Well it’s about damn time!
Possibly the world’s longest-running gay rights battle has now been won, as the nation of India on Thursday morning officially decriminalized gay sex throughout the country. YES!!!!!
Related: Disney Alum Garrett Clayton Comes Out As Gay
The Supreme Court of India had been hearing testimony since July on a 157-year-old colonial-era law called Section 377, which forbid any sexual activity other than heterosexual sex as being “against the order of nature.”
That law is history now, though, as the five-judge panel on the country’s highest court delivered A UNANIMOUS VERDICT through four concurrent judgments about how Section 377 was arbitrary, and prevented equal rights for those in the LGBT community.
As you might expect, celebrations have erupted all over India — both in the streets, and on social media (below):
Celebrations in the lobby of the The LaLit Hotel in Delhi. #section377 verdict. Keshav Suri, son of late hotel magnate Lalit Suri and Executive Director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group that owns the LaLit chain of hotels is a #LGBTQ activist. pic.twitter.com/cECtp6D2Eu
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) September 6, 2018
WATCHING THE NEWS RIGHT NOW AND EVERYONE IS HUGGING AND HAPPY-CRYING AND CELEBRATING! THIS IS WHAT THE NEWS SHOULD LOOK LIKE ALL THE TIME #Section377Verdict
— Srishti (@srishtidixit) September 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/fayedsouza/status/1037559682326581248
Supreme Court verdict on #Section377 is momentous.
An age-old colonial law, that was an anachronism in today’s modern times, ends restoring the fundamental rights & negating discrimination based on sexual orientation. It’s an imp step forward towards a liberal, tolerant society.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 6, 2018
Today is a landmark day and India is one step closer to being a more equal and colourful country. ????????????????????❤️ pic.twitter.com/0nS2KNtUv4
— dialogue (@dialogue) September 6, 2018
????????????????????????LOVE FOR ALL ???????????????? ????????#Section377 #377Verdict
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) September 6, 2018
Once again, Supreme Court treads where few politicians have dared. Congratulations & a big thank you to all the activists who stood up to be counted #Section377 pic.twitter.com/ECD9d2YMOp
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) September 6, 2018
Amazing!!
And so great that India finally took the long-overdue step of making this right!!
Such great news today!!!
[Image via WENN.]