexually transmitted diseases. It will help us to talk about a sensitive issue that has been long repressed in our society. It's time we open up and talk about these issues openly, and have frank conversations with our family, friends and neighbors. Let us educate ourselves and realize, do we really want such discriminatory remarks shaping the future of our country, through the minds of the younger generations currently exposed to such talk? Health issues currently ravage India, do we really need one more ticking time bomb to rock our country in the form of an already growing Aids epidemic?

I, Kaizad Bhamgara, am supporting the decriminalizing of homosexuality in India. It's high time we move on from the laws written in the ages of the British Era, and come to terms with modern times and reality.