In a historic decision, India’s Supreme Court has ruled that gay sex is no longer a criminal offense. The ruling overturns a 2013 judgment that upheld a colonial-era law, known as section 377, under which gay sex is categorized as an “unnatural offense”. The court has now ruled discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a fundamental violation of rights.
Campaigners outside the court cheered and some broke down in tears as the ruling was handed down. Although public opinion in India’s biggest cities has been in favor of scrapping the law, there remains strong opposition among religious groups and in conservative rural communities. READ MORE
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