Law Embraced The Rainbow, But Can India Give It Acceptance?

On September 6, 2018, just like a thousand others, I was glued to the news channel eagerly waiting for the Section 377 verdict. Just as I started to rejoice to the decriminalizing of homosexuality in Section 377, and began to share the news to people around me, I heard a voice say, “And this is how India will never flourish.” The intense joy that sprang in me moments ago, drained in one swift go as I heard those words being uttered. And that’s when I understood that only the law has accepted homosexuality, and now it is all up to us as a society to welcome the change.

If you are an Indian or someone who keeps a track on what is the country’s current situation, it would have been a pure joy to listen to something positive and welcoming in Indian news channels, after continuously hearing issues one after another about hate violence, political disputes, and horrendous crimes. The decriminalizing of homosexuality in Section 377, thus legalizing consensual gay sex was passed anonymously by the Supreme Court of India and by doing this the law has done its job, and now it’s really up to us to change our ‘orientation’ about a person’s sexual preference and choices. But as it is said, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, the hate against the LGBTQ community still exists and some leaders do not scare away from expressing it, with a few being:

Advocate, Manoj V George, a lawyer for Apostolic Churches Alliance had said, “Homosexuality is an abomination as per the Bible. The act of sodomy, as per the Christian philosophy, faith, belief, and sentiments of the Christian religion as a whole is a most contemptuous sinful act.” In 2013, Baba Ramdev referred to homosexuality as a disease that can be cured through yoga.

In 2013, Baba Ramdev referred to homosexuality as a disease similar to mental health and that can be cured through asanas.

Soon after the SC gave its verdict, Arun Kumar, RSS’s All India Campaign chief said “Gay marriage and relationship are not compatible with nature and are not natural, so we do not support this kind of relationship. Traditionally, India’s society also does not recognize such relations.”

 All through this, what is not understood is how all the anti-LGBTQ members say is that being gay is not in alliance with the ‘Order of Nature’. But who are we to talk about nature, when it grips us all together under the common binding of equality, mankind, acceptance, and humanity. Yes, this world does comprise of straight people in majority, but since when did majority give the definition of nature? It does not give away the meaning that the minority do not have a say or right to express their identities. How can one conclude that unison between two individuals with their consent is a sin, is against nature but not when a husband forces himself on his wife who does not give consent to indulge in a sexual intercourse in their marital life?  It is a known fact that our country India is known for its wide arms to embrace diversity, be it culturally, linguistically or religiously. So why do we hesitate so much to let the LGBTQ community freely express their identities, preferences, and orientation?

The court has now legalized their unison and thousands are overwhelmed, but what we really need to do is to accept them into our society with the thought in mind that they are no different from us. The minority that you say can be one in our family, workspace, friends circle, or even a stranger that helps you to cross the road. Next time when you say India accepts LGBTQ is the day when proud parents invite the whole village to their son’s wedding with his groom, when a woman can freely flaunt her love to her wife on Valentine’s day or when a transgender can romance without getting labeled as a sex offender.