Homosexuality and Acceptance in Society

577 Words2 Pages

Homosexuality and Acceptance in Society

Food, clothing, shelter. Okay what next. Security?,freedom? So how

would one feel if one were lawfully and socially denied of the need

which appears just above food, clothing, and shelter on Maslow's

hierarchy of needs. I am talking about homosexuality and section 377

of the Indian penal code, which criminalises male homosexuality. The

major debates and discussions concerning gay men and lesbians revolve

around article 377 of the Indian penal code, no other laws directly

deals with homosexuality, as if homosexuality does not exist in india.

Because of this ostrich like attitude there is no overt discrimination

but covert discrimination against gay men and lesbians runs throughout

the gamut of laws.

The nature of the law is: -

"Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of the

nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with

(imprisonment for life) or with imprisonment of either description for

a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to a

fine.

Explanation; penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal

intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.

So from this we can deduct that in our country, someone's need to

satisfy his physical desires, fulfill emotional needs is considered to

be a crime. Act of expressing love is reduced to the term carnal

intercourse. But it is not the same case with heterosexual

relationship. Their expression of love is not termed as just

intercourse neither ofcourse it is criminalised. I don't understand

why is it so difficult for us to accept that human beings differ from

each o...

... middle of paper ...

...by a number of laws that criminalise

actions and other objects considered as immoral or scandalous

according to the governing ethics of the society.

So a person pursuing a homosexual relationship is denied his/her

rights to have a family, his/her entitlement to the deceased spouse's

assets and definitely social acceptance. Well to put it in short I

would like to say that his/her sheer existence is denied in the

society. What more can one be deprived of.

Well nothing in world is permanent and so is the case with laws.

Homosexuality must be decriminalsed. It is important to have law that

goes beyond the existing one and redefines the word 'family'.

Let us all act as matured citizens and fight for the legal and social

acceptance of homosexual relationships and accept their companionship

as constituting families.

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