Pride without Prejudice! People rejoice as Section 377 struck down by SC

It was a moment of pride for the LGBTQ Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer community and Indian society at large as the Supreme Court ruled that consensual gay sex is not a crime The apex court struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code a Britishera law making India the 26th country in the world where homosexuality is legalThe SC called parts of Section 377 that criminalised consensual samesex relations irrational indefensible and manifestly arbitrary and stated that the draconian law violates the right to equality and the right to live with dignityThe LGBTQ communitys flag takes pride of place in Santacruz PicSayyed Sameer AbediHistory owes apologyPutting an end to the 17year legal struggle the top court delivered four separate but concurring judgments setting aside its 2013 verdict which had recriminalised homosexual activity on pain of life imprisonment History owes an apology to members of the community for the delay in ensuring their rights for denying them their rights and compelling them to live a life of fear said Justice Indu Malhotra who was part of the fivejudge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra The bench which also comprised Justices R F Nariman A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud issued a 493page judgment maintaining that sexual acts with animals and children will remain criminal actsThe judgment came on a batch of writ petitions filed by dancer Navtej Jauhar journalist Sunil Mehra chef Ritu Dalmia hoteliers Aman Nath and Keshav Suri and business executive Ayesha Kapur and 20 former and current students of the IITs The issue was first raised by the NGO Naaz Foundation in Delhi High Court in 2001 In 2009 it decriminalised sex between consenting adults of the same gender This was overturned in 2013 by the SC26th nation in the foldIndia has now joined 25 other countries where homosexuality is legal However 72 countries and territories worldwide still continue to criminalise samesex relationships including 45 in which such relationships between women are outlawed According to a report by the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association ILGA there are eight countries in which homosexuality can result in a death penalty and dozens more with prison sentencesCongrats from world mediaThe world media hailed the overturning of a the colonialera Section 377 in India stating that the landmark ruling was a boost for gay rights not only here in the worlds largest democracy but also across the world International media houses such as The Washington Post New York Times The Guardian BBC and CNN called it a groundbreaking victory for gay rightsHope for justice equalityAmnesty International India said the verdict has given hope to everyone fighting for justice and equality The judgment closes the door on a dark chapter of Indian history It marks a new era of equality for millions of people in India said Asmita Basu programmes director Amnesty International India However the communitys struggle for rights including marriage adoption and inheritance will continue she warnedThe wow factorSome statements from the judgment Not for nothing the great German thinker Johann Wolfgang von Goethe saidI am what I am so take me as I am Similarly Arthur Schopenhauer had pronouncedNo one can escape from their individuality Shakespeare through one of his characters in a play saysWhats in a name That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet The phrase in its basic sense conveys that what really matters is the essential qualities of the substance and the fundamental characteristics of an entity but not the name by which it or a person is called The American Psychological Association has opined that sexual orientation is a natural condition and attraction towards the same sex or opposite sex are both naturally equal the only difference being that the same sex attraction arises in far lesser numbersCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever