ERADICATE SECTION 377, SAYS INDUSTRY
After the Centre decided to leave it to the Supreme Court's wisdom to decide on the constitutionality of Section 377, members of the film industry speak up about the move and their expectations from the Supreme Court. Filmmaker Onir is grateful to the Government for not impeding the petition. “It would have been so much better if the government had supported the petition. But the fact that the Government is not opposing it is heartening,” he says. The filmmaker also hopes that the Supreme Court will make a democratic judgement. “I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will do the right thing and make this nation a truly democratic nation, which upholds the constitutional rights of all citizens, irrespective of sexual preferences of consenting adults. This would be a step forward towards further ensuring the civil rights of the community,” says the National Award winner.
Actress Nandita Das, on the other hand, emphasises the need for the society to focus on things that matter, instead of getting caught up in narrow- minded pursuits. She says, “When will we grow up as a society and embrace reality with compassion and understanding and not with prejudice and judgement? The archaic law that criminalises homosexuality is shameful. The impending decriminalisation of homosexuality by repealing section 377 is imperative. It is long overdue.”
The actress goes on to say that the focus should be on fighting against hate and abuse. “In times when we should be stopping lynching and discrimination against absolutely anyone, it is shocking that some want to stop people from loving. Freedom to live and love with dignity ought to be for all.”
Director and writer, Apurva Asrani feels that the section must be struck down if India is to join the ranks of other progressive, developed nations. He says, “It’s about time India left the company of Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan that criminalises same- sex relations and joined the ranks of developed nations such us the US, UK and Australia that value human rights,” says Apurva.