Section 377 judgment offers lessons on how to use Constitution to build coalitions, bring change | The Indian Express

Section 377 judgment offers lessons on how to use Constitution to build coalitions, bring change | The Indian Express

Written by Dr Menaka Guruswamy |Updated: September 6, 2019 11:07:59 am

Dr Menaka Guruswamy practices law before the Supreme Court of India and tweets @MenakaGuruswamy

Section 377 judgment offers lessons on how to use Constitution to build coalitions, bring change

The fraying of social fabric and the normalisation of discrimination in present day India, batters constitutional values of fraternity, equality and dignity. This leads to a weakening of the Constitution itself.

It is also time for movements working on gender, caste and labour issues to embrace their LGBT brethren within and outside.

This day, one year ago, the Supreme Court in their judgment in Navtej Singh Johar held that LGBT Indians would be protected by constitutional values of equality, non-discrimination, dignity, expression, life and liberty. The Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 or the unnatural sexual offences penal provision. Today, as we celebrate a year of freedom for queer India, we must also look to our Constitution and its values that fuelled the court battle and enabled this victory.