From Celina to Raveena: Bollywood comes out in support of gay rights

The Supreme Court’s decision to refer the curative petition on article 377, which seeks to legalise gay sex, to the five-judge bench, has opened a window of hope for many in the country. Several gay rights activists have been a part of the 15-year-long battle aimed at getting rid of the archaic law that deems homosexuality a crime.

Read: Section 377 traumatises and abuses LGBTs in India: Celina Jaitly

And Bollywood celebrities are all in support of the law being changed in favour of homosexuals. Filmmaker Onir, who is among the few openly gay directors in Bollywood, says, “Now hopefully the five-judge constitution bench will take the decision in our favour. And this law should have been scrapped the day the Britishers left India. So hopefully, the 2009 verdict of the Delhi Court, that decriminalised gay sex among consenting adults, will be back soon.”

Delhi-based fashion designer Suneet Varma, who who is married to partner Rahul Arora, says, “I am hopeful and positive that the five-judge constitution bench will scrap section 377 and make this country a better place for us to live.”

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National Award-winning filmmaker Apurva Asrani, who has also edited Hansal Mehta’s next, that is based on the life of a gay man, says, “The Supreme Court has allowed itself a chance to redeem itself from a blemish on its otherwise spotless image.” Actor Raveena Tandon adds, “This (homosexuality) has been accepted even in our Hindu scriptures. I stand by my gay friends.” Actor Celina Jaitley, who is now a gay rights activist, says, “Today’s decision is a great step. However, I think a disparity that can easily be addressed by amending the Indian Penal Code shouldn’t have to be a 15-year-long struggle!”

Read: I’m a criminal, I’ve had oral sex: Hansal Mehta

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