To Infinity and Beyond?

Large number of people were gathered there, hope in their eyes, all tensed-up. Some were biting their nails, while some were just tapping their foot on the floor. Then the decision had announced by the court, no one believed it first but then they realised that it’s true. All their struggles were worth it. They were finally free to live their lives as they always wanted to live. That was the moment of happiness, the moment of ecstasy.

On 6^th September, 2018, Supreme Court of India announced a historical verdict that changed lives of millions of people in India. The court has abolished the act which denies the sex with the same gender. Homosexuality is no more a crime in India and the members of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) community have the same sexual rights as any other citizen in India.

What is Section-377?

Section 377 was introduced in Indian Penal Code during the British reign in 1862 stated as, “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of the nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years”.

Though the battle was really long. It’s the decades of hardship that impacted the world and help homosexuals to accept what’s legally theirs. Behind this freedom has the struggle, the innumerable fights they had with themselves as well as with the people around them.

In 2000, the Netherlands became the first country which legalised same-sex marriage. Besides that Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Argentina, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, Uruguay, Brazil, New Zealand, England, Wales, France , Luxembourg, Scotland, United States, Ireland, Finland, Greenland, Columbia, Malta, Australia and Germany are among those countries where same-sex marriage is allowed. India on the other hand won the battle of “decriminalising homosexuality”, whereas it does not allow same-sex marriage.

With all the happiness around the country, the question now arises, “Is India really ready for this decision?” We all know that India is known for its cultural diversity and it’s hard for “people” to gulp the fact that now people with same-sex can be together as a couple. A place where couples aren’t allowed to hold their hands in public, then how those “people” will see them making public appearances. We’ll never forget the incident that was happened in May this year, in Kolkata where a couple was harassed and beaten up by the “people” and their crime was that they were hugging each other inside a metro compartment.

Well it’s really a long walk for every person present at this time to see how everyone will accept them. There are many people who are not talking about this, they think homosexuality is a taboo and whatever they are doing is a sin. But what these “people” are not understanding is the fact that now LGBTQ don’t have to hide themselves behind many faces. It’s the time for them to show the world proudly who they are. It is the time to accept them as they are rather to judge them.