EMBRACING HOMOSEXUALS...

In a historic judgement, a two-judge bench of the Delhi HC comprising Chief Justice A. P. Shah and Justice Murlidharan had decriminalised non-heterosexual sex between consenting adults. But a lot of debate has since then surrounded this judgement. With LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) activists embracing the judgement, the so-called religious groups and ‘moral custodians’ have resorted to opposition. Surprisingly, even Ramdeo Baba, widely accepted as a reformer in ayurveda and yoga, has stood in vehement opposition and described homosexuality as a ‘disorder’ while sexologists describe it as a ‘natural sexual variant’. The legal battle started by the Naz Foundation in 2001 has culminated in lending dignity to the ‘sexual minorities’.
Rightfully argued by the Delhi HC, the section 377 of the IPC violates the right to life and personal liberty, equality before law and equal protection from law and a provision that prohibits discrimination on grounds including sex that the constitution grants. The judgement demonstrates an unparallel example of ‘inclusiveness’.
There are two types of people in a society- the ‘majorities’ and the ‘minorities’. We, as majorities, must understand that we have an onus of responsibility on our shoulders to understand the minorities (including sexual minorities) and mainstream them and not ostracise them. Everyone in this country should be free to pursue her/his sexual orientation without shame and fear. Just because we are the majorities, we are no one to decide who is right and who is wrong. Then come the ‘moral custodians’ in our country who beat women in pubs and feel homosexuality is ‘immoral’.
WHO has said that homosexuality is not a disease. Then what are we afraid of? That homosexuality will dismantle our culture? Which culture are we talking of? A culture where few hundred years ago sati and child marriage were practised and widow remarriage abolished and women and animals were treated alike? (In those ages also we practised these evils with the ‘consent’ of religion through Manu Smriti). Or a culture where men object the freedom of women and beat them in pubs? (Those men also took themselves as custodians of religion).Or a culture where still 21 Dalit women are raped every week and their marriage in the upper castes is objected by ‘society’.
Ramdeo Baba claims that homosexuality is not just a disorder but a ‘sin’. It is not a sin. It is just a different sexual orientation. He even says that children have now started asking absurd questions on homosexuality to parents. What is so absurd in that? In a country where politicians object the inclusion of sex education into mainstream education on ‘moral’ grounds, where else will the children resort to if not parents?
There is also a popular perception that the judgement will lead to spread of homosexuality. Homosexuals existed even before this judgement but they lived in the closet. This judgement will only give them some air breather to come out of the closet and be proud of their sexual orientation.
Homosexuals have been in the closet for long long years and have awaited dignity that never came before this judgement. They are humans living beneath human dignity and ashamed of even revealing their ‘identity’. They have been the victims of the norms set by ‘our’ society.
We should learn to ‘accommodate’ people in our society. We don’t need to fear that this judgement will spread homosexuality but let us hope that this judgement will help us understand homosexuals better.
Thank you Chief Justice A.P.Shah and Justice Murlidharan!