Churches call for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India
January 18, 2018The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has called for the decriminalisation of homosexuality throughout the country. The group, which represents more than 14 million people, published an open letter earlier this week urging for Section 377 to be overturned. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code outlaws “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal.” It is a law that many argue is simply a hangover from British rule.
The letter by the NCCI makes the case that “homosexuality and homo-eroticism have been practised in India from time immemorial. Homosexual activity was never condemned or criminalised in ancient India.”
The church urges that as “followers of the non-conformist Christ, the one who consistently questioned unjust and non-compassionate traditions of public morality, our call is to reject all laws that demonise, criminalise, and exclude human beings, and work to facilitate just, inclusive and loving communities.”
It was announced last week that the Indian courts would examine the law before October of this year after it was found that less than 200 people had been convicted of homosexual acts in 2013. The ban was actually lifted by the Delhi high court in 2009 but was reinstated four years later, garnering much international criticism, especially from the UN. Many LGBT+ activists believe this new challenge to the law will be a positive thing, Anand Grover, a senior lawyer, has said that it has “no choice but to succeed.”
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