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India outrage over Goa minister's plan to 'cure' gays | India outrage over Goa minister's plan to 'cure' gays |
(less than a minute earlier) | |
There has been outrage in India after a minister in Goa said the state government was planning to set up centres to "cure" homosexuals. | There has been outrage in India after a minister in Goa said the state government was planning to set up centres to "cure" homosexuals. |
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said treatment would be offered to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to make them "normal". | Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said treatment would be offered to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to make them "normal". |
Many have taken to social networking sites to criticise Mr Tawadkar's "shocking statement". | Many have taken to social networking sites to criticise Mr Tawadkar's "shocking statement". |
India's treatment of homosexuals has been under the spotlight recently. | India's treatment of homosexuals has been under the spotlight recently. |
The Indian Supreme Court's 2013 decision to reverse a lower court order striking down a 153-year-old British colonial-era law criminalising homosexual acts caused global outrage with many describing it as "disgraceful". | The Indian Supreme Court's 2013 decision to reverse a lower court order striking down a 153-year-old British colonial-era law criminalising homosexual acts caused global outrage with many describing it as "disgraceful". |
According to Section 377 of the law, a same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offence" and punishable by a 10-year jail term. | According to Section 377 of the law, a same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offence" and punishable by a 10-year jail term. |
A BBC correspondent in Delhi says although the law has rarely - if ever - been used to prosecute anyone for consensual sex, it has often been used by the police to harass homosexuals. | A BBC correspondent in Delhi says although the law has rarely - if ever - been used to prosecute anyone for consensual sex, it has often been used by the police to harass homosexuals. |
Also, in deeply conservative India, homosexuality is a taboo and many people still regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate and our correspondent says Mr Tawadkar's comment is an endorsement of that conservative thought. | Also, in deeply conservative India, homosexuality is a taboo and many people still regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate and our correspondent says Mr Tawadkar's comment is an endorsement of that conservative thought. |
"We will make LGBT [lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender] youth normal. We will have a centre for them... like Alcoholics Anonymous centres. We will train them and give them medicines too," Mr Tawadkar said on Monday while discussing the Bharatiya Janata Party-run state government's policy report on youth. | "We will make LGBT [lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender] youth normal. We will have a centre for them... like Alcoholics Anonymous centres. We will train them and give them medicines too," Mr Tawadkar said on Monday while discussing the Bharatiya Janata Party-run state government's policy report on youth. |
"As in the case of other target groups such as juvenile offenders, drug afflicted youth, marginalised or migrant youth, geographically disadvantaged youth, a detailed survey would be carried out of the LGBT community so that their problems could be specifically addressed," the minister added. | "As in the case of other target groups such as juvenile offenders, drug afflicted youth, marginalised or migrant youth, geographically disadvantaged youth, a detailed survey would be carried out of the LGBT community so that their problems could be specifically addressed," the minister added. |
The minister's statement has led to outrage in India with many people condemning it on social media sites like Twitter. | The minister's statement has led to outrage in India with many people condemning it on social media sites like Twitter. |
Journalist Barkha Dutt said it was the "insensitive" minister who needed treatment: | Journalist Barkha Dutt said it was the "insensitive" minister who needed treatment: |
Congress party spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi called it "sick": | Congress party spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi called it "sick": |
Writer Aparna Jain wondered: "Why are people we elect so stupid": | Writer Aparna Jain wondered: "Why are people we elect so stupid": |
Journalist Anahita Mukherji asked if there was any "cure" for Mr Tawadkar: | Journalist Anahita Mukherji asked if there was any "cure" for Mr Tawadkar: |
Activist Samar Anarya said the minister was "homophobic" and a "fanatic": | Activist Samar Anarya said the minister was "homophobic" and a "fanatic": |
Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, who is visiting Delhi, said he "staunchly opposed the criminalisation of homosexuality" in India. | Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, who is visiting Delhi, said he "staunchly opposed the criminalisation of homosexuality" in India. |
"I am proud to stand for the equality of all people - including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender," the UN chief said in a statement late on Monday. | "I am proud to stand for the equality of all people - including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender," the UN chief said in a statement late on Monday. |
"I speak out because laws criminalising consensual, adult same-sex relationships violate basic rights to privacy and to freedom from discrimination. Even if they are not enforced, these laws breed intolerance," he added. | "I speak out because laws criminalising consensual, adult same-sex relationships violate basic rights to privacy and to freedom from discrimination. Even if they are not enforced, these laws breed intolerance," he added. |
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