‘Dump anti-gay law’

NEW DELHI: Leading Indian writers, artists, lawyers and academics led by author Vikram Seth have written an open letter urging the government to overturn a British colonial era law that criminalises homosexuality.

Condemning Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code as an attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms, it calls for the “archaic and brutal law” to be struck down. The law, formulated in 1861, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail for engaging in gay sex.

“It has been used to persecute, blackmail, arrest and terrorise sexual minorities,” said the letter, released in New Delhi on Saturday. "It has spawned public intolerance and abuse, forcing millions of gay and bisexual people to live in fear and secrecy." Section 377 is often misused by police looking for a quick bribe from men whom they catch cosying up in parks or lanes.

“It is disgraceful that Section 377 has been used by officials to suppress the legitimate work of HIV-prevention groups, leaving gay and bisexual men defenceless against HIV,” Seth’s letter said.

Other signatories include author Arundhati Roy, former UN Under-Secretary General Nitin Desai, Bollywood actors, human rights lawyers, journalists, academics and filmmakers. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, in a separate letter of support, called the law a “monstrosity”.