Are we ready for gay rights?
"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose Time has come" victor Hugo [1802-1885] French dramatist, poet and novelist no other words can be as appropriate to suffice as a quintessential example of the recent verdict by Delhi High court which has decriminalized homosexuality in India. The article 377 was introduced in 1860 by Lord Macaulay ruling against "carnal intercourse against the order of nature". Thus it turns out to be a landmark in the history of verdicts by Indian judiciary, in a unique society where any sort of aberration from the preserved norms is generally taken as profanity, seems to be a step forward in seeking a more liberal society which respects human rights.
Medical evidences clearly show that homosexuality is not changeable. it is not a curable disease. Moreover it has existed since the inception of human civilization [roman history, religious text etc. being a testimony to the fact]. Human beings are social animals and thus they adapt a behavior suited to the new conditions of lifestyle. We rather should accept a liberal perspective while looking at homosexuality, hence. Giving two individuals a right to engage with each other consensually, won't bring any nuclear war. Human races have better and more complicated matters to make an issue of. Another very strong arguments forwarded by the UN is that decriminalizing homosexuality will help us fight against aids, as fully endorsed my Ambumani Ramadoss too. however, homosexuality and its decriminalization has invited some strong reservations against itself by a majority in India, especially from religious authorities , on the basis of the fact that the religious texts prohibit any sort of homosexual activity and have prescribed punitive actions for it. Some others fear a drastic restructuring of the society whereby, such an act would undermine traditional Indian values. This eventually brings us to a broader question-" are we ready for gay rights?" My opinion to that would be that no written word religious or otherwise should be taken so irrationally and unsuited to the time which takes away the rights of a human being to be happy and content. Secondly, the mere decriminalization of it won't make the whole of human race homosexual and thus challenging the concept of progeny. It will only be a relief to those 23 lakhs who have chosen to lead "An unconventional life "so to say in Indian situations.
Although it seems to be a difficult path to reach a societal consent, where homosexuality will be seen as something normal, it is suggested that sexual orientation is something as personal and private as religion and thus should not be made a dominant identity of an individual. Most of the western countries don't see it as a legal offence. What India needs is a change in perspective, and needs to look at the LGBT community with respect rather than, as a symbol of vulgarity and social pollutants. This is the high time that we grow up to make a mature and a more rational society.
By
Swati
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