Today, our Supreme Court ruled that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a violation of our fundamental right to life as an Indian citizen. Today, we are one step closer to equality.
I hope today you take some time out and understand what is going on. I hope you take some time out and here people’s stories. I hope you learn about Ritu Dalmia, Ayesha Kapur, Harish Iyer, Amal Nath, Sunil Mehra, Navtej Singh Johar, Maneka Guruswamy, Anisha Sharma & the innumerable LGBTQIAP+ rights activists in India who made this happen.
I hope all of us think about how our words and actions can affect people; I hope we all want to help build a safe space for queer people in school. I don’t even know how to explain how much solidarity and support can mean. Today, I saw a tiny pride flag on a second floor soft board and I almost cried. Last week, I saw somebody wearing a pride flag pin in school and I felt invincibly happy.
I hope you understand that this is important to some of us. I hope that this is important to all of you.
"Tragedy and anguish inflicted by Section 377 should be remedied. Macaulay's legacy exists 68 years after the coming of a liberal Constitution. Human instinct to love has been constrained. Sexual orientation has become a reason for blackmail on the internet. Shadows of a receding past controls the quest of LGBTQ for fulfillment. What is the 'order of nature'? State cannot decide the boundaries between what is permissible or not. Section 377 is based on deep-rooted gender stereotypes. It persecutes people. It is a majoritarian impulse to subjugate a sexual minority to live in silence," he says and adds decriminalisation of homosexuality is only the first step. LGBTQ possess "full range of constitutional rights" including sexual orientation and partner choice. "LGBTQ has equal citizenship and equal protection of laws." - Justice Chandrachud
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