Amid India’s Independence day celebrations as a country, it’s LGBTQ+ community geared up to celebrate its first official Independence Day.
What We Know:
- Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code previously criminalized homosexual acts between consensual adults that were deemed “unnatural” or those that were against “the order of nature.”
- In July of 2018, a five-judge bench of India’s Supreme Court began hearing petitions by those against Section 377. On September 6, 2018, it was thrown out and deemed unjustifiable and earlier based on personal choice.
- India has endured a long history of violence and discrimination when it comes to their LGBTQ community.
- The film showcasing India’s own National Anthem was curated by Humsafar Trust–one of Asia’s first organizations that devoted themselves to fighting for equality. It featured LGBTQ advocates and activists vital to the movement.
The video is a beautiful introduction to India’s LGBTQ Pride community and was a great way to culminate it’s first year of independence.
