It was on September 6, 2018, when the Supreme Court ruled out Section 377, giving millions of people the freedom to love anyone. The Supreme Court finally struck down 158-year-old controversial law, which criminalised consensual sex between people of the same gender. Public acceptance of homosexuality in India would help people in those relationships seek medical assistance for related illnesses, the five-member bench of judges stated, marking the beginning of the end of prejudice
“A village woman may get the disease from her husband, who is a migrant worker. This way would you now want to make sexual intercourse itself a crime?” Justice Chandrachud asked lawyers supporting Section 377. And this restored hope and brought smiles on the faces of all those who were fighting this battle that began in 2001.
While India stepped into its 73rd year of Independence yesterday on August 15, 2019, the LGBTQIA community celebrated its ‘first real Independence Day’.
To mark this historic occasion, Humsafar Trust, Asia’s first and the largest organisations working for LGBTQIA+ health, rights, advocacy, capacity building and research, took to their Twitter feed to share a heartwarming National Anthem video. They wrote, “On 6th Sep 2018, the SC to read down #Section377 delivering true freedom to millions within our country. Today we celebrate our 1st #IndependenceDay with the #LGBTQIA community & #StandWithPride for our country & its people. Share this message of unity!”
On 6th Sep 2018, the SC to read down #Section377 delivering true freedom to millions within our country. Today we celebrate our 1st #IndependenceDay with the #LGBTQIA community & #StandWithPride for our country & its people. Share this message of unity! https://t.co/UEACAbMJi7
— Humsafar Trust (@HumsafarTrust) August 14, 2019
The video features everyone who inspired the change. Beautiful, isn’t?
There is Pradipta Ray, a board member of The Humsafar Trust, Filmmaker Onir, Anjali Gopalan, the Founder of Naz Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in that country that works on HIV/AIDS and sexual health among many others.
Tweeple loved the video and here’s what they said:
Sushant Divgikar, who was crowned Mr Gay World 2014 and is a drag performer, took to his Twitter handle to tweet about his rendition of the National Anthem. Check it out!
Here is my rendition of the national anthem with people who are LGBTQIA+ in India. This is the first year we celebrate Independence after section 377 of the Indian penal code has been struck down.
We are all one.
Happy Independence Day , India. https://t.co/oIOaqaAWRH pic.twitter.com/gbc0IjL7IE— Sushant(RANI)Divgikr (@thedivasushant) August 15, 2019
Keshav Suri, the Executive Director of The Lalit Group and Founder of KSF_IN, a foundation that aims at creating an equitable India for the LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, skilling programs and corporate inclusion, took to Twitter to share a video.
My team made this video, they wrote, directed,starred and produced it.I am so proud that i have such a wonderful/talented,out/proud/queer/trans and WOKE TEAM. Proud is an understatement! @TheLalitGroup @ItGetsBetterIN @KSF_IN @KittySuIndia @KittyKoIndia @TheLalitFTC https://t.co/pIRpy1OkR0
— keshav suri (@keshav_suri) August 15, 2019
Heartwarming, no?
Happy Independence Day to everyone!
Featured Image: YouTube
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