Section 377 in the Indian Penal code-Unnatural Offences, 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 10 years, and shall be liable of fine.Explanation-Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.The britishers ruled for 200 years and left us with this rule. Now we have grown a lot deal and so have they.
Where britishers have legalized same-sex marriage we are still struggling to get a lot of laws for the LGBTQIA recognized.Shakuntla Devi, published a book in 1977, the world of homosexuals which stated that Homosexuality is- “Full and complete acceptance, not tolerance and sympathy.” Where at that time we were not ready to accept and understand the nature and existence of this social group which is also a part of homo-sapiens. All India Hijra conference in Agra in 1981, 50,000 members participated however no results had been seen so far. In 1994, Hijras were legally given voting rights as third sex. The nation’s concern on this came to a hault for a while when in 1999, Kolkata was the first to host the pride-march in South east Asia.
2009, it was declared that section 377 was in direct violation of fundamental rights provided by the constitution. Which meant section 377 was decriminalized however not legalized.January 2014, while reading section 377, the high-court noted that the miniscule fraction of the country’s population constitutes of LGBT people.February 2014, the Indian psychiatric society declared that “Homosexuality is not a disease.”April 2014, National Legal Services Authority V.
Union of India, ruled that transgender people should be treated as the third category of gender.In December 2015, the bill for the decriminalization of setion 377 was introduced in the parliament, but was rejected by majority votes.February 2016, the supreme-court decided to review decriminalization of homosexual activity.November 2016, Namma pride was the first march in India made accessible for people with disability.On August 24, 2017 India’s supreme-court has given the country’s LGBT community the freedom to safely express their sexual orientation.
PRIDE, should not be confused with proud but it is the-• Self-affirmation• Dignity• Equal rights• Increased visibility• Build community• Celebrating diversityas a social group.Where many cases like same-sex marriage, adoption of a kid by same-sex couple, declaring as a couple, society norms, etc. are still a concern for India, it is our responsibility to consider this social group normal, as our own, as a part of this diverse family which is filled with the colors of separate culture, languages, food, habits, languages and what not. Show ourselves by supporting each member in the community with our presence in the PRIDE parade. We might force the government to heed on this topic if each and every member is supporting the cause. It would be a great contribution as in when every year new and more members change their mind and support for the equality.
“The beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!”Same goes with the equality,”The equality lies in the effort to bring the change!”
