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Essay / The campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in India
Nelson Mandela once said: “To deny people their HUMAN RIGHTS is to call into question their very HUMANITY”. Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Today I am here to talk about the campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in India. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Homosexuality is neither a choice, nor a disease, nor a crime. It is simply romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender that is caused by a complex interplay of non-voluntary genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences. So why should it be a criminal offense? Why are we punished for something genetic and unintentional? We do not choose to be heterosexual or gay and being homosexual does not change our human nature. This does not make a person a thief, a rapist, or a convicted criminal. So why do we discriminate against them in their basic human rights, insult them, ask our children to stay away from them and treat them like patients with an infectious disease? It is always us, the society, who start with this discrimination. In Indian culture, the homosexual act is clearly depicted in the sculptures of the Khajuraho and Kamasutra temples. So why do we consider this a criminal offense if it is found in our own culture? During the British Raj, Section 377 (popularly known as the "act of sodomy") was forcefully enshrined in the Indian Constitution in 1861. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code prohibits "carnal knowledge against 'order of nature with any man, woman or animal'. which is punishable by life imprisonment. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is seen as hostile to LGBT rights and promotes an agenda of Hindu nationalism that emphasizes the importance of traditional Indian masculinity, according to the independent news forum. How does being gay show non-masculinity? If so, then is raping a girl, killing a little girl, showing power over the weak a proof of masculinity? Masculinity is a set of behaviors and roles set by society for men and boys. It's not a genetic trait, so how could we judge someone based on whether they are masculine or not. Additionally, according to the Times forum, LGBT activists say the Hindu nationalist party, which is expected to do well in polls, has failed to take a clear stance on LGBT rights, while some of its members made statements openly denouncing homosexuality. India's Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected the idea of legalizing LGBT people since 2003. The Interior Ministry has called homosexuality immoral. For what? The Supreme Court protects the fundamental rights of citizens and resolves disputes. They are not supposed to judge on the blind faith of societal norms, because those are just stereotypes that are not true. According to the independent news forum, gay prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who was ostracized by his father, the Maharaja of Rajpipla (Gujarat, western India) after coming out publicly in 2006, opened the grounds of his palace in 15 acres to vulnerable LGBT people. The great taboo in Indian society is that sexual relations between two people of the same sex are punishable by the law of the country. How does same-sex sexual activity make it a punishable offense? Since homosexuality is illegal and unbearable in India, it affects the psychology of people..