Mangalore, Dec 17: Several students and a group of people representing sexual minorities staged a protest on Monday against a decision by the Supreme Court to uphold a law that criminalizes gay sex.
The top court last week reversed a landmark 2009 verdict of the Delhi High Court that had decriminalized gay sex. The section criminalises intercourse against the order of nature, which makes gay sex illegal.
Five persons from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community joined the college students in a march from St. Agnes College Circle to City Centre mall.
“This is a fight for our rights. We want the government to allow us to spend time with the person we love,” said Sanjeeva from Udupi, who has been involved in counselling LGBT members about safe sex and regarding facilities for testing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Another LGBT community member from Udupi said there was some relief for people of the community following the judgment of the Delhi High Court in July 2009 decriminalising gay sex between two consenting adult partners.
“With the Supreme Court's recent order, we are back to square one. Harassment will start,” he said. The LGBT member said they were happy to join the students, who are speaking for the cause of sexual minorities. On our own we are not in a position to muster numbers in the twin districts to carry out a demonstration,” he said.
The students said that they were happy to fight for the cause of sexual minorities.
“We spread the word among our friends through mobile phones and social networking sites seeking support for sexual minorities. This archaic law should be annulled,” said a student from a city college.
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