Strange world: Gay pride marches in India

Published on Monday 30 June 2008 22:19

HOMOSEXUALITY is still illegal in India, though human rights groups are lobbying for a change in the anti-gay laws that have been in place for more than 145 years. Introduced under British rule, the legal system brands gay and lesbian relationships "an unnatural offence". Ironically, India has a long tradition of gay relationships: there is evidence of it in Indian texts that date back thousands of years.

On Sunday, hundreds of gay rights supporters marched in Delhi in what was India's largest-ever display of gay pride. Activists also marched in Calcutta and Bangalore. They were commemorating the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, which broke out after police raided a gay bar.

The marchers in Delhi chanted "long live queer movement" and waved the rainbow flag, which is the icon of sexual minorities globally.

Anjali Ghopalan, one of India's leading campaigners on HIV/Aids issues, argues that these old colonial anti-gay laws are preventing charities such as hers from doing proper work.

"It is not uncommon for our outreach workers to be harassed by the cops constantly," she says. "Or, as we have seen in recent incidents, two men being arrested for holding hands in a park – the law is being used to frighten people."