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India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

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21–30 of 178 posts

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#22
Something to note here is that it is not just gay sex that is legalised - the prohibition was on "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" which included straight anal sex as well as oral sex. Of course, these are less important as this was never enforced, but weird to think that these things were technically illegal.

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#24
post #11

The phrase "legalises gay sex" is surreal and otherworldly to me. We recent fought for marriage in Australia. Shocking to think they were and are still so backwards as to make that headline possible.

I've heard that there are a number of US states in which some fairly common sex acts are officially illegal. The difference, of course, is that there is little chance of anyone being prosecuted for those offences in the US, while, if I've understood correctly, the Indian section 377 law was being used in practice.

It's still illegal to own more than six dildos in Texas.

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#25
post #14

The phrase "legalises gay sex" is surreal and otherworldly to me. We recent fought for marriage in Australia. Shocking to think they were and are still so backwards as to make that headline possible.

Wait till you hear about these crimes: 1) Section 497 in The Indian Penal Code Adultery.—Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either descript…

Interestingly, consensual adultery is still an offense in the US Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#26

The phrase "legalises gay sex" is surreal and otherworldly to me. We recent fought for marriage in Australia. Shocking to think they were and are still so backwards as to make that headline possible.

I just looked up when gay sex was legalized in Australia. It varies, but in Tasmania not until 1997. You were saying?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Australia#Decri...

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#27
post #21

I don't think this will last, not even in the west.

What? So you think that gay sex should be illegal?

Nobody said that. I think the cup of tea I'm drinking won't last, yet I don't think cups of tea should be illegal.

Edit to update: The cup of did indeed did not last, and is now gone. I still don't think a cup of tea should be illegal.

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#28
Remarkable decision. Although, this is just a small step of a long road to a culture that understands and accepts the LGBT community, a step nonetheless. It's very fortunate that the democratic structure of India allows courts to make rational, liberal decisions. They are not encumbered by petty politics or vote banks.

Living in India is not easy. Every other day you have a reason to astonish over the regressiveness of people around you. Today, I get to have a momentary joy—at least there is something that works.

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#29
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard that there are a number of US states in which some fairly common sex acts are officially illegal. The difference, of course, is that there is little chance of anyone being prosecuted for those offences in the US, while, if I've understood correctly, the Indian section 377 law was being used in practice.

It's still illegal to own more than six dildos in Texas.

Not true since 2004 anymore. And apparently was only against promoting dildos. Source: https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2015/feb/09/al...

Re: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

#30
post #17
post #6

Note that same sex marriage is still not legalised! We still have a long way to go before the idea of a same-sex couple becomes commonplace in our society.

Wait. Gay sex is legalized, but not marriage. That's so un-Indian-like

It shouldn't be just marriage, it should also be properly arranged by partners' parents.
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