Shashi Tharoor's Bill To Amend Section 377, Gets Thumbs Down In Lok Sabha #IndiaAgainstEquality
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Friday, introduced a private bill in the Lok Sabha to decriminalise gay sex and do away with Section 377; however it was turned down by the house.
PTI
Expressing disappointment over the development Taroor tweeted that it was ¡°surprising to see such intolerance¡±. He also said that his efforts will continue.
1/2 Intro of Pvt.Member's Bill2decriminalize consensual sex btwn consenting adults defeated in LS 71-24. Surprising to see such intolerance.
¡ª Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015
2/2 Notice of intent to oppose introducn of Bill came so late there was no time 2rally support. Will try again in future. We shall overcome!
¡ª Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 18, 2015
His private bill had proposed to amend Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises homosexuality, and has been used as an effective tool to harass, threaten and extort money from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population in India.
Reuters
According to estimates, 10% of the population is non-heterosexual. This includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
Even though the Delhi High Court had in 2009 struck down Section 377 it was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2013. In its verdict the Apex Court also recommended that Parliament either delete or amend the Section 377, which prohibits ¡°carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal¡±.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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