India Set to Decriminalize Homosexuality?

by Michael Jones · 2009-06-29 07:42:00 UTC
Topics:

India Homosexuality

This would be such welcome news for the entire global community.  Officials in India are hinting that the government is likely to eliminate Section 377 of India's penal code, which punishes people engaged in homosexual conduct with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment. Section 377 is one of the leading factors in driving homosexuality underground in India, and is a huge hinderance in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.

It's also important to note that given India's growing influence in the world, this would send a huge message to the global community that another country is willing to start to tackle homophobia in their own backyard.

From the Times Online:

As India held only its second national Gay Pride march yesterday, officials said that the country was planning to repeal a law against homosexuality that was introduced by the British almost 150 years ago....

The new Government that took power in May after the Congress Party’s surprise election victory has indicated that it is ready to change the law, which is at present being challenged in the Delhi High Court, according to Indian media reports.

P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister, has told officials that he supports repealing the law and is due to hold a meeting to discuss the issue soon with the two other ministers whose consent is required — those with the portfolios of Law and Health.

The case before the Delhi High Court was brought by the Naz Foundation, and has been awaiting a ruling for well over a year.  Here's hoping that the government's blessing on decriminalizing homosexuality speeds things up in India.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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