Indian Centre Govt given a deadline to decide on homosexuality

Arts & Culture Culture, Arts, Literature & Linguistics
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** Good news for the NRI’s here at GS…now they can go back without having the fear of being persecuted **

http://www.indianexpress.com/print.php?content_id=16766

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 15: The Delhi High Court today hauled up the Centre for failing to make its stand clear on whether homosexuality should be legalised. The court has also asked for clarification on whether section 377 of the IPC making homosexuality a penal offence would be abolished.
The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice BD Ahmed has given the Union Government a final opportunity and asked it to submit a detailed affidavit.

‘‘In view of a number of petitions questioning the vires of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a notice was issued to the Attorney General for giving his views. Despite a number of adjournments, no affidavit is filed by the Centre and a last opportunity is given to it to submit it in four weeks,’’ the court said.

Section 377 of the IPC makes homosexual relations a penal offence and provides for a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and fine.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Naaz foundation seeking legalisation of homosexuality and abolition of section 377. The government counsel informed the court that the AG’s opinion was awaited.

The court said that no further adjournment would be given and it was not necessary for the AG to give his opinion in writing and that he could have argued the matter and placed the government’s stand before the court.

The petitioner had stated that the section was proving harmful as homosexuals were wary to come out in the open though they were more prone to HIV infection. Naaz foundation had contended in its petition that the provisions of section 377 of IPC are violative of the fundamental rights of a citizen’s freedom as defined in the Constitution.

Section 377 states, ‘‘Whoever has voluntarily sex against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years.’’

The harassment of gays and the sexuality minorities (including lesbians) constitutes a blatant abuse on their fundamental and human rights, the petition stated. Sexual relations between private consenting adults were totally pemissible according to the NGO.

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:dixsi: :dixsi:

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Maybe we can send all the American Saphos and Sodomites over there!
Keep your finges crossed! :)

Peace To All Who Read This...

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Re: Indian Centre Govt given a deadline to decide on homosexuality

Seeker, your concern for the world’s homosexuals is touching :hehe:

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Re: Re: Indian Centre Govt given a deadline to decide on homosexuality

thanks

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Seeker,

Since you seem to be interested in topics related to your sexuality I reproduce this article from bbc. I am sure you like it as it is very close to your heart and happening where you are from. Below I have produced Excerpts from the same article. Let me know if you want more..

Night time in Pakistan’s cities can offer men a panacea for the day’s fatigues - indulgence at the hands of the malishiyas, or masseurs.
From roadside restaurants in Karachi’s congested central district to the roundabouts in the prosperous southern district, the city swarms with them.

Massage, frequently, though not always, provides a cover for prostitution.

A car will drive up slowly and surreptitiously.

The headlights flash, the horn sounds signalling masseurs to approach.

The window is rolled down and regular, legitimate rates are haggled.

Those looking for something more need only utter ‘‘what else?’’ to receive the reply ‘‘whatever you ask for’’.

The more affluent the area, the higher the rates.

There are many pitfalls. The concept of safe sex has not arrived on the massage scene.

Then there are the beatings and the swindling.

‘‘Once I was forced to have sex with a man at gunpoint,’’ says one 20-year-old masseur from North-West Frontier Province.

‘‘Not only did he burn me with his lighter, he paid me less than what was agreed upon.’’

Homosexuality and bisexuality thrive within Pakistan’s cloistered male population.

Many of the men are married with children.

Taboos

‘‘Masseurs are easily available and safer for a one-night stand,’’ says one closet bisexual. ‘‘They don’t spill the beans.’’

Gul Khan, a Pathan truck driver, said: "I spend three months away from my wife. I have to satisfy my bodily desires.‘’

Male prostitution will continue to boom while the social norm in the middle and lower-middle classes dictates a strict adherence to sexual segregation.

Khurram, an engineering student, speaks for the silent and stifled majority when he says: ‘‘Interaction with the opposite sex is not allowed. This is our way to let off steam.’’

No one knows how long this situation will go on for before these taboos go.

For now, Pakistani urban society will continue to frown both on closet homosexuality and open heterosexual sex.