Mizoram NGOs to 'cleanse' society of homosexuals

At a time when LGBTs are getting acceptance in India, several NGOs in Mizoram have decided to launch a “cleansing” drive in the Mizo society against same-sex couples living in the state capital Aizawl and its suburbs.

The decision was taken earlier this week and would be implemented soon. Some of the most powerful civil society and students’ groups in the state — Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) and Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) — have come together to launch the anti-LGBT drive, where their volunteers would go door to door and identify LGBT community and try to “bring them back” to what these NGOs claim as “proper culture”.

“We believe in God. As per the teachings of Christianity, homosexuality is a wrongful deed. We want males to be like males and females to be like females. In society and family, they have distinctive roles. But of late, we have seen homosexuality increasing in the Mizo society and we are against it. We have passed a resolution against legalisation of same-sex marriage. Thus, we are very clear about our opposition to the idea. We will go ahead with the drive soon,” MZP president Lalhmachhuana told Deccan Herald over phone from Aizawl. The NGOs were planning to distribute leaflets and launch “awareness campaigns”. They will also rope in the church, which is very powerful in Mizoram. Church leaders, however, refrained from commenting on the issue.

In 2009, the Delhi High Court had decriminalised same-sex relationship. This led to widespread celebrations among LGBT community in the country. In 2013, after the Supreme Court criminalised homosexuality, protests were staged across the Northeast.
“More and more youths understand the LGBT issues now. But if a section of civil society is going to do this kind of policing, then it is an outright attack on the human rights,” said Indrajit Sinha, a youth activist.