Introduction – Tree on Section 377 IPC (LGBTI)
A group of 850 members gathered around 23 locations in Karnataka on 11 April, 2014 with our partner organizations . This was the day 11th December when the Supreme Court of India passed a judgment concluding that Section 377 is constitutionally valid. Vikram Seth eloquently describes it as a bad day for Law and Love. Sexual Minorities and supporters gathered around different Trees in 23 locations in the shades of criminality, forbidden love to deeply listen to each other, to narratives of human suffering, violence, assault, discrimination etc., The gathering read out the letters written to the Supreme Court.
The voices of survivors of violence and of resistors were listened to deeply and a play was performed on Forced Marriage, songs of resistance was sung all through the evening; and several questioned the universality of human rights discourse.
Section 377
"Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.