India strikes down British-era law against gay sex

Published on 09-Sep-2018

Khushboo Razdan

"Homosexuality is not a mental disorder," declared India's top court while delivering its judgment to decriminalize consensual gay sex in the country.

The verdict is a victory for gay rights activists who have been fighting a legal battle that has stretched back decades.

In her first reaction to the historic ruling, celebrity chef and petitioner in the case Ritu Dalmia told CGTN, "I can't stop smiling, [I have] a great sense of relief, I just can't stop smiling."

"We have bid adieu to prejudices and empower all our citizens," said Deepak Mishra, India's chief justice, while reading out the groundbreaking verdict.

"It's not about decriminalizing gay sex, it's also about equal rights," added Dalmia.

The end of section 377 is the beginning of a new chapter for India, but Dalmia says that the battle is far from over: "The verdict has given us hope for the future, this is an important step in our fight against homophobia in India," she said.

Soon after the verdict, a section of Muslim clerics issued a statement saying "Homosexuality is dirty, filthy and against nature. Court has passed its order, now it's for the people to decide what they want. Islam certainly does not permit it."

Read full story here