Gay Rights appear to have fallen into some kind of equality time-lapse. One day, we find out that March 2014 will see the first same-sex marriages in England and Wales. Then India reinstates a 153 year old law criminalising gay sex, meaning anyone caught faces up to 10 years in prison. It’s okay though, apparently it is rarely taken to court; it just allows police officers to harass members of the LGBT community a little bit more.
Back in 2009, the Delhi High Court had described the newly reinstated law (Section 377) as discriminatory and said gay sex between consenting adults should not be treated as a crime. As expected this was widely and visibly welcomed by India’s gay community; they said the judgement would help protect them from harassment and persecution. Despite this law however, homophobia still persisted in India. A survey conducted in 2011 revealed that 73% of the countries population believe homosexuality is unnatural. So now that the little bit of protection the LGBT community had has been disarmed, what hope do the community have for the future?
Many Indian homosexuals still live with their parents and/or refer to their partners as “friends” due to the fear of being disowned by their families or subjecting them to ‘shame.’ It’s because of this bigoted view that many are forcibly married off, trapped in a cycle of pretence and deception and facing social ridicule if they attempted to come out. You’d think that with it being the one-year anniversary of the horrific and fatal gang rape that took place on a Delhi bus the Indian government would direct its ‘concerned’ eyes to matters other than those pesky gays.
And those who dare to live together do not advertise their sexuality for fear of being prayed upon by local authorities and other members of the community who extort money from them on threat of exposure. Imagine that by simply living with your partner you could face being evicted by your landlord?
Sadly though India is just the latest country to join in the prejudice against homosexuals; Uganda hangs a death sentence above the LGBT communities head on a daily basis with the delicately nicknamed ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill. Russia covers intolerance up with petty pleas of ‘we’re protecting the children.’ What about the children who turn out to be gay or lesbian?
These places are leading the charge against equality and you have to wonder how long it’ll be until similar horrific stories start seeping out of India. Given the magnitude and severity of last year’s gang rape incident I’d wager it won’t be very long.
A torrent of abuse is hurled at the LGBT community daily in these countries – including physical attacks. You need only type ‘homophobic abuse Russia’ into Google for evidence. Worst part is it’s flimsily justified by the excuse ‘homosexuality isn’t natural.’ Natural? It’s 2013. I’m bellowing my opinions around the world via a rectangular device-box whilst sitting with chemicals in my hair that will change it’s colour. (Hopefully.) Baws to natural, let’s make some progress.
And what if other countries who may already be on the fence about homosexuality decided to follow suit and socially regress? Influential countries, such as Russia and India, should be helping to pave the way for equality, not setting up road works.
You think we’ve got equal rights? In some places, we’re not even allowed to hold hands.
