The curative petition for repealing Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises homosexuality, will soon be heard by the Supreme Court, and we must ensure the bench of judges know that Indian people care about this issue. Join the campaign to ensure the conversation on equal rights stays alive in the public domain!

UPDATE  21/07/2014

We met with and delivered your voices to Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan after he publicly acknowledged that all Indians, including gay people, deserve human rights. We submitted an official letter requesting him to make a statement on behalf of the Health Ministry to publically stress on the importance of decriminalising homosexuality for the prevention of HIV/AIDs in addition to the importance of equal rights for all people.

 

Now, we need to ensure the conversation on equal rights stays alive in the public domain. The Curative Petition for repealing section 377 of the Indian penal code will soon be heard by the Supreme Court, and we must ensure the bench of Judges know that Indian people still care about this issue.

 

Help keep this fire alive. Sign this petition!

 

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RECAP of Jhatkaa.org and our partners work on this campaign

 

21st Jul 2014: Jhatkaa, supported by Delhi Queer Pride and the Lawyers Collective (amongst others) submits an official letter requesting action from the ministry in regards to repealing 377 and amendments to the HIV/AIDS bill to include the LGBTQ community.

18th Jul 2014: Jhatkaa meets with Harsh Vardhan to thank him for his stance and understand what the health ministry can do for the LGBTQ community.

17th Jul 2014: Harsh Vardhan acknowledges that gay rights are human rights

22nd Apr 2014: Supreme Court agrees to hear curative petition against criminalisation of homosexuality

29th Jan 2014: Supreme Court rejects review petition filed by various parties

22nd Dec 2013: Jhatkaa meets with Kapil Sibal to thank government for filing review petition against criminalisation of homosexuality

20th Dec 2013: Government files review petition against criminalisation of homosexuality

11th-20th Dec 2013: Dozens of NGOs organise protests around the country, hundreds of celebrities, MPs, businesses and other prominent organisations and individuals speak out.

11th Dec 2013: Jhatkaa starts online petition that goes viral on social media

11th Dec 2013: Supreme Court overturns the decision of Delhi High Court 2009 which decriminalised homosexuality.

2nd July 2009: Delhi High Court passes historic judgement that decriminalises homosexuality by reading down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

 

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The Supreme Court has upheld Section 377 which calls for imprisonment of anyone who "voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature". This is an outdated 19th century law that is against freedom of choice, right to equality and right to privacy.

 

Our constitution protects the “right to equality before the law”, and this judgement does the complete opposite. Such clear discrimination is absolutely unacceptable and we must not tolerate it in our country.

 

Everyone is affected - this law does not apply only to those of a different sexual orientation - the vague and outdated wording is open to interpretation and violates the right to consensual sex in privacy. If we thousands of Indians speak out, the Government has the power to impact the information presented to the Supreme Court.

 

Sign the petition asking parliament to immediately decriminalise consensual adult same-sex relations.

 

The Delhi High Court had on July 2, in 2009 decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and had ruled that sex between two consenting adults in private would not be an offence. But on 11th December 2013, the Supreme Court overturned that order in one quick judgement.

 

The good news is that many Members of the Parliament have come out saying that the Government should decriminalise homosexuality. If more MPs know that this is something the public cares about, we’ll be able to ensure Section 377 gets amended.

 

Raise your voice to the government to make sure consensual adult same-sex relations is legal. Please sign now.