Karnataka - Mysore   

`Sexuality minorities' take out rally against `discrimination'

Special Correspondent

They demand equal opportunities in all fields

MYSORE: Nearly 300 people who described themselves as "sexuality minorities" organised a rally under the banner of Sangama here on Saturday against what they called "discrimination" they were facing.

The rally was taken out as part of International Human Rights Day and they highlighted the "discrimination" they were facing because of their gender identity. They demanded that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code be repealed. The section, they said, criminalised them and gays by terming their sexuality "against the order of nature".

"The law was introduced in India in 1860 by the British and though it has been revoked in that country many decades ago, it continues to be in force in the country. Coupled with this, we are subject to harassment, torture and extortion by the police and anti-social elements," according to members of Sangama.

They were also discriminated against in terms of housing, employment, property, marriage, adoption, and insurance as the Indian law did not recognise heterosexuals. Hence, they were deprived of education, housing, health care, ration cards, passports, voters ID cards, etc. In addition, they faced rejection from their families some of whom resorted to unethical and outdated mode of treatments to "cure" them of their preferences, the members said. They called for redrafting the civil law to give them equal opportunities in all fields.

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