Society’s not in a gay mood
Homosexuality is an unnatural tendency which must be dealt with through compassion and counselling. They must move ahead with the hope of liberating themselves
DOMINIC EMMANUEL


The Naaz Foundation which had challenged the Constitutional validity of IPC 377 in the Delhi High Court in 2001, received a setback when the High Court rejected its plea two weeks ago. With the way the homosexual community has launched its recent campaign, notwithstanding what the larger society thinks of the issue, the Naaz Foundation is certain to knock the doors of the Supreme Court to redress, what according to them, is a denial of the fundamental right of an individual to choose one’s sexual behaviour.

The IPC Section 377 holds, ‘‘Whosoever has carnal intercourse voluntarily against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall be liable to fine’’. The petition claimed that these unnatural acts were not so unnatural going by the socio-scientific evidence. In a rather hushed tone the PIL adds, ‘‘due to fear of police action, consenting adult males having sexual relations were not coming forward to disclose their problems, even though they were more prone to HIV infection’’.

There is no evidence to suggest that the HC acted under any societal pressure as the issue of homosexual and lesbian relationships was under the spotlight for weeks following the murder of Pushkin and Kuldeep last month in one of Delhi’s elite colonies. The HC judgment has poured cold water on all the superficial arguments offered in favour of homosexuality and it is surprising to note that very little, if anything was written or discussed in the media on the HC judgement. Society at large has no doubt welcomed the stand of the HC as the government too had argued against the PIL saying, ‘‘the society disapproves of such behaviour’’.


One of the institutions under attack for opposing homosexuality is the Catholic Church which itself has been facing an embarrassing situation with new revelations of a small number of its priests caught in the mess. Several dioceses in the US have gone bankrupt by paying huge compensations to the victims of child or homosexual abuse. If the Church were ‘‘worldly wise’’, it would have promoted legalisation of gay marriages or at least closed its eyes to it. But the Church is never for ‘‘quick fix’’ and always weighs its stand in relation to the natural law as ordained by God. As Archbishop Vincent M Concessao of Delhi says, ‘‘Just because some people have no problem in killing others or in being corrupt to the core or wishing to legalise sati, should these things be allowed in society and should the Church be criticised for opposing them?’





READ: Ashok Row Kavi's
chair-person
Humsafar Trust , India
RESPONSE TO ARTICLE "Society's not in a gay mood"
From: lgbt-india

Sir,

It is distressing to read Dominic Emmanuel's ridiculous homophobic article dripping with self-righteous superciliousness laced with camoflaged Christian compassion for his homosexual fellow creatures.


Firstly, the Naz Petition was dismissed on technical grounds and the allegedly learned judges did not even hear out the arguments asked for from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and the Union Health Ministry as requested for by the previous bench hearing the petition.


~

Have the police overcome gay prejudice?
By Tom Geoghegan
BBC News Online Magazine


All new applicants to police forces in England and Wales are now given the option to declare their sexuality, in a move welcomed by gay campaign groups. Does this mean the police has finally overcome prejudice?

The profile of gay police officers has been raised in recent years. Dozens dressed in uniform to take part in Gay Pride parades around the UK.

And the most senior openly gay officer, Brian Paddick, has risen through the ranks of the Met Police to Deputy Assistant Commissioner, despite the perception he was at times treated unfairly.

Now the force is getting plaudits from gay campaign groups for introducing a change to the anonymous equal opportunities section of the police application form.


~

Gay couples to be given right to adopt


MADRID - Gay couples will be given the right to adopt children in a new draft bill to be presented Friday by Spain's Socialist government, it was reported.

The Spanish daily El Pais reported Thursday the new law would guarantee married gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples as far as divorce, alimony or child support payments, inheritance, citizenship and adoption.

The left-leaning daily, which said it had obtained a copy of the draft law, added same-sex couples would only be allowed to adopt Spanish children to avoid any legal wrangles with other countries.

The new law is to go into effect next year and will make Spain the third country in Europe to authorize gay marriages after The Netherlands and Belgium.


~

Mexico May OK Conjugal Visits for Gays
A new anti-discrimination rule could permit conjugal visits for gay inmates in Mexico City prisons, a city official said.

 
The city's secretary of government, Alejandro Encinas, told the newspaper Reforma for its Wednesday edition that under the regulation published Tuesday, requests by gay inmates for "intimate visits" would have to be considered, although no such requests have yet been made.
 
"We would be obliged to analyze it (a request) and we would have to find sufficient, necessary legal support to accept it," Encinas said. A representative of Encinas' office confirmed Encinas' comments.
 
As in many Latin American nations, Mexico permits conjugal visits for some inmates. Encinas noted that the rules require "a permanent, stable relationship" _ though not necessarily marriage _ between those granted the privilege.


~

For mainland gays, Waikiki attacks are lead news


The lead story on the gay Web site 365gay.com Wednesday night was an account of tourists beaten in Waikiki, apparently over their sexual orientation.

The attention being paid to these episodes, which appeared fairly high on a daily Google search for the word "Hawaii" in news stories around the world, shows how crime in Hawaii, which is actually lower than on the mainland, can nonetheless have a chilling effect on tourism because it can change the way people think of the islands.

Pamela Disel of Oklahoma City was punched in the face -- 365gay.com put a thumbnail photo right next to its headline. Earlier in the month, Tim Noreuil of Missouri, who owns a condo here, suffered dozens of facial fractures when he was attacked from behind. Both attacks took place near Hula's Bar and Lei Stand, which 365gay.com described as "one of Honolulu's most famous gay clubs."

While Hawaii tourism executives have not focused much on targeting homosexual consumers in vacation marketing, it is known that such consumers, who are statistically more likely to be affluent enough to make frequent visits and invest in condos, have long felt comfortable with the spirit of tolerance inherent in Hawaii's collective culture.


~

Guilty In Gay Rabbi Murder
by Peter Moore
365Gay.com Newscenter 
London Bureau


(London) A man described as a "psychopath" who strangled and then dismembered and dumped the body of a gay rabbi in London has been found guilty of murder.

Andreas Hinz, who was nearing the completion of his studies to be a rabbi was murdered in July 2002. Hinz, who was brought up in Germany and never knew he was Jewish until he was an adult embraced Judaism and had moved to England to become a Liberal rabbi.

He was open about his sexuality and often frequented gay clubs in London.

The murder was discovered when workmen complained of a foul smell coming from a garbage bin.  Inside the bin they found Hinz's head and limbs.


~

Sprint To Offer Domestic Partner Benefits
by The Associated Press


(Kansas City, Missouri)  Sprint Corp. will extend health insurance and other employee benefits to domestic partners beginning in 2005.

The Overland Park, Kan.-based telecommunications company, with 61,000 employees nationwide, disclosed the program to employees this week as part of a regular review of changes to benefits for next year. The expanded coverage would take effect Jan. 1.