Ancient India didn’t think homosexuality was against nature
NEW DELHI: Was Indian society tolerant of homosexuality before the colonial administration proscribed it in 1860? The government has taken conflicting positions on this within the country and outside.
On a petition pending before the Delhi high court seeking to decriminalize homosexuality, the government said in its counter affidavit that that there were “no convincing reports to indicate that homosexuality or other offences against the order of nature mentioned in Section 377 IPC were acceptable in the Indian society prior to colonial rule.�
But when it was being reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council last year for the first time ever, India distanced itself from that provision when Sweden, arguably the most gay-friendly country in the world, questioned its record in ensuring equality irrespective of a person’s sexual orientation.
This is how Goolam Vahanvati, who was then solicitor-general and is now attorney-general, tried to save India’s face before the council as part of its official delegation. “Around the early 19th Century, you probably know that in England they frowned on homosexuality, and therefore there are historical reports that various people came to India to take advantage of its more liberal atmosphere with regard to different kinds of sexual conduct.
“As a result, in 1860 when we got the Indian Penal Code, which was drafted by Lord Macaulay, they inserted Section 377 which brought in the concept of ‘sexual offences against the order of nature’.
Now in India we didn’t have this concept of something being ‘against the order of nature’. It was essentially a Western concept, which has remained over the years. Now homosexuality as such is not defined in the IPC, and it will be a matter of great argument whether it is ‘against the order of nature.”
Vahanvati’s admission on the international forum that the ban on homosexuality was a western import and its relevance was debatable flies in the face of the government’s unabashed efforts before the Delhi high court to retain Section 377, complete with its colonial baggage and archaic notion of unnatural offences.
Whatever the politics behind this glaring contradiction, there is ample evidence placed before the high court by petitioner Naz Foundation substantiating in effect Vahanvati’s view that in the centuries prior to the enactment of section 377, India was rather accommodating of homosexuals. See Ancient India didn’t think homosexuality was against nature
Times of India
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Workers and Gay Rights Groups to Ban together to Fight for Marriage Equality and expose ‘Hyatt Hypocrisy’
Ceremonial Gay Marriage with Raymond and Byron, Featured in “13 Love Stories”
A press conference announcing the expansion of the ‘Hyatt Hypocrisy’ campaign to Long Beach Hyatt Hotel is set today in Long Beach, CA. Members of the coalition will participate in a ceremonial gay marriage ceremony, calling on Hyatt management with demands regarding marriage equality.
The Reverend Sunshine Daye, Namaste Science of Mind and Spirit Center/Grand Marshall Long Beach Gay Pride Parade; Tonia Reyes Uranga, Long Beach City Councilwoman; Mike Bonin, Co-Founder of Camp Courage, Courage Campaign; Raymond and Byron, married gay activists featured in “13 Love Stories;” and Kimberlee Woods, Exec. Director Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach are expected to attend.
LGBT rights activists, workers, and community leaders will join forces outside the Long Beach Hyatt hotel in support the ongoing fight for marriage equality. The Hyatt Hotel is owned and operated by the Hyatt Corporation, which also operates the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, owned by Doug Manchester. Manchester donated $125,000 to help put California’s Proposition 8 on the ballot last November. The Manchester Grand Hyatt has been at the forefront of the battle over same-sex marriage since leaders of San Diego’s LGBT community called a boycott of the hotel in July.
This event is co-sponsored by the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs & a Healthy Community, San Diego Equality Campaign, Courage Campaign, Equal Roots, Pride at Work and Equality California.
The coalition is not calling for a boycott of the Hyatt Hotel, but pledges to hold the Hyatt Long Beach and its owner and operator, The Hyatt Corporation, accountable for their relationship to Manchester. With this press conference and delegation, labor and gay rights activists will expand the Hyatt Hypocrisy campaign, which is in full swing in San Diego, to Hyatt’s Long Beach Hotel.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/workers-and-g…
Education Secretary pledges safe schools for LGBT students
(Washington) Education Secretary Arne Duncan has told a gay student advocacy group that he intends to make schools safe for every student, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Duncan made the pledge during a meeting with representatives of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and a delegation of students …
Tags: Advocacy Group, Arne Duncan, Delegation, Education Secretary, Expression, Gay Student, Gender Identity, lesbian, Lgbt Students, Pledge, Safe Schools, Sexual Orientation, Straight Education Network, Student Advocacy, Washington Education
