Straight but not Narrow

The High court of Delhi recently declared a verdict that brought great despair and disappointment for thousands of LGBT people in India. Act 377 of the Indian Constitution now makes homosexuality illegal. Protest rallies against the unfair decision are going on in various cities. It is high time that such barbaric and irrational laws are removed to make sure there is an egalitarian society in place where individual choices are respected. Just because majority people in the country are straight does not mean that LGBT rights can be neglected.

It is a basic human right to have whatever sexual orientation you prefer. Originally the Article 377 of the constitution dates back to 1860. So why should such a law even exist in the 21^st century?

Homosexuality is not something that has suddenly risen from the ashes. It has existed from times immemorial. Even the sculptures in the Konark temple at Puri are clear evidences of it. It is deeply absurd that a huge chunk of the older generation in India and numerous politicians of the country tout homosexuality as unnatural and disgusting.

The first time I heard about homosexuality was when I was probably in class 9^th or 10^th and it appalled me. It seemed weird to me. I thought one becomes gay or lesbian depending on the circumstances that he or she is exposed to but as I grew up and got to know the hard core facts, my understanding of the term completely changed. Today I empathize with the LGBT community absolutely and sincerely hope that as soon as possible they should get the rights they deserve. To comprehend their situation let us keep ourselves in their shoes for once. What if there was a parallel universe where homosexuality is the socially accepted sexual orientation? Straight people like us would be told to get married to a person of the same sex irrespective of our personal preferences. Would we be able to do it? No, we wouldn’t. Then how can we expect the same from the LGBT community?

Even without a law that criminalizes gay sex it was hard enough for any person to convince his parents about his or her homosexual orientation but with “377” in place it is the final nail in the coffin. Earlier parents cited societal norms and prejudices as reasons for not accepting their children but now they can simply cite the law and rub off any argument on this issue with their kids. This law is inhuman in more ways than one.

It has not only crushed the hopes of the LGBT community but also of all those NGOs and social activists who have been working for this cause for several years. It has taken India 153 years back. At a time when India is developing at a fast pace and is making its mark at the global level a decision like this is a huge setback for the entire nation.