IANS
Bangalore, Jul 2: Bangalore's sexual minorities rights activists, who have been spearheading the campaign against the law that criminalises homosexuality, Thursday welcomed the Delhi High Court judgement legalising gay sex.
"Now, this has become the law of the land and will be applicable to entire country. We welcome the judgment. It's a significant judgment and we see it as our success after years of struggle to scrap the draconian law," said Siddharth Narrain, a gay rights activist and advocate.
Echoing Narrain, Nithin, another gay rights activist and member of Coalition for Sex workers and Sexual Minorities Rights (CSMR), said it was a victory of fundamental rights of any individual in the society and guarantees the constitutional rights to choice.
"We're happy that the draconian and antiquated law will end from the country," said Nithin, who only writes his first name.
Section 377, a law from the British Raj era, saw homosexuality as "unnatural sex" and treated it as a criminal act.
Bangalore recently celebrated Karnataka Queer Habba, the weeklong colourful event from June 21 to create awareness about sexual minorities in the society. The week long awareness festival ended with a "pride march", which saw around 2,000 people participating and vocally demanding an end of the section 377.
Arvind Narrain a human rights activist and lawyer with the Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore, said now harassment of gays and lesbians in the hands of police would stop.
"We welcome the judgment and see it as a victory of gay rights' activists," said Arvind, who also authored the book "Queer: Despised Sexuality, Law and Social Change" (2004) and co-edited "Because I have a Voice: Queer Politics in India" (2005).
Regarding the support of Section 377 by various religious group, Siddharth said that religion should not be brought in to deal with subject of basic human fundamental rights.
"It will be better if we don't bring religion into subjects concerning human rights. It is a debatable issue and there are also various religious theories when it comes to homosexuality," said Siddharth.