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India Appeal Likens Gay Sex to Bestiality

Court ruling could recriminalize homosexuality

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 11, 2009 6:21 PM CDT

(Newser) – India’s gay and lesbian community celebrated the Delhi High Court’s decriminalization of homosexual sex last week with lavish parties, but festivities may have been premature, GlobalPost reports. India’s Supreme Court has signaled that it will consider an appeal of the verdict, the climax of an 8-year legal battle that exposed deep divides between liberal elites and socially conservative mainstream India.

Petitioning against the decision, two citizens wrote, “If such abnormality is permitted, tomorrow people might seek permission for having sex with animals.” The tide in India recently has been toward gay rights, bolstered by support from Bollywood stars. But given India’s long-winded judicial process—in which judges often defer difficult cases—gays may have years to wait before celebrating again.

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Participants dance as they hold a placard demanding the dropping of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that makes homosexuality illegal. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan, File)

Gay rights activists participate in a rally celebrating the groundbreaking ruling by the Delhi High Court decriminalizing homosexuality. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

A gay rights activist participates in a rally in Calcutta, India, Thursday, July 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Sucheta Das)

Honey Khan, right, is fed a piece of cake by Amit Baisoya as they celebrate after the Delhi High Court decision. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Gay rights supporters celebrate outside the Delhi High Court in New Delhi, India, Thursday, July 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi)

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There was a huge sigh of relief among the community [after the Delhi ruling]. Those people who were scared to walk about, now they have the guts also to come out from the closet and have a little bit of free life. - "Pamela," Delhi transgender

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 11 comments

2-bits

Jul 13, 2009 4:28 AM CDT

Why are we mentioning the bible when the religions in question are Hinduism and Islam? Hinduism by the way doesn't say anything explicitly against Homosexuality. In fact, the kama sutra, states that it "is to be engaged in and enjoyed for its own sake as one of the arts." Actually, Hinduism is probably one of the most sexually liberal religions on earth. It views sexual gratification as one of the most legitimate pleasures available. That doesn't stop some people from being conservative jerks though. (See the Bharatiya Janata Party). To be fair, most of their religious texts are less instructional (as in, do this or you will burn) and more metaphorical, so I guess they can be interpreted any way you want.

emptycalm

Jul 12, 2009 12:30 PM CDT

that's what happens when you take a 1500 year old religious text as fact that is applicable today. I can understand if they were against it because it doesn't cause reproduction but in the end, who cares? Not everyone is going to be gay. The species will continue despite some people who aren't into adding to it.

armywife

Jul 12, 2009 12:11 PM CDT

i've quit expecting opponents of homosexuality to give rational arguments because there arent any rational arguments against homosexuality; they have to make up stuff like that or else they are forced to admit that it's just about ignorance and prejudice.

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India Appeal Likens Gay Sex to Bestiality