Sunday, August 10, 2008

Open Letter Against Section 377

" Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is cited below:

'377. Unnatural Offences.Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.'

The law penalizes certain sexual acts equally. For example oral sex, regardless of whether it is heterosexual or homosexual; even penile-masturbation of one person by another – is considered criminal. Although facially neutral, the law has effectively stigmatized and criminalized a section more than others, namely same-sex desiring people, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), hijra, kothi and other Queer people. The law has been used by the police to intimidate same sex desiring people and has been a source of serious human rights violations."

-- Voices Against 377

Please click on the following link and sign the petition!

http://p2.voicesagainst377.org/

Directions: click on "many more" (in red) and scroll down to "Click here to sign the open letter". Please enter your email address to ensure the electronic signature works!