Section 377 Is Down! Homosexuality Has Finally Been Decriminalised!

Section 377 Is Down! Homosexuality Has Finally Been Decriminalised!

6th September will go down in history! Today, a chunk of the population heaves a huge sigh of relief. This is great. Section 377 goes down. It’s no longer a crime to be gay. It never was really, but the judiciary said it now.  The Supreme Court said, ‘LGBT Community has same rights as of any ordinary citizen. Respect for each others rights, and others are supreme humanity. Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible.’

A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, had concluded hearings on this contentious issue and reserved its verdict on July 17.

Section 377 has been a bone of contention for a very long time now, and it was about time we did away with this archaic law. Consider this; Section 377 was introduced 1861 when the British were in India. 

Since then, the Delhi High Court in July 2009 moved for it to be abolished. That judgement was overturned by the Supreme Court of India on 11th December, 2013, saying that an issue like this should be dealt with at the Parliament and not at a judicial level.  Finally in 2018, Section 377 got decriminalised. 

Parmesh Shahani, the Head of Godrej Culture Lab, said, “I think this is a landmark and historic judgement. We achieved independence in 1947, but this is the year when we finally achieved independence and equality. For years, we were treated as less than equals. Now, we are finally equal. I am especially impressed by the powerful and strong wording used by the SC while delivering the judgement. I am looking forward to the journey ahead. What is also especially heartening is to see that straight people are also equally enthused and celebrating!”

Elton Fernandez, celebrity makeup artist, says, “Imagine being truly in love and waking up everyday knowing you have to hide, conceal and feel shame or remorse simply because you could be targeted for the good your heart feels. Living a parallel life is no real fun. Today, that freedom is rightly ours. Not just to love, but to live and thrive, to be proud of our nature and to stand for equal human rights!”

The verdict has received cheers from all around with celebrities showing their support!

https://twitter.com/karanjohar/status/1037587979265564672

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