Survey Reveals Massive Public Support For Legalisation Of Same-Sex Marriages In India

According to a recent Pew Research Centre survey, 53% of adult Indians support legalising same-sex unions. The survey found that 28% of those in support of such a union "strongly favour" it, while 25% "somewhat favour" the idea. However, 31% of Indian adults "strongly oppose" and 12% "somewhat oppose" such marriages, while 43% of Indian adults "completely oppose" them.

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The results come from the most recent study conducted by Pew Research Centre between February 20 and May 22 of this year in 24 nations throughout the world to learn how people feel about same-sex marriage.

Given that the majority of adult Indians (53%) support making same-sex marriages legal, the survey results for India may be a boost for same-sex couples and others who support their cause.

The Supreme Court is currently deliberating on the matter with a five-judge panel hearing the case. However, the Union government has resisted the legalisation of same-sex unions, claiming that doing so violates Indian culture and the heteronormative framework that governs sexual relations. While homosexuality is currently legal in India, marriage between two homosexual adults is still not legally recognised.

What people in India think?

Delhi resident Shruti Shende says, "Love is love¡¯ is a complete sentence with a profound messaging. Anyone and everyone should be able to love and marry the person of their choice, all the while enjoying the governmental privileges and social acceptance lent to [homosexual] individuals."

"Once the LGBTQIA+ community will receive the help and support it needs from the Indian law to live and love as they please, it will consequently bring about a positive shift in people¡¯s perception thus normalising same-sex marriage in the society," Shende added.

Reuters

Gurugram resident Aiyush Taneja expressed similar sentiments and adds, "Same-sex marriage should be legal to make logistics of lives of queer people easier. Queer people should be able to nominate their partners on insurance policies, be able to be co-applicants for housing loans, be able plan their estate with same tax benefits as heterosexual individuals, or simply just be able to open a joint account."

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"Law must always be progressive, and precede social acceptance. Legalising same-sex marriage would provide legitimacy to thousands if not millions of queer Indians in loving relationships. Law needs to go beyond mere decriminalisation, legal acceptance provides a precedence for a wider socio-economical inclusion," Taneja added.

"The butterfly effects of such legalisation can open the floodgates of a more vibrant pink economy, it can prevent brain drain of thousands of young individuals who are compelled to leave home to find greener, more inclusive pastures elsewhere abroad. But most importantly, it reaffirms the dignity and rights that queer individuals have been deprived of for a millennia."

Kamna, a Ghaziabad resident felt sad that it's still an ongoing fight. "It's saddening to think we are still fighting for it while many countries have already these policies in place in action. India is a global leader in so many aspects but when it comes to letting our people love and marry who they want, there's a fight? It just doesn't make sense."

What's happening around the world?

Globally, it has been discovered that Sweden, where 92% of adults favour it, and Nigeria, where only 2% do, have the highest and lowest levels of support, respectively, for legal same-sex marriage.

The poll examined and recorded sentiments regarding a range of demographic variables, including age, gender, political ideology, and whether respondents believe religion to be essential in their life.

In terms of global regions, people in Western Europe stand out as staunch supporters of same-sex marriage, with at least eight in ten adults supporting it in Sweden (92%), the Netherlands (89%), Spain (87%), France (82%) and Germany (80%). In each of these countries, same-sex marriages are legal. On the other hand, only 41% of adults in Poland and 31% in Hungary support same-sex marriages.

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In North America, roughly eight out of ten Canadians (79%) support same-sex marriage, as do 63% in both the United States and Mexico. All three countries recognise same-sex marriage.

In South America, 67% of Argentinians and 52% of Brazilians approve homosexual marriage. Both countries have also made same-sex marriage legal.

Reuters

In Asia-Pacific, over three-quarters of respondents in Australia (75%) and Japan (74%), respectively, support legal same-sex marriage. While same-sex marriage is legal in Australia, it is not in Japan.

Same-sex marriage is illegal in South Korea, and the issue is making headlines. In South Korea, 40% support legal same-sex marriage, while 59% oppose it. Same-sex marriage is strongly condemned by Indonesians. Only 5% of Indonesians favour same-sex marriage.

The survey also discovered that in 12 of the countries polled, those under 40 are more inclined than senior people to accept homosexual marriage. Other countries, however, do not have as substantial age gaps.

Reuters

Similarly, women in 14 nations are more likely than men to support gay and lesbian marriage being legalised. According to the survey, persons with more formal education are more likely than those with less education to support allowing homosexuals to marry in 17 of the examined countries.

The study results for India also challenge the Bar Council of India's (BCI) claim that "more than 99.9% of people in the country are opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage." The BCI stated that the data it released were based on its own survey. However, it has never released a survey report that details the methodology, sample size, and other data points.

Mentioning that there is overwhelming opposition (99.9%) to the legalisation of same-sex marriage, it had passed a resolution that called upon the apex court from adjudicating on same-sex marriages.

The BCI, in line with the government¡¯s view, had appealed to the top court to desist from hearing the pleas seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage, terming it ¡°highly inappropriate¡±. It had rather said the issue of marriage equality between heterosexual and homosexual couples is left to the legislative process.

What do you think about same-sex marriage in India? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For more stories on the LGBTQIA+ community and queerness in India, keep reading Spectrum on Indiatimes.