India Adoption Closed to GLBT’s

In January, 2010, a committee appointed by the Bombay High Court to regulate adoption of Indian children by foreign nationals has prepared its draft guidelines that will determine when a single parent would be able to adopt, but not a same-sex couple. The guidelines, which have not yet been finalized, allow adoption of children by foreign parents between the ages of 30 and 55 years of age. Same-sex couples are expressly forbidden to adopt, but single parents (never married, widowed, or divorced) up to 45 years may adopt.

More at: Massachusetts GLBT Blog!

India’s PM Expected to Uphold Decriminalization

On July 3rd, India’s High Court ruled to decriminalize homosexuality, and according to a new report, India’s government is set to accept that landmark court ruling.

The verdict handed down by the Delhi High Court was non-binding outside the Indian capital, which means India’s government had the option of appealing the ruling.

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to make a final decision on the ruling later this week, but according to CNN-IBN, he is in favor upholding the court’s decision.

Under a law enacted by British colonial rulers in 1860, homosexuality was made illegal in India and conviction carried a sentence of a fine and up to 10-years in prison.

Some religious groups have challenged the court’s decision and are looking to present their cases against homosexuality to the Supreme Court later this month.

India Refuses to Put Decriminalization of Gays on Hold

India’s Supreme Court has refused to put on hold a landmark court judgment decriminalizing gay sex in the country. The court said the Delhi high court ruling had no “penal consequences”, and asked the government to make clear its views on the issue within two months.

The 3 July ruling faces two challenges by people who want to have the 148-year-old, colonial-era law reinstated.

India’s gay community and human rights activists welcomed the ruling, but it was opposed by religious leaders. The high court ruling has been challenged by an astrologer and a yoga guru.

You can read more at: Gay News Blog

India Decriminalizes Homosexuality

Earlier today, Justice S. Muralidhar of the New Delhi High Court struck down the law in India that made consensual homosexual sex a crime.  The decriminalization of homosexuality in India was a bold move in the conservative nation, but it has liberated millions of LGBT Indians and is a huge shift in the movement  for LGBT rights in developing countries.

Justice S. Muralidhar wrote:

“This Court believes that Indian Constitution reflects this value deeply ingrained in Indian society. Those perceived by the majority as deviants or ‘different’ are not on that score excluded or ostracized. Where society can display inclusiveness and understanding, such persons can be assured of a life of dignity and nondiscrimination.”

Conservative religious groups have been quick to criticize the ruling, stating “homosexual behavior” violates the laws of all faiths and Indian cultural norms.

But the criticisms didn’t bother the country’s LGBT activists, as the celebrated with tears as they embraced each other in the courtroom after the judge read the key section of the ruling  which made it clear that consensual sex between people over 18 could no longer be prosecuted as a crime.

Denounced Gay Prince Opens Brazilian Gay Pride

From Pink News:

An Indian prince who had been disowned by his family because of his sexuality inaugurated the Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, earlier this month.

Prince Manvendrasinh Gohil, who is from Rajpipla in Gujarat, was the only Indian person to have been formally invited to this year’s event.

“Every person present in the crowd was cheering for India the moment they saw me. It was a very special moment for me. People there are curious to know more about India,” said Gohil.

The Sao Paulo Pride was held from June 10th -14th and attracted over three million people.

“It was unbelievable to see such a huge gathering,” Gohil told the Indian newspaper DNA. “And the parade was not the only thing. I inaugurated an office, an art exhibition and even released a book on homosexuality authored by the mother of a gay son. I was even made to dance with Samba dancers. The experience was terrific.”

The 43-year-old prince was denounced in 2006 after publicly announcing his sexuality. Consequently, all his rights as the son and heir to the Rajpipla fortune have been revoked.

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