Dear Subramanian Swamy, why art thou so homophobic?

Dear Subramanian Swamy, why art thou so homophobic?
08 Jan 2018

A celebrated homophobe, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is known for his plain disdain for the LGBTQ community.

Over the years, he has called being gay several things, among them a handicap, genetic flaw and a mental disorder that needs to be cured.

As the Supreme Court mulls once more the constitutional validity of IPC Section 377, which criminalizes homosexuality, India's sanskari neta strikes again.

Be gay if you want to, but privately, says Swamy
Swamy and his two cents

It is near-impossible to have a national discussion on homosexuality in India without Swamy and his pearls of wisdom.

This time, however, he is mellower and doesn't mind if it's kept private. "As long as they don't celebrate it, flaunt it, create gay bars to select partners it's not a problem."

"But if you flaunt it, it has to be punished," he told ANI.

Section 377 to be discussed by larger bench, says SC
Under consideration

Hearing a plea filed by a Navtej Singh Johar to declare Section 377 unconstitutional, the apex court on Monday said the long-debated issue needs to be discussed by a larger bench.

The SC also issued the Centre a notice to respond on a writ petition filed by five LGBT community members alleging that they lived in constant fear because of their sexual preferences.

What is Section 377?
Details

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was introduced during British colonial rule in 1861. It criminalizes any sexual activity considered "against the order of nature", including anal sex, oral sex, penile penetration of "artificial orifices" and "penile-non-vaginal sexual acts".

If convicted, a person can be imprisoned for life or of either description for a term up to ten years, and a fine.

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