Indian media praises gay sex ruling, but Modi govt stays silent
NEW DELHI:
Indian media, including some conservative outlets, hailed a Supreme Court ruling to decriminalise gay sex while highlighting a “deafening” silence from Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government.
Banner front-page headlines such as “Love at First Right”, “Rainbow Nation” and “Independence Day” yesterday greeted the verdict of the top court to strike down the heart of Section 377, a law introduced by British rulers in 1861.
Many said the five justices may have opened the doors to demands for greater civil rights for long-marginalised gays and lesbians, including same-sex marriage.
The conservative Hindu newspaper called the verdict “a reaffirmation of the right to love” and “a welcome depature from centuries of ‘hetero-normative’ thinking”.
The Hindusan Times warned that the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communi- ty would still face condemnation from their families and colleagues.
“But if the long legal battle and courage of queer people and communities are anything to go by, this fight for equal rights will not end. It will grow stronger now that even the apex court has said there is no going back,” it said.
Amid pictures of celebrating activists, Google India put out a rainbow flag on its homepage and Facebook changed its display picture to a multi-hued icon.
The United Nations and rights activists around the world gave Twitter support to the Supreme Court ruling.
But Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rightwing government has yet to make a comment on the ruling.
Modi’s administration had initially opposed dismantling Section 377, though in July government lawyers said they would give in to the “wisdom” of the top court.