“Homosexuality is a genetic flaw. Cannot be equated with normal sexual behaviour,” BJPMP Subramanian Swamy said shortly after the Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
“Homosexuality leads to increased instances of paedophilia, gay bars and HIV,” said the BJP leader, adding a controversial statement, “I know many judges who are homosexual.”
"It (Homosexuality) is not a normal thing. These are all American habits, there's a lot of money behind it. The Americans want to open gay bars, and it'll be a cover for paedophiles and a huge rise in HIV cases. It is a danger to our national security," he earlier told ANI, adding, “It (Homosexuality) is against Hindutva, it is against all our scriptures.”
LGBTQ activist Anjali Nazia said the Supreme Court had paved way for bigger judgements ahead.
"We were granted a basic human right today and we can't express just how happy we are," Nazia told PTI.
Describing the verdict as a landmark, Anjan Joshi, member of the Society for People, Awareness, Care and Empowerment (SPACE), said it would be help them in their quest for equality.
"It is a start. We know we have a long way to go in terms of right to adoption, right to marriage but it is a very welcome beginning," Joshi said.
United Nations in India has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling.
“Sexual orientation and gender expression form an integral part of an individual’s identity the world over, and violence, stigma and discrimination based on these attributes constitute an egregious violation of human rights,” the organisation has said in a statement.
“The UN in India sincerely hopes that the court’s ruling will be the first step towards guaranteeing the full range of fundamental rights to LGBTI persons,” it added.
“I am pleased to welcome the Supreme Court decision to decriminalise consensual acts of adults in private. In this country, we have allowed the government to interfere in private lives of people, to discriminate against people on basis of sexual orientation, but the Supreme Court stood up for equal treatment of citizens,” Member of Parliament and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said.
The Lok Sabha had in 2016 voted against the introduction of a private member’s Bill moved by Tharoor which sought decriminalising homosexuality.
Justice Indu Malhotra said, “History owes an apology to members of the LGBT community and their family members for the ostracisation and persecution they faced because of society's ignorance that homosexuality is a natural trait, its penal suppression infringes a host of fundamental rights.”
The state has no business to get in controlling the private lives of LGBT community members: Justice Chandrachud said during the ruling
"There must be a time to end historical discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and choice and that time is now," Justice DY Chandrachudsaid in his judgement.
"I personally think homosexuality is a genetic flaw, one is born with it. But, there’s no finality in SC’s judgment today," RajyaSabhaMP Subramanian Swamytold CNN-News18.
"We have finally got justice. We are finally 'azaad in azaad Hind'," says Ashok Row Kavi, LGBT rights activist and founder of Humsafar Trust
Justice Nariman has held that homosexuality cannot be regarded as a mental disorder.
Suresh Koushal no longer good law in view of NALSA andPuttaswamy judgment, he added while reading out the verdict.
This case is much more than just decriminalising a provision. It is about an aspiration to realise the constitutional rights and equal existence of the LGBT community as other citizens: Justice Chandrachud
