Section "377" Is love a crime?

Section “377” in the Indian penal code has criminalized homosexuality in India since colonial times. This means that homosexual expression in public places as well as private places [inside the bedroom] is illegal and it could lead to arrest and harassment. If the law is abolished then homosexuals in India will have equal access to pensions and loans just like all “straight” Indians.

I read recently in the Tehelka magazine that in 1994 a medical team in Tihar jail reported a high rate of sodomy and had asked for condoms to be distributed around the jail free of cost. This was vetoed by Kiran Bedi, then the Inspector general of prisons. The reason, it would promote homosexuality. There is apparent discrimination between gays and heterosexuals when it comes to HIV aids. The condoms were asked to be distributed to prevent the transmission of the killer disease. So homosexuals are left to die is it? They are not recognized as human beings, and then are they from out of space? Of course support groups and counselling services have been provided, but how much does it help reduce the stigma or the “homophobia”? This is what the Indian government should first concentrate on. The public should be educated enough to accept homosexuals as human beings at the very least. It will take time. It will take a great deal of patience and effort. Is the government ready to support the gay community in their cause to gain at least the basic rights for their community? They might be, but the people are surely not. It will be extremely difficult to break the stereotypes that exist in our society, but I personally think it could be done. The violence against gays should stop. They should not be pushed away from society. They should be accepted, loved the way others are loved and given the same comforts and privileges the so called straight people get. I am of the notion that the gay community has been extraordinarily courageous in their revolt to decriminalize homosexuality. The very fact that they are coming out and are not holed up in their cocoons show the rest of the cynical world that they also deserve to be human. The word “human” should be emphasized on everywhere. It is sometimes sad to see people laughing at them and shunning them as though they were slime covered in human flesh.

Gay marriages have happened in India and outside. Elton John married a man. Leela and Urmila two women were married in Bhopal, India in 1987. The catch line here is that they happened to be police women. Gay marriage should be legalized properly in India. Marriage is always beautiful be it with two of the same sex or a man and a women. They can still bring up children. They could adopt and care for them just like a man and a woman would. Some gay men consider surrogacy, but having one’s own baby is wonderful. The idea of baring a child is quite fascinating. It of course requires a great deal of strength and courage, but I personally would really admire anyone who has managed to do that. A gay man would want to be a father just like any other man. A lesbian would also want to be a mother. Why not?

I have read certain articles about homosexuality and also observed few homosexuals. Something I have noticed is that nothing is sacred in their lives. It is all about joy and living with a great sense of humor. They love to be open. You don’t have to take yourself seriously. The sense of community that exists within the circle of homosexuality is quite remarkable. They support each other with such a great feeling of love and courage that it sometimes makes me wonder; do any of us straight people support each other like that? The entire Gay community has to right? As we do not accept them for whom they are. It is all about acceptance. It is about dignity and self respect at the end of the day. We need it, so do they. I am not asking you, readers to support homosexuality or be gay as some people have already figured this whole acceptance business to be. All I am asking you to do is to accept them. Give them their rights. Any sort of love is love after all. Don’t shun them. Accept them. Help remove the stigma from society. Educate yourself and others. I know religion might forbid you from accepting homosexuality. I respect that. Treasure your religion. Love thy neighbor even if he or she is “queer”. God taught all of his disciples to accept and love everyone. I may have repeated the word “accept” many times, but that is what is needed in life.

We should all be happy if the law is abolished. But to do that we should make acceptance a reality in our lives or else the abolition of “377” becomes only a utopian concept adapted by the state and the country. We should live the abolition. Help them help themselves by acknowledging the fact that they are real, alive and the clincher, which is that they are human beings. Tracy Chapman said in her song, that talking about a revolution is like a whisper. This is so true of the situation which is present in our country. Most of us do not fight all the way through. We only whisper.