Protests held over anti-gay verdict

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court judgement, which has criminalised sexual activity between the people belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities, has sparked a huge public outrage. Activists of the LGBT communities took up protests at Dharna Chowk on Sunday, with a view to express their anguish against the Apex court’s judgement. The activists shouted slogans in support of LGBT rights and against the Article 377.

They wondered why the peace-loving LGBT community was being targeted when murderers and rapists were roaming free on the streets of India.

Priyaank, a gay activist, said that it took almost five years for his family to accept his sexual orientation after he came out openly about his sexuality.

“It took me five years to come out of the closet. I am not going back into it again,” he said, adding that his father had also offered to support him to fight against Article 377. He said that when the World Health Organisation had itself had termed LGBT as not a mental disorder and when 115 countries around the world legalised LGBTs, why was it that in India such an inhuman law was made. He was hopeful that the new generation of India, which has been very supportive of the LGBT communities, would stand up and fight against the Article 377.

Sai Tejo, another gay activist, questioned how the judiciary could have two different viewpoints when it came to legalising live-in relationships and the rights of the LGBT communities.

The activists were hopeful that the review petition, which was filed against the court’s judgement, would do justice to the communities.