Gay Rights in India

Homosexuality was not given that much of an importance in India as it was considered against the culture and tradition. In India, sex was never discussed in public. But lately in the past few years homosexuality as a topic has come out of the closet and has been widely discussed in the media.

This topic had gained enough importance in India that the people concerned started to think about the rights enjoyed by other gays in foreign countries which couldn't be enjoyed in the India. This led to a petition asking to bring in Gay Rights in India and equally treating them like the rest of the people.

In the Indian legislation, homosexuality was considered a crime and is punishable. Under the Section 377 of the Penal Code homosexuality is punishable for up to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment. This law was set up in the early 1860 by Lord Macaulay when India was under the control of the British.

After seeing the legalized gay marriage in the United Kingdom and the United States, Indian gays realized that they were discriminated in their own society and then started protesting to gain gay rights and to be treated equally with the rest of the humans in the nation. As a result of the protest a petition was submitted to the High Court of Delhi, India. This case was not entertained and was not taken as a serious issue. Later after the immense protests and pressure by the gays in India, the case was taken back into consideration by the Supreme Court of India.

The Supreme Court after thorough investigation about the case decided that the sexual minority in India should not be ill treated and must be given equal importance to as the other citizen of India. Finally on the 2nd of July 2009, it was decided that the gay rights must be given to all the homosexual people of the country. This was celebrated with a lot of joy and happiness by the Naz Foundation members who played a very important role for the liberalization of gay men and women of the country.

But the homosexuality of people on the other hand is considered an unreligious act by the religious leaders of India and is said to be spoiling the culture and tradition of age old India. Leaders of different religions existing in India refuse to accept this as a good move by the Indian government, but yet several other people think that this is a huge step forward for India.