Page 397 - Social Issues
Rainbow flags come out of closet as LGBTQ+ community celebrates historic verdict
They hugged, they cried tears of joy and they danced their hearts out as rainbow flags swirled the skies with the LGBTQ community breaking into impromptu jubilations on roads, in hotels and everywhere else after the Supreme Court Thursday decriminalised consensual gay sex. Bollywood celebrities, authors, advocates, teachers, politicians and people from all walks of life joined the activists, who have been fighting a long-drawn battle against a colonial era law, in their celebrations after the apex court's historic verdict granted them "a basic human right". Amid all celebrations, many also acknowledged their fight may still go on as a complete equality remains some distance away due to fears of police and mob violence and continuing legal obstacles to right to adoption and to gay marriages. A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously struck down a part of the 158-year-old law under Section 377 of the IPC, which criminalised consensual unnatural sex. The LGBTQ ...
Society must treat LGBT community with respect: Hansal Mehta
National Award-winning filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is delighted at the Supreme Court striking down the law against homosexuality, has urged the society to practice the change by showing equal respect to the LGBT community.
Consensual gay sex not a crime, Sec 377 violates right to equality: SC
Gay sex among consenting adults is not a criminal offence, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday, holding that part of a 158-year-old colonial law that criminalised it, violated the constitutional right to equality and dignity. The top court decriminalised part of the Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises consensual gay sex, saying it was irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra unanimously held that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community possess the same constitutional rights as other citizens of the country. It termed sexual orientation as a "biological phenomenon" and "natural" and held that any discrimination on this ground was violative of the fundamental rights. "It is declared that insofar as Section 377 criminalises consensual sexual acts of adults in private, is violative of Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. It is, however, ...
Law is with us: 'Aligarh' writer on SC decriminalising homosexuality
National award-winning film editor Apurva Asrani, who was one of the prominent voices against Section 377 that criminalised gay sex, says he is very happy with the verdict of the Supreme Court that decriminalised homosexuality between consenting adults.
LGBTI possesses same rights as enjoyed by others: SC
New Delhi [India], Sep. 6 (ANI): Homosexuality is not a crime in India anymore, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in a historic decision.The verdict overturns a 2013 judgement, which had upheld the 157-year-old colonial-era law, known as Section 377, under which certain sexual activities were categorised as "unnatural offence".A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Rohinton Fali Nariman, A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra, issued the unanimous verdict on a bunch of petitions filed to scrap the law.While pronouncing the decision, the CJI observed that the social morality cannot violate the rights of any individual."Right to Privacy is part of the right to life for the community of LGBTI. No one can escape from their individuality," the CJI added.The judges also observed that criminalising gay sex is "irrational and indefensible."Supporting same-sex relationships, Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, said ...
The following is the chronology of events leading to the Supreme Court unanimously ...
The following is the chronology of events leading to the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalising on Thursday part of Section 377 of the IPC which dealt with consensual gay sex. * 2001: Naaz Foundation, an NGO fighting for gay rights, files PIL in Delhi HC seeking legalisation of gay sex among consenting adults. * Sep 2004: HC dismisses the PIL; Gay right activists file review petition. * Nov 3: HC dismisses review petition. * Dec: Gay rights activists approach SC against the HC order. * Apr 3, 2006: SC remands the case back to HC, directs it to reconsider the matter on merit. * Oct 4: HC allows senior BJP leader B P Singhal's plea, opposing decriminalising gay sex, to be impleaded in the case. * Sep 18, 2008: Centre seeks more time to take stand on the issue after contradictory stand between Home and Health ministries over decriminalisation of homosexuality. HC refuses the plea and final arguments in the case begin. * Sep 25: Gay rights' activists contend that the government cannot .
Homosexuality verdict: LGBTIQs celebrate 'functional democracy'
Their monumental fight against social stigma and oppression ended with a triumph on Thursday with the Supreme Court decriminalising homosexuality. And now a jubilant LGBTIQ community says the verdict has made them feel they are living in a "functional democracy".
LGBTQ rights activists welcome 'historic' SC verdict on homosexuality
LGBTQ rights activists here on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court judgement decriminalising consensual gay sex and dubbed the verdict "historic" and "unprecedented". Satya Benerjee from Gay Bombay, a body working for the betterment of the community, said the historic judgement will have a far-reaching impact on the Indian society and will also help in "stopping brain-drain". "This is a milestone that a particular community has achieved after a long, long struggle. A whole new era of equal rights for gay or lesbian people will begin. Thanks to the government and other parties as well, who kept a neutral stance," he said. "This verdict will instill a sense of confidence among qualified and learned citizens of the country and stop the brain-drain," he added. Transgender rights activist Laxmi Tripathi said the verdict was a tight slap on the faces of those who differentiated between people on the basis of their sexual preference. "This verdict is a real tribute to those people who ...
Homosexuality not a crime, but do not support same-sex marriages: RSS
Homosexuality is not a crime, the RSS said Thursday, while maintaining that it does not support same-sex marriage as it was "not natural". The comments came on a day the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalised part of Section 377, which criminalises consensual unnatural sex, saying it violated the rights to equality. "Like the Supreme Court's verdict, we also do not consider this (homosexuality) as a crime," Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) 'prachar pramukh' Arun Kumar said in a statement. 'Prachar pramukh' is the designated spokesperson of the Sangh. However, he maintained the Sangh's old stand and said gay marriage and such relationships were not "compatible with nature". "These relationships are not natural, so we do not support this kind of relationship." He claimed that Indian society "traditionally does not recognise" such relations. Humans usually learn from experiences, so this topic needs to be discussed and handled the social and psychological level, Kumar added.
Maharashtra LGBTQ activists cautiously welcome SC verdict
Top LGBTQ activists in Mumbai on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict decriminalising gay sex amidst caution that "the real work will begin now".
LGBTQ community members, activists, hail SC verdict
Hailing the Supreme Court's landmark decision to decriminalise consensual gay sex under Section 377 of the IPC, Manabi Bandyopadhyay, the country's first transgender college principal, said Thursday it was a "new dawn" for members of the LGBTQ community and activists. The judgment would enable every community member to claim his/her rightful place in the society, she told PTI. "I have been fighting for my rights since 2001. I have seen many highs and lows but never gave up," Bandyopadhyay, the principal of Krishnanagar Women's College said. "Today, for the past half an hour, I have been getting innumerable congratulatory calls. It is like a new era and a new dawn for all of us associated with the movement," she added. Bandyopadhyay said she did not think that the verdict would overnight change the attitude of people with patriarchal mindsets towards the transgender community. "With the apex court judgment today, however, the society at large will begin to look at LGBTQ community, ...
Finally free to live, love: Indian fashion frat on SC verdict on homosexuality
As India's apex court decriminalised homosexuality in a landmark judgment here on Thursday, ace fashion designer Suneet Varma said it is a day that has restored his faith in the Indian judicial system, while Wendell Rodricks had a sigh of relief that "I am no longer a criminal", and jewellery designer Akaash K Aggrawal felt it's a sunshine moment after "long dark nights".
'SC verdict on gay sex is like getting marriage offer after retirement'
Expressing joy over the Supreme Court's verdict decriminalising homosexuality, West Bengal's Manabi Bandopadhyay, India's first transgender college principal, on Thursday said the verdict on gay sex is like getting a marriage offer after retirement.
Love is love: Bollywood celebrates victory for LGBTQ
As the Supreme Court on Thursday passed a landmark judgement on Section 377 by decriminalising homosexuality, the Bollywood fraternity hailed the decision.
UNAIDS welcomes SC decision on IPC 377, urges other countries to follow India
The UNAIDS (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) on Thursday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of India to annul key provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The world agency expressed hope that this decision sets the trend and is followed in other countries to remove unjust laws criminalizing homosexuality.IPC Section 377 criminalises sexual relations between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people."Today is a day of gay pride, a day of celebration, a day when respect and dignity was finally restored in India for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people," said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS. "I applaud the brave activists, civil society organizations and community groups that have fought long and hard for this injustice to be reversed."Criminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relations is a violation of human rights and legitimizes prejudice and violence against LGBTI people. Criminalization hinders people .
UN in India hails SC order on Section 377
The United Nations in India welcomed the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and hoped that the ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing full range of fundamental rights to LGBTI persons.The SC on Thursday struck down a key component of IPC Section 377 which criminalized specific sexual acts between adults. . Section 377 is a law dating back to British colonial rule that has targeted in particular lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and communities.In a statement, UN in India said sexual orientation and gender expression form an integral part of an individual's identity the world over, and violence, stigma and discrimination based on these attributes constitute an egregious violation of human rights. It added that LGBTI persons across the world continue to be the targets of violent attacks and are affected by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination based on age, gender, ethnicity, ...
Homosexuality verdict will help eliminate stigma: UN
Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict on Thursday decriminalising homosexuality, the UN said the verdict will help eliminate stigma and discrimination against the LGBTIQ community.
Chinese man arrested after calling Kenya's president a 'monkey'
Kenya has arrested a Chinese businessman after a video of him making a string of racist remarks was widely shared on social media, the government said Thursday. The Chinese national, identified as Liu Jiaqi, has been arrested and is being processed for deportation, said Kenya's immigration department. "His work permit has been cancelled and (he) will be deported on racism grounds," the immigration service said on its Twitter feed. In the two and a half minute video shared on Twitter and elsewhere, Liu, who appears to be in the midst of a dispute with one of his employees, is recorded issuing a litany of racist slurs. "Every one, every Kenyan... like a monkey, even Uhuru Kenyatta. All of them," he said. After the employee suggests Liu should "go back to China" if he feels that way, the businessman responds with further abuse. "I don't belong to here. I don't like here, like monkey people, I don't like talk with them, it smells bad, and poor, and foolish, and black. I don't like them. ..
French police clear 500 migrants from Dunkirk camp
Police moved in to clear 500 migrants from a camp near the French port city of Dunkirk, along the English Channel where many gather hoping to stow away on trucks or ferries heading to Britain, officials said Thursday. Around 200 officers took part in the operation which was going smoothly at Grande-Synthe, just outside the city, regional government official Eric Etienne told AFP. Authorities estimate that 95 percent of the people at the site are Iraqi Kurds. Etienne said the evacuation reflected the government's determination not to allow new "shantytowns" along France's northern coast of migrants trying to reach Britain. A heavy police presence was deplopyed to prevent a repeated of camps like the huge "Jungle" site near Calais, where more than 10,000 people were living before it was razed in 2016. An estimated 800 migrants are currently in Grande-Synthe, municipal officials say. Those evacuated Tuesday will be offered the chance to apply for asylum in France or be brought to police
Royal Bank of Scotland hails SC ruling on gay sex
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court verdict on decriminalising Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and upholding the rights of the LGBT community.
