Homosexuality

An anti-gay rights activist on Monday (November 17) pleaded before the Delhi High Court that legalising homosexual acts would lead to spread of HIV and endanger the family system in the country. Senior BJP leader B P Singhal, who is opposing the plea of decriminalisation of gay sex, submitted in his written submission that on the line of western countries such behaviour could not be legalised in the country as it has different moral values.

"There is an increasing tendency of homosexuals in India to indulge in group sex. What is even more disturbing is that in the name of HIV/AIDS control, they try to get safe places for carrying out perverted sexual practices on a collective scale," Advocate H P Sharma, appearing for Singhal said in the submission filed before a Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar.

"Homosexuality will adversely affect the public health and in the name of thrill, enjoyment and fun the young shall walk into the trap of homosexual addiction. The tragic aspect of this is that alcohol, drugs and disease are the natural concomitants of homosexual activity," he said.

Sighal response came on a petition filed by gay rights activists seeking decriminalisation of gay sex among consenting adults which, at present, is an offence. Section 377 of Indian Penal Code provides a punishment upto life imprisonment for indulging in gay sex.

He countered the gay rights activists' contention who had earlier pleaded that gay sex should be legalised in the country as many countries in Asia and Europe have done so. He said that it is only because of Section 377 of Indian Penal Code that the menace of homosexuality has been by and large been kept at bay for over 130 years in the nation. "But for the tremendous deterrent value of the Section 377 male brothels and group sex orgies would have taken over this country long ago," he said.

"MSM (men having sex with men) is not only inherently immoral, grossly unnatural and patently against the order of the nature, but it represents the very anti-thesis of the lofty ideals, lofty values and lofty objectives that have guided the lives of the nation for thousands of years," the BJP leader said in his 32-page submission. Earlier, the court on November 7 had reserved the judgement on the plea of gay-rights activists and asked the government and other parties opposing the plea to file their written submission.

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:" Rom 1:26