Press-Release: Stop Bulldozing Uniform Civil Code Till Same-sex Marriage Issue is Debated In & Outside Parliament

The future of one hundred million LGBTQIA Indians is at stake. For the last seventy five years the Indian Parliament has evaded – nay stonewalled – debate on LGBTQIA marriage and the consequent benefits to same-sex couples it entails. True, the Supreme Court is to pronounce its judgement on the issue anytime soon but it can only give a declaration which per se will not change the ground conditions. During the course of hearings the Solicitor General of India had requested the five judge constitution bench ‘to let Parliament legislate.’ So be it.

 

Since efforts are afoot towards reformation of Uniform Civil Code, this is the time for LGBTQIA marriage issue to be discussed, debated and decided upon. The issue of same-sex marriage will have ramifications extending to all personal (religious) laws directly or even if Special Marriage Act is invoked by same-sex couples. So it makes sense to address the issue affecting one hundred million LGBTQIA community and then proceed on to tackle the vexed issue of UCC.

 

It would be in the fitness of things if the Law Commission of India and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice suspend their efforts at enlisting views of stake holders. These two bodies can restart their work after Parliament decides upon same-sex marriage. Else it would be difficult for LGBTQIA community to trust its Parliament; and yes, the support of over 90% of Indians belonging to the non-LGBTQIA population would be welcome.

 

AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan Collective

Blog: http://aidsbhedbhavvirodhiandolan.blogspot.com/

Email: aidsbhedbhavvirodhiandolan@gmail.com

Bulldozing Uniform Civil Code – Sans Inclusion of Hundred Million LGBTQIA Indians

The present political dispensation ruling India is working overtime to wreak havoc with personal laws of religious minorities. Brute majority in Parliament will be used to crush aspirations of even the newly accepted and recognized minority community – to wit the sexual/sexuality minorities numbering up to hundred million as per Supreme Court judgement of 2018 in the case of Navtej Singh Johar & others Versus Union of India.

 

It is no coincidence that the emergence of Indian gay issues in 1991 was followed by the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 accompanied by pan India anti-Muslim violence. Again, the sustained campaign for ‘Gay Manifesto, 1991’ – with the issue of same-sex marriage reaching a critical point – is being scuttled by forcing a ‘modern Uniform Civil Code.’ Two birds are being killed with one stone.

 

Both the religious minorities and the sexual/sexuality minorities should join hands to resist this move and press for a democratic and all inclusive Uniform Civil Code. As in India, neighbouring Nepal has faced a clamour and campaign for a Hindu Rashtra. With the arrival of Maoists and Naxalites in power in Nepal since 2006 the cacophony for a Hindu Rashtra has been sidelined and gay rights have been included in the newly drafted Constitution of Nepal. Are rulers in India listening?