Section 377 of the IPC was enacted by the British 153 years ago, in 1860, that terms consensual anal sex as an unnatural offence and provides punishment equivalent to that for the offence of rape under Section 376. It even outlaws oral sex between a man and a woman, while reiterating that only penile-vaginal sex was not "against the order of nature". The 'crime' can fetch a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
In Jul 2009, the Delhi High Court had brought out a historic judgment that decriminalised same sex relationships because Sec 377 IPC impinged upon the fundamental rights of an individual guaranteed by the Constitution and it's this judgment that the Supreme Court has overturned now.
I shall not dwell on the legal angle as the experts in the field are already at it but it's my opinion that the Parliament must bring about a legislation that would give the LGBT(Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders) community to live in our society without fear of discrimination or destruction. What is their mistake for having been born in this manner and who's given us the right to conclude that they're inhuman/abnormal? In the matter of sexual preferences, human beings can be divided into three categories - heterosexuals, homosexuals/lesbians and bisexuals.
I must narrate three personal experiences related to this topic:-
(a) Some years ago, I was on my way to attend an evening function and enroute, was waiting for
the green light to come on and at that precise moment saw two guys kissing passionately. I
must admit that the sight gave me revulsion but calmly, thinking about it later I'd come to the
conclusion that I'd not 'grown up' enough as a human being. In other words, I was still party
to a mindset ingrained within me that 'same sex was bad'.
(b) A senior, who's the father of two daughters and a good instructor, had committed suicide
once his family had disowned him and he'd to put in his papers because of his bisexual
orientation. Even the family was ostracised by the rest of the community simply because
they're related to such a man!
(c) A couple, that I'm friendly with, had reacted violently once they'd come to know of their
only son's homosexual orientation. They'd wanted me - his favourite uncle - to advise him to
get married!
I'm proud to say that I've a few wonderful friends who belong to this group. I can appreciate their fears about the repercussions if the society around them were to know about their sexual orientation. And feel impotent and sad that I can be of no help to them even though I feel that they must be allowed to live in this world without any fear whatsoever and with dignity.
And that's the reason why I support a speedy piece of legislation, with the support of all the political parties, where their right to live is assured.
Tailpiece.
Guruvayur has come to a standstill today - it's a sort of an unannounced 'Sunday routine' because the following are remembered:-
(a) 'Ekadasi' - many, many eons ago Lord Krishna imparted the knowledge
contained in the Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna, reluctant to fight the people whom he
revered and loved at the battlefront at Kurukshetra.
(b) It also commemorates the birth of 'Narayaneeyam' written by Melpathoor Narayana
Bhattathiripad during his illness - which is nothing but a collection of hymns in praise of the
lord - while he prayed at the temple premises.
(c) Remembering 'Guruvayur Kesavan', the temple's elephant who'd died a day prior to the day of
the Ekadasi.
And the temple will be open for the devotees throughout the night!
In Jul 2009, the Delhi High Court had brought out a historic judgment that decriminalised same sex relationships because Sec 377 IPC impinged upon the fundamental rights of an individual guaranteed by the Constitution and it's this judgment that the Supreme Court has overturned now.
I shall not dwell on the legal angle as the experts in the field are already at it but it's my opinion that the Parliament must bring about a legislation that would give the LGBT(Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders) community to live in our society without fear of discrimination or destruction. What is their mistake for having been born in this manner and who's given us the right to conclude that they're inhuman/abnormal? In the matter of sexual preferences, human beings can be divided into three categories - heterosexuals, homosexuals/lesbians and bisexuals.
I must narrate three personal experiences related to this topic:-
(a) Some years ago, I was on my way to attend an evening function and enroute, was waiting for
the green light to come on and at that precise moment saw two guys kissing passionately. I
must admit that the sight gave me revulsion but calmly, thinking about it later I'd come to the
conclusion that I'd not 'grown up' enough as a human being. In other words, I was still party
to a mindset ingrained within me that 'same sex was bad'.
(b) A senior, who's the father of two daughters and a good instructor, had committed suicide
once his family had disowned him and he'd to put in his papers because of his bisexual
orientation. Even the family was ostracised by the rest of the community simply because
they're related to such a man!
(c) A couple, that I'm friendly with, had reacted violently once they'd come to know of their
only son's homosexual orientation. They'd wanted me - his favourite uncle - to advise him to
get married!
I'm proud to say that I've a few wonderful friends who belong to this group. I can appreciate their fears about the repercussions if the society around them were to know about their sexual orientation. And feel impotent and sad that I can be of no help to them even though I feel that they must be allowed to live in this world without any fear whatsoever and with dignity.
And that's the reason why I support a speedy piece of legislation, with the support of all the political parties, where their right to live is assured.
Tailpiece.
Guruvayur has come to a standstill today - it's a sort of an unannounced 'Sunday routine' because the following are remembered:-
(a) 'Ekadasi' - many, many eons ago Lord Krishna imparted the knowledge
contained in the Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna, reluctant to fight the people whom he
revered and loved at the battlefront at Kurukshetra.
(b) It also commemorates the birth of 'Narayaneeyam' written by Melpathoor Narayana
Bhattathiripad during his illness - which is nothing but a collection of hymns in praise of the
lord - while he prayed at the temple premises.
(c) Remembering 'Guruvayur Kesavan', the temple's elephant who'd died a day prior to the day of
the Ekadasi.
And the temple will be open for the devotees throughout the night!
No comments:
Post a Comment