Bollywood Tackles LGBT Rights

categories: Decriminalizing Homosexuality, International Gay Rights, LGBT Celebrities, LGBT Entertainment

Published August 05, 2009 @ 07:10AM PT

Bollywood LGBT rights

Last month, the Delhi High Court in India threw out Section 377, a statute in India's penal codes that criminalized homosexuality. The decision was roundly celebrated by LGBT rights activists and public health activists. (And roundly criticized by opponents of LGBT rights, and conservative religious sects.)

In the wake of that decision, Bollywood has been outspoken in its support for LGBT rights, and overthrowing the statute that up until last month, criminalized homosexuality for India's roughly 70 million LGBT folks. To be sure, the status of Section 377 is still in a bit of limbo. The Supreme Court of India has asked the government to weigh in on the matter, and up until now the government has remained largely silent.

But Bollywood has not been quiet in their support. A well known Indian court drama, "Yeh Chanda Kanoon Hai," is going to feature an episode focusing on LGBT rights, and a number of high profile celebrities have come out in support of the Delhi High Court's decision, and have urged Indian authorities to enact a full repeal of Section 377 across the country. Here are a few of our favorite Bollywood quotes on Section 377:

Celina Jaitley: "It's a turning point in the history of human rights in the world's largest democracy. It's also a personal victory for me since I've been fighting for gay rights. Now they can walk with their heads held high. This is a new beginning."

Mahesh Bhatt: "This is a defining moment in the history of free India. No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only ‘queer’ people are those who propagate hate."

Upen Patal: "I think it's a great move forward by the government and for Indian society. Everyone should have the right to choose whom they want to be without the fear of being labeled a criminal."

And those are just a select few. To see scores more quotes from Bollywood, click here.

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Comments (2)

The Indian government must fully repeal the intolerant law which criminalized homosexuality. Bollywood is doing good by supporting LGBT rights with the movie "Yeh Chanda Kanoon Hai". Upen Patal summarizes it correctly by saying that the government must not oppress people because of whom they love. India's government, by remaining silent, has shown cowardice, but it still means that the India's government must fully repeal the law which criminalized homosexuality.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/05/2009 @ 08:51AM PT
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Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.

Optimus prime said that and its been one of my guiding mottos for years...

Im glad to see that prejudice and intollerance is slowly but surly being squished out of existance.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/06/2009 @ 01:31AM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.