Activists and members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community celebrated across India on Thursday, after the court removed a ban on gay sex.
Gay sex is considered taboo by many in socially conservative India, as well as in neighbouring Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It was reinstated as a criminal offense in India in 2013, punishable up to 10 years in prison, after four years of decriminalization.
“Any consensual sexual relationship between two consenting adults – homosexuals, heterosexuals or lesbians – cannot be said to be unconstitutional,” said the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, as he read out the judgment.
“I’m so excited, I have no words,” said Debottam Saha, one of the petitioners in the case.
“We are no longer criminals, (but) it will take time to change things on the ground – 20 to 30 years, maybe,” said Saha.
“The Bangladeshi LGBT community has gained moral support,” said Shahanur Islam, executive director of the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights.
“We hope and will make sure that other countries will follow suit in overturning this remnant from colonial law,” said Mani Aq of the Pakistani branch of the Naz Foundation.
Australia could soon become the 23rd country in the world to legalise gay marriage. The country is in the midst of a non-binding postal vote on the issue, which will conclude on November 7. A survey published in a newspaper this week found that 59% of those who had returned their ballots backed the move while 38% were against it.
Here is a list of 10 countries where LGBT is legal:
2005- Canada
2005- Spain
2006- South Africa
2009-Sweden
2010- Iceland
2010-Portugal
2010-Argentina
2013 -New Zealand
2013-14- United Kingdom
2015- United States
Here is a list of countries where LGBT is legal too:
2000- Netherlands
2003- Belgium
2013- Uruguay
2017- Malta
2014 – Luxembourg
2015-Finland
2015- Ireland
2016- Colombia
2017- Germany
2008-Norway
2009- Mexico
2011-Denmark
2013- France
2013- Brazil
