Gay Rights in Limelight as a Reaction to Health Minister’s Statement
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 13:48 — Anirban
With almost about six percent of the total adult population in India falling under the category of LGBT (lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender), a negative comment on their natural existence from the Union Health minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, is highly debatable. He said at a conference yesterday, “Men having sex with men (MSMs) is not only “unnatural” but also a “disease”. 
The statement arrived when the gay population in India celebrated two years of freedom where the High Court in 2009 removed sexual restrictions between same sex couples. Speaking to a Zilla Parishad, chairpersons and mayors meet on HIV/AIDS, as a not-so useful precautionary note of advice, Azad added, “this disease has come to India from foreign shores and number of such people is increasing by the day”.
Almost drubbing salt and pepper on the Gay rights activists, he went on saying that, “The disease of MSM is unnatural and not good for Indian society. It's a challenge to identify such people. In case of female sex workers, we can identify the community and reach out to them since they live in clusters. But in case of MSMs, it isn't always possible”.
On the other hand, the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) retorted on Ghulam Nabi Azad’s comments that gays occupy the same place as any other individual in India and that they have equal rights. According to a survey, out of 4.12 lakh same sex community members just 2.74 lakhs have been identified.
July 2 in India is celebrated as the ‘Gay Pride Day’. The comments made by the Health Minister created a widespread uproar among people, particularly the gay community. In addition to being ‘shocked’, they plus claimed that the health minister was dishonoring Act 377, which protects the gay community from any threat. Ashok Row Kavi, Hamsafar Trust adds, "Gay sex is not unnatural. It is a matter of one's sexual orientation. If out of 100 children, five are left-handed, do you call them unnatural?"
Dr Charles Golks, UNAIDS Head, stated that India believes same sex community play a very significant part in the population of a country. Thus, the very discriminating comment from the health minister of the country is not at all encouraging and people want him to apologize quickly for his comments before it turns out to be a national debate.
Despite legal acceptance, gays are still looked down upon in India. Wherever they go, for instance a pub or a bar, they have a tough time coming out of there closet. Gay couples cannot go together to a place out of fear of ending up physically and mentally hurt. However, with time the gay community with some legal support has been able to survive and they mark this as a major turning point in there lives. At the same time I ponder what about the female same sex communities in India and their rights?
picture Source: jurist.law.pitt.edu
Comments
India is having 1.89% of it's population which is mentally challenged. They too are living the their natural life and are protected y the same article of the Indian Constitution. Yet , are are not the part of normal social life.
MSM/lesbianism may be the matter of the choice or sexual orientation , yet its difficult to accept them as normal . During the adolescence out of curiosity and lack of opportunity brings out these type of relationship and that is completely casual. If the trait goes beyond the occasional and casual encounter , it may be a threat to the normal social life.
Again its not alien to Indian shore. Traces are there to prove that it existed since 6th century BC. And we all know from our personal or the experience of the surrounding that it exists in the society.
We honour the decree of the Judiciary till it is giving dignity of life to the people living the life of gay or lesbian, still it can't be accepted as natural human behaviour.
someone is putting a example of left hand bt if god forbid some section says tat they hve an orientation twards animals fr sex wud govt. hve a binding to legalise it highly unnatural and pathetic tat instead of curbing this menace sme r supporting it stick to own values and customs and not orientations plz..............
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