An Indian politician is seeking public support to decriminalise gay sex after a motion in parliament was defeated recently.
The country’s colonial-era anti-gay law was reinstated by the supreme court in 2013. Last month a bill to repeal the ban was defeated in by 71 votes to 24.
Now congressman Shashi Tharoor has launched a change.org petition to rally public support.
Shashi writes:
“Your sexual preferences, sexuality, and partner should be your choice. Unfortunately Indian law doesn’t think so.
“Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code gives the state the authority to investigate what’s happening in your bedroom.
“Section 377 makes any sex apart from penile-vaginal intercourse between a man and a woman illegal.
“It impacts the LGBTQ community, it even impacts married heterosexual couples. It’s a law that can be used to oppress and harass.
“The Indian government is reluctant to amend the law. My Private Member’s Bill was recently defeated in Parliament, but I’m not giving up.
“In amending Section 377, I am upholding the values of our Constitution. The Bill supports our constitutional freedoms – the Right to Privacy and Dignity under Article 21, the Right to Equality under Article 14, and the Right against Discrimination under Article 15”.
