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Court to rule on tying the knot - 17th January 2023
Delhi's first Queer Pride march in three years saw over 800 LGBTQ+ people gather to celebrate and protest as pressure mounts on the government to legally recognize same-sex marriage. The message from the march was spelled out by global business executive Ajay Chauhan.
Ajay Chauhan: "It's time that we come out, as always, and raise our voices. Because Pride is just not a celebration, it is also is a protest, right. It is a very political statement going out to the government that there's a large community in play and their rights needs to be met. And we need to be heard equally."
Only overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018, a 150 year old penal code instituted during the British colonial era had criminalised same-sex relationships. Those convicted faced custodial sentences of up to a decade. Despite the recent change, LGBTQ+ marriage remains illegal, leaving LGBTQ+ couples without rights or acceptance.
Ajay Chauhan: "Decriminalisation has only targeted one aspect of it. But there's a larger aspect where the rights are still not there with the LGBTQ community. So we need to really focus on those rights like inheriting properties together, opening bank accounts. Marriage is one big thing because once the marriage comes into play, all these other aspects of the rights will actually be met."
Mikali Singh: "And there'll be more acceptance because in society marriage is accepted."
Despite India having a predominantly conservative social outlook, LGBTQ+ identities are gradually finding increasing acceptance, particularly among middle class urban society. This loosening of old attitudes is also reflected in Bollywood productions casting LGBTQ+ characters. Nevertheless, LGBTQ+ people face being ostracised by family, friends and colleagues, meaning that many feel they cannot live an out life.
Equality was once central to India's cultural identity and this proud heritage should return, claims university professor Akash Rathore.
Akash Rathore: "It is a high time for India to look for equality. If you see, historical India was always a place where we respected you, like, equality."
LGBTQ+ couples seeking equal marriage rights to heterosexual couples have lodged petitions with India's Supreme Court. With judges set to hand down their ruling in the coming months, India may soon join Taiwan as the second country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
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