SHILLONG: The ‘gay’ community in Shillong on Friday welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court scrapping controversial Section 377 through a street celebration at Don Bosco square point.
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday had scrapped the Section 377- a 158-year-old colonial law on consensual gay sex.
In order to celebrate this day, the struggles and discrimination our queer community has faced in the past and at present , many people from the LGBT joined the street celebration with placards , music and some dance.
The community which participated in the celebration, wanted to hold the celebration in Khyndailad but the permission was denied and hence the celebration was shifted to Don Bosco square where people from the community with placards like “ Raise Boys and Girls the same way” , “New Day for a New life with a new hope,” Protect Gay Teens” hailed the verdict of the Court.
Speaking to media persons, Jannet Massar said that they were proud of the verdict of the Apex Court and it is a big step for queer liberation
“Now we can work further to protect the queer community and our children from bullying even as Massar added that queer community have suffered enough from violence and fear of criminalisation
Dona Marwein also said that the Supreme Court had chosen humanity and equal rights and removed the outdated law
“ We want everyone to know we exist in Shillong and they should not be afraid to come out in open and face the world,” Massar said.
Noted Film Director and Thma U Rangli (TUR) member, Tarun Bhartiya also hailed the judges of the Supreme Court for their statement that majority’s view point can be the basis of law.
“The important point is not only about section 377 but how you treat other minorities and whether you want to turn the country into a Hindu nation or whether you can use fundamental religious practices to discriminate against people,” he said
He also said that the battle was not yet over with the verdict and ‘now the mindset of the people has to be changed and it is changing’.
