Rainbow Flag Unfurling Finally!

Bhubaneswar: On September 1, the city poured out in support of the LGBTQIA Community and joined the Pride Parade with rainbow coloured flags and placards demanding justice for them.

Within a week, the Supreme Court on Thursday passed the historical judgment declaring Section 377 as unconstitutional, thus decriminalizing gay sex.

Odisha Bytes spoke to some people, known and unknown, about their feelings on the same.

Meera Parida
(Trans Rights Activist, Founder Of Sakha)

All I can say right now is, humanity won over everything! This 158-year-old British law has been removed, the efforts of such a large group of people finally borne fruit. Heartiest thanks to the Supreme Court.

India finally attained independence in true sense. Now, we can call the entire LGTBQ community, a part of India and its legal population who has the right to choose their partner without having to hide from anyone.

Sabyasachi Satpathy
(A popular Odia TV personality and contestant of reality TV show, Big Boss)

I welcome with all my heart the supreme judgment of the Supreme Court abolishing Section 377. Let’s not take freedom for granted. Like after every freedom fight and struggle, there comes a time to settle down. Let’s all open our ears to listen to people of  LGBT community. Let’s all open our mind to change. Let’s all open our hearts to accept family, siblings, friends or anyone belonging to the community. There has to be love only. Not to make it harder for anyone but easier to accept and give the same love. Let people of pride community be safe and live a life with dignity and respect. Let there be law to protect people, not punish them. Congratulations to everyone for this historic and humanly judgment of the Supreme Court.

Rubel Roy Chowdhury
(He identifies himself as gay and is a student. Our correspondent broke the news to him over phone as he was on a trip and could keep track of the judgment)

I am falling short of words right now, I am with my friend and both of us are having goosebumps. It is indeed a day to remember though social acceptance will take some more time. I believe, now that it is legal, unwanted comments might reduce and people, given their mentality, will slowly embrace homosexuality. India is heading towards a beautiful future.

Biswapriya
(Human Rights Activist)

Whenever consenting adults are together and indulged in any activity in private, it is not an offence. It should never have been a crime in the first place. It is definitely a correct decision by the Supreme Court. However, I believe this should not be celebrated as true freedom because there are several other laws that need be reviewed and reworked on or scraped because these curtails one’s sexual freedom.

Avigyan Mohapatra
(Trans man – He was born a female but identifies himself as a man)

Love is not about one’s physical traits, rather the bond of well-being between two individuals. Getting attracted to the opposite or the same gender is not one’s choice but a natural trait. No one wakes up and decides to be gay and the LGBTQ community have been hiding their identity for a long time as it was deemed unnatural. Scrapping 377 is a great decision, but it should have come earlier. However, better late than never! Besides, before people judge what happens inside a gay couple’s bedroom, they should think about how satisfied they are in their own!

Amisha Das
(A student of Madhusudan Law College)

It is a great feeling. I am new to law and had met CJI recently when he came to our college. We also had walked at the Pride Parade in the city and now this decision! Rainbow flag unfurling finally.

Ayesha (name changed)
(An editor and mother of two)

I am smiling and crying at the same time and have no words at all. I need to compose myself right now. I choose not to disclose my identity even now because, society is yet to open its arms to this decision. However, soon I too will enjoy the freedom of walking with ‘pride’ with my own identity as a lesbian.