<p>“It has been a long and arduous legal battle lasting over ten years. Thanks to the progressive and reformist approach by Chief Justice A P Shah, and Justice S Muralidhar, this has now become the law of the land and henceforward will apply to the entire country,” </p>.<p>said Venkatesh, one of the lawyers who has worked tirelessly for the cause offering free legal advice and services.<br /><br />His mood was echoed by the celebrating members of the community and their supporters who could barely conceal their joy and delight that the outdated 19th century Victorian law had finally been repealed. <br /><br />“The old law was draconian and used as an instrument of terror under which one could be imprisoned for life. We still have an uphill battle to try and change social mindsets and stigmas but at the end of the day, constitutional morality triumphs over public morality and we cannot be locked away for someone’s personal beliefs,” said Siddharth Narrain, a gay rights activist and advocate. <br /><br />Sumathi, a counsellor with Sangama could barely conceal her joy, cheering loudly with her friends and colleagues as the judgement was read aloud at the celebrations. “Thank god, we still have a judiciary that is fair and progressive and is determined to set India on the road to building an inclusive society,” she smiles.<br /><br />Sangama declared a staff holiday and along with over 200 members of different sexual minorities rights groups in the City danced, sang and partied the evening away. While the battle has been won and the war had just begun, nothing could dampen the mood and enthusiasm of the gathering, not even the threat of religious groups and conservative political leaders, like Singhal threatening to appeal against the judgement in the Supreme Court. “There are fringe groups like JACK (Joint Action Council Kannur), who delink HIV from AIDS and others who have been working against us but this is a great victory vindicating and empowering us at many levels,” added Siddharth.<br /></p>
<p>“It has been a long and arduous legal battle lasting over ten years. Thanks to the progressive and reformist approach by Chief Justice A P Shah, and Justice S Muralidhar, this has now become the law of the land and henceforward will apply to the entire country,” </p>.<p>said Venkatesh, one of the lawyers who has worked tirelessly for the cause offering free legal advice and services.<br /><br />His mood was echoed by the celebrating members of the community and their supporters who could barely conceal their joy and delight that the outdated 19th century Victorian law had finally been repealed. <br /><br />“The old law was draconian and used as an instrument of terror under which one could be imprisoned for life. We still have an uphill battle to try and change social mindsets and stigmas but at the end of the day, constitutional morality triumphs over public morality and we cannot be locked away for someone’s personal beliefs,” said Siddharth Narrain, a gay rights activist and advocate. <br /><br />Sumathi, a counsellor with Sangama could barely conceal her joy, cheering loudly with her friends and colleagues as the judgement was read aloud at the celebrations. “Thank god, we still have a judiciary that is fair and progressive and is determined to set India on the road to building an inclusive society,” she smiles.<br /><br />Sangama declared a staff holiday and along with over 200 members of different sexual minorities rights groups in the City danced, sang and partied the evening away. While the battle has been won and the war had just begun, nothing could dampen the mood and enthusiasm of the gathering, not even the threat of religious groups and conservative political leaders, like Singhal threatening to appeal against the judgement in the Supreme Court. “There are fringe groups like JACK (Joint Action Council Kannur), who delink HIV from AIDS and others who have been working against us but this is a great victory vindicating and empowering us at many levels,” added Siddharth.<br /></p>
