SC Verdict on Gay Sex: Celebs celebrate death of Section 377, say ‘proud moment for India’

Bollywood celebrities, including Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Karan Johar and Hansal Mehta, hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment on Thursday decriminalising consensual gay sex, as a historic victory for equal rights and a proud moment for India.

After 71 long years, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by Dipak Misra unanimously decriminalised part of the 158-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex. They struck down Section 377 as being against equal rights to all.

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“Historical judgment!!!! So proud today! Decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing #Section377 is a huge thumbs up for humanity and equal rights! The country gets its oxygen back,” filmmaker Karan Johar wrote on Twitter.

Historical judgment!!!! So proud today! Decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing #Section377 is a huge thumbs up for humanity and equal rights! The country gets its oxygen back! 👍👍👍💪💪💪🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/ZOXwKmKDp5

— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) September 6, 2018

Welcoming the same, director Hansal Mehta, who made Aligarh, based on a true-life story about Aligarh Muslim University professor Ramchandra Siras, who faced discrimination for being gay, called the verdict a “new beginning”.

“A new beginning. The law is gone. The Supreme Court has done what Parliament failed to do. Now it’s time for attitudes to change. Let’s rejoice but let us also reflect. This is a new beginning. #Sec377verdict,” he tweeted.

A new beginning. The law is gone. The Supreme Court has done what parliament failed to do. Now it’s time for attitudes to change. Let’s rejoice but let us also reflect. This is a new beginning. #Sec377verdict https://t.co/2HQqIY7vUB

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) September 6, 2018

“Aligarh” scriptwriter Apurva Asrani also took to Twitter, saying the voice of the community can no longer be suppressed.

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“At the stroke of the mid-day hour, as the conscience of many slept, India’s LGBTQ awoke to light & freedom. This moment came 71 years too late history, 71 yrs after our brethren attained freedom; but the soul of a community, long suppressed, has found utterance. Congratulations!,” Asrani said.

At the stroke of the mid-day hour, as the conscience of many slept, India’s LGBTQ awoke to light & freedom. This moment came 71 years too late history, 71 yrs after our brethren attained freedom; but the soul of a community, long suppressed, has found utterance. Congratulations!

— Apurva Asrani (@Apurvasrani) September 6, 2018

Supporting the LGBTQI community, actor Sonam Kapoor said, “One day there won’t be any labels and we will all live in utopia”.

Other actors also celebrated the death of Section 377 and expressed their views on Twitter:

Actor Kalki Koechlin: “So happy today, thank goodness for the rainbow (and all the lawyers that helped put it there!).”

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Farhan Akhtar: “Bye bye 377. Thank you #SupremeCourt #abouttime #nomorediscrimination #loveislove @MardOfficial.”

Actor Arjun Kapoor:” Sanity prevails for once we can believe we have some sensible decision makers and lawmakers available to this generation. #Section377 gone with the wind.”

Actor Swara Bhaskar: “Yayeee!! Good on you Hon’be #SupremeCourt & thank you! I hope the citizens of #India are listening! Majoritarian views and popular morality cannot dictate constitutional rights. We have to vanquish prejudice, embrace inclusion and ensure equal rights.”

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana: “The new sunshine of this day is that of a progressive India. Love all!.”