‘Gay or straight, all have right to marry’

A session on marriage equality rights rules as queer community celebrates reading down of the colonial-era Section 377

It was couples, chronicles and cake cutting at the Humsafar Trust in Vakola, Santacruz East on Wednesday evening. The Trust, a gay community-based organisation established in the 90s, played host to a celebration of the fifth-year anniversary of the reading down of Section 377. The section was a colonial-era law that criminalised consensual sex between two same-sex adults.

Cerebral party

The meeting was a mix of celebrations with the cerebral. While there were good memories associated with the reading down of Section 377, there was also the inevitable question about the community awaiting a Supreme Court verdict after hearing a bunch of petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages.

Discussion

The panel discussion was dexterously anchored by a moderator, Alpana Dange, who said, “There is also my safar in Humsafar. I am an ally for gay rights and when Section 377 was read down, so many persons called me and said: congratulations, tum jeet gayi (congratulations you have won).” Kartikey Bahadur, consultant lawyer, Humsafar Trust, said at the outset, “I thought Section 377 has been read down, but after that, what? The community cannot stop here. I think everybody, gay or straight, must have the right to get married, whether they wish to do so or not is not the question. It is about having the legal right to do so, and that is what this is about.”

Authority

Couple Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta, Supreme Court petitioners for marriage equality, first spoke about meeting in 1994 on the Vakola bridge and then being together for 29 years. Rangayan said, “Our relationship has been held together by love. We have not had any ceremony like exchanging rings, we do not want a grand marriage ceremony Karan Johar-style, but we do want rights. Tomorrow, if I fall ill, Saagar cannot sign hospital papers for any critical decisions.” Saagar said the same that, “Growing old together may be romantic, but we need the authority to sign on medical papers, these are realities.”

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Petitioner couple Dr Roop and Neil spoke about family acceptance. Dr Roop said, “In marriage, by default, the spouse gets certain rights. In this relationship, we do not automatically tick mark all those boxes. We also want those rights, like being able to open bank accounts jointly.”

Dr Surabhi and her partner, Paromita, are also petitioners for marriage equality. Dr Surabhi joined via video conferencing. The women had a commitment ceremony. Dr Surabhi said, “We had to file the petition. We have to change the thinking of India. If we all leave India because these rights are available in certain countries overseas, how will India ever change? We must not leave the country only because of this aspect.”

Full rights

The discussion touched deeply upon families too, showing that partners care for each other’s families, contrary to stereotypical thinking. In the end, the picture was that equality is above all. Most concurred that, “We do not want just civil partnership rights but full marriage equality and the battle will not stop at just that,” ended the interactive meet that scored because the mix of personal with the political, its humour and honesty. The mood was upbeat as a cake was cut and the song especially apt for the occasion: ‘Congratulations and celebrations, when I tell everyone that you’re in love with me…’ played in the background. A light-hearted verdict: ‘Forget dating apps, Bumble or Tinder… go to Vakola bridge’ was pronounced amidst laughter and applause, like a final flourish on a thought-provoking signature.

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