September 6, 2018, will go down in the history as in a landmark judgement, a bench of judges including Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra ruled in favour of the Indian LGBT community, scrapping parts of the infamous Section 377 and decriminalising homosexuality. The five-judge bench was headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprised Justices Fali Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.
“We have to bid adieu to prejudices and empower all citizens,” said Chief Justice Misra, reading out what he said was a consensus judgment. The judges also said: “Any discrimination on the basis of sexuality amounts to a violation of fundamental rights”.
The ban on gay sex was challenged by five high-profile petitioners — from a classical dancer to a celebrity chef and a hotel chain owner — who said they were living in fear of being punished.
It’s a joyous moment as homosexuality is no longer crime in India. Many celebrities from South Indian Industry and Bollywood have come out to support the verdict. A monumental win not only for the LGBTQIA community but for the entire nation.
“Today marks a very important victory, in the timeline that is the brown queer resistance. I feel overwhelmed with joy for my homosexual brothers and sisters. And I’m very grateful to the allies. As a trans woman, I now can’t wait to be that one female friend at my gay best friend’s wedding, who makes it about herself.”
— Randy Scarhol, trans model
“A progressive outlook beholds a progressive country. Congratulations India, we’re ‘striping’ down the right path. Today we can proudly call ourselves a true democracy.”
— Ashiesh Shah, architect and interior designer
While the whole country is feeling proud, celebrities and influencers took to social media in celebration of the win as well.
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Congratulations to all the activists and petitioners on #SupremeCourt judgement scrapping #Section377 Your perseverance just made #India a freer place for everyone ! #LoveIsLove #Pride #377Verdict #377Scrapped Three cheers for the #SupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/grA64TTB3w
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 6, 2018
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