Eradicate Section 377, Says Nandita Das,Apurva Asrani, Onir

Nandita Das(Actress, Activist): “When will we grow up as a society and embrace reality with compassion and understanding and not with prejudice and judgement? The archaic law that criminalises homosexuality is shameful. The impending decriminalisation of homosexuality by repealing section 377 is imperative. It is long overdue. In times when we should be fighting hate — stopping lynchings, abuse and discrimination against absolutely anyone– it is shocking that some want to stop people from loving. Freedom to live and love with dignity ought to be for all.”

Onir(filmmaker): “Long overdue … though it would have been so much better if the government had supported the petition. But the fact that the Government is not opposing it is heartening.I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will do the right and make this nation a truly democratic nation which upholds the constitutional rights of all citizens irrespective of sexual preferences of consenting adults. This would be a step forward towards further ensuring the civil rights of the community. Much respect for all those who have been for years tirelessly working for this.

Apurva Asrani(writer, director-editor): “About time India left the company of countries like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan that criminalises same-sex relations and joined the ranks of developed nations such as the US, UK & Australia that value human rights. A sizeable number of Indian citizens belong to the LGBTQ community deserve a life of dignity and respect, just like everyone else. After the travesty of justice in the SC 2013 hearing, where homosexuality was re-criminalised, many of us felt let down, but it also had a galvanising effect. The highest court called the LGBTQ a ‘minuscule minority’ while stripping it of any deserved recognition. That’s when many of us decided to come out publicly and show the country that we are anything but a negligible minority.

I have a good feeling that we will win this case. And I hope more people from the film industry will then find the courage to come out and empower the people who look up to them.”