India woke up to equal rights yesterday morning. We all now have the constitutional right to love whoever we want. Section 377, the 158-year-old law used to harass the LGBTQ community, was scrapped by the Supreme Court in a landmark move and the rainbow colours were seen all over the country.
A panel of five judges, led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, made this historic judgment that will go a long way in stopping discrimination. The others on the bench were Justice RF Nariman, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Indu Malhotra. Each judge spoke powerful words about equality, respect, individuality, transformative constitutional and inclusiveness of a society.
Here are some of their inspirational quotes that we will remember whenever we look back at this day of pride.
1. “I am what I am. So take me as I am.”
2. “Homosexuals have the right to live with dignity. They must be able to live without stigma.”
3. “History owes an apology to members of the community for the delay in ensuring their rights.”
4. “Look for the rainbow in every crowd.”
5. “LGBT Community has same rights as of any ordinary citizen. Respect for each other’s rights and others are supreme humanity. Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible.”
6. “Section 377 is irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary.”
7. “Homosexuality is not considered to be a mental illness.”
8. “Persons who are homosexual have a fundamental right to live with dignity.”
9. “Constitutional morality requires this court not to turn a blind eye to their right to an equal participation of citizenship and an equal enjoyment of living.”
10. “Sexual and gender-based minorities cannot live in fear.”
11. “150 years is too long a period for the LGBT community to suffer the indignities of denial.”
12. “The LGBT persons deserve to live a life unshackled from the shadow of being ‘unapprehended felons’.”
Love is not a crime. Let’s hope that the discrimination ends with this historic move and they enjoy the inclusiveness of the society that we take for granted.
Image Source: Shutterstock
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