New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS): UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Thursday said she was "disappointed" over the apex court ruling on the issue of gay rights.

The Congress president also expressed hope that parliament will uphold the constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens including those directly affected by the Supreme Court judgment Wednesday that upheld a law banning same gender sex.

"I am disappointed that the Supreme Court reversed the previous Delhi High Court ruling on the issue of gay rights," Gandhi said in a statement.

"I hope the parliament will address this issue and uphold constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens including those directly affected by this judgment.

"We are proud that our culture has always been an inclusive and tolerant one," she said.

Gay activists have protested the Supreme Court verdict that ruled that consensual sex between adults of the same gender was an offence, as held in Section 377 of the IPC. It set aside the Delhi High Court verdict of 2009, which had decriminalised sexual relationship between adults of the same gender under that law.