Acceptance of Homosexuality

For centuries being a homosexual in Pakistan and India has been a taboo and considered a curse. For most men and women it can mean a lifetime of ridicule and persecution for showing even a slight interest in members of the same sex. With homosexuality classed as illegal under an outdated 141-year-old law that prohibits “unnatural” sexual acts, resulting in a punishable offence, it has become virtually impossible for most Pakistani and Indian homosexuals to be completely open about their sexuality.

At one end it makes you feel happy knowing that there are people who will leave no-stone unturned to achieve what they truly believe is their right, but then on the other hand it makes you miserable and angry on again realizing the fact that our lives revolves so much around the “do’s & don’ts” of the society. A society that will go to any extent to demoralize and ridicule people who do not live up to their society’s set of rules and demands.

Whenever, there is a talk of making a law of homosexual marriages, our society and all anti-gay organizations take the plea of our religions which prohibits such relations. One can invite a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and fine for themselves if they want to fight this matter. This they do with an intention to suspend the matter and have been very successful at it. If one believes that religion is a personal matter, then why can’t one’s sexuality be a personal matter as well? Yes, our religions don’t accept these kinds of relationships but one who does not practice religion will not care about it. It’s a personal choice of every human being to be whatever they want or whatever religion they want to practice, so let it be.

Gays. Lesbians. Bisexuals. Tans-gender individuals have no rights to marry, adopt children or even protest against discrimination at the workplace… in fact, no right to be recognized as normal human beings free to live life as billions of other do around the world. All because of sexual orientation. That is a fearful scepter indeed for our countries where more than 10 to 20 per cent of the population is comprised by Gay, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders. Should we continue to allow this inhuman reality?

I think it’s high time that the society starts concentrating its energies in the right direction; like tackling the ever-growing phenomenon of violence against women and children, create AIDS/HIV awareness, etc — and allow consenting adults to make their own choices about sexual behavior.

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