Kerala’s Catholic church to oppose legalizing of gay sex
July 2nd, 2009 - 3:01 pm ICT by IANSThiruvananthapuram, July 2 (IANS) The Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference (KCBC) Thursday said it will oppose legalization of gay sex after the Delhi High Court struck down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that termed homosexuality a criminal act.
KCBC spokesperson Father Stephen Alathara said: “This (homosexuality) is against the Indian culture. We will oppose it and since our country is a democratic one, there is no way that this can be legalised through legislation. The church’s views will have to be sought.”
The Delhi High Court Thursday struck down section 377. The judgement means that police will no longer be able to intrude upon or arrest adult homosexuals having consensual sex.
S.K. Harikumar, senior national consultant in behaviour and sexual health, told IANS: “What many fail to understand is that the prevalence of HIV among MSMs (male having sex with male) is very high and hence medical interventions have to be made. Once this becomes legalised, then intervention can become easy.”
Harikumar, who has worked extensively among gays in the state, estimates that there are more than 45,000 homosexuals in Kerala.
“Today the view on homosexuality is that it is not just a sexual act, but one which is emotionally satisfying. With this (judgement) homosexuals can come out in the open without the fear of being harassed,” he added.
- Apex court assails state's neutrality on gay sex - Feb 29, 2012
- Delhi's gay community set to celebrate July 2 ruling - Jul 01, 2011
- Activists slam government's stand on gay sex - Feb 23, 2012
- Apex court raps government for flip-flop on homosexuality (Lead) - Feb 28, 2012
- From closet to freedom for India's gays, two years on - Jul 01, 2011
- Gay sex is no crime, says court, religious leaders protest (Roundup) - Jul 02, 2009
- Supreme Court dismisses plea to hear armed forces on homosexuality - Feb 07, 2011
- A long way to go, cheer Delhi's gays - Jul 02, 2011
- Only Rights Can Stop The Wrongs - Jul 20, 2010
- Homosexuality, lesbian relationships unnatural, SC told (Lead) - Feb 15, 2012
- Supreme Court defers hearing on decriminalisation of gay sex - Apr 19, 2011
- Delhi's gays set for celebrate July 2 - Jun 17, 2011
- Don't decriminalise gay sex: Home ministry - Feb 23, 2012
- Gay sex legal, says Delhi High Court (Lead) - Jul 02, 2009
- Gay sex legalised in India, religious leaders protest (Second Lead) - Jul 02, 2009
Tags: adult homosexuals, catholic bishops conference, catholic church, criminal act, delhi high court, gay sex, having sex, indian culture, indian penal code, ipc, judgement, kcbc, kerala, medical interventions, national consultant, prevalence of hiv, section 377, sexual act, sexual health, spokesperson