Its okay to be gay. Finally.
History was created in my country yesterday. The 149-yr old law which found homosexuality unconstitutional and a hinderance in the fight against HIV/ AIDS was overturned and homosexual acts between two consenting adults was decriminalised. Section 377, which denied a gay person the right to full personhood was a legacy of colonial bureaucratic British law. (yep, its all their fault!! :P)
The reason why its taken so long for the Indian constitution to amend the laws, is pecisely why its such a big deal. India's cultural and religious beliefs are the biggest hurdle to gay rights, people still call homosexuals, mentally ill, unnatural, sick or just plain evil. Indian society's disaproval of homosexuality was so strong thar it justified it being treated as a criminal offence, even though it was known that people indulge in it in private. Thats why, despite the huge uproar the judgement has caused, the legalising of homosexuality is a big step in the society accepting the diversity in sexual inclination. Everyone is equal and finally the law protects their dignity.
Why does it matter to me, you ask. It's simple. I have friends who are gay, and they are some of the most amazing people I've known. They are good friends, with big and compassionate hearts, inspite of suffering so much. I've seen my friend's husband leave her cuz of her terminal illness, but her gay best friend stood by her side always. I've heard young girls calling into radio stations late at night wanting to talk about it, cuz they are too scared to talk about it with their friends and parents.
Another reason why I am extremely close to this isssue is cuz I went through a weird stage, when I was uncertain of my orientation. I honestly thought I was in love with a girl when i was 16. My orientation still lurks in the grey, even though I've been in love with men since then, (who made me wish I was actually totally gay! LOL.) and so has that friend of mine, but what I do know, without a doubt, is that its not a crime.
They are just like us, who want to be loved, and love without anyone telling them that its wrong or its sick. They breathe, talk, walk, laugh, cry like us, why does it matter who they go home to at the end of the day?
The reason why its taken so long for the Indian constitution to amend the laws, is pecisely why its such a big deal. India's cultural and religious beliefs are the biggest hurdle to gay rights, people still call homosexuals, mentally ill, unnatural, sick or just plain evil. Indian society's disaproval of homosexuality was so strong thar it justified it being treated as a criminal offence, even though it was known that people indulge in it in private. Thats why, despite the huge uproar the judgement has caused, the legalising of homosexuality is a big step in the society accepting the diversity in sexual inclination. Everyone is equal and finally the law protects their dignity.
Why does it matter to me, you ask. It's simple. I have friends who are gay, and they are some of the most amazing people I've known. They are good friends, with big and compassionate hearts, inspite of suffering so much. I've seen my friend's husband leave her cuz of her terminal illness, but her gay best friend stood by her side always. I've heard young girls calling into radio stations late at night wanting to talk about it, cuz they are too scared to talk about it with their friends and parents.
Another reason why I am extremely close to this isssue is cuz I went through a weird stage, when I was uncertain of my orientation. I honestly thought I was in love with a girl when i was 16. My orientation still lurks in the grey, even though I've been in love with men since then, (who made me wish I was actually totally gay! LOL.) and so has that friend of mine, but what I do know, without a doubt, is that its not a crime.
They are just like us, who want to be loved, and love without anyone telling them that its wrong or its sick. They breathe, talk, walk, laugh, cry like us, why does it matter who they go home to at the end of the day?