Snatch Away Basic Choice? What it’ll Take to Decriminalise Sec 377

We wondered what would it take to sensitise Indians to homosexuality and decriminalise Section 377 of IPC?

Ben & Jerry's is banning two scoops of the same flavour in its 26 Australian stores as part of their campaign to promote homosexual marriage in Australia.

Their campaign is simple – When it comes to having the ‘same’ scoop of your favorite ice cream, you won’t be allowed to make that choice anymore. Why? Because, many Aussies still don’t have the choice to marry the one they love.

We’re banning any same-flavour love in the fight for #marriageequality! Join us by signing petition to get Australia moving. pic.twitter.com/DV5MHOrCsZ

— Ben & Jerry's Oz (@BenAndJerrysOz) May 25, 2017

While Ben & Jerry’s campaign is a great initiative to get the Australian people talking about gay marriage, decriminalising homosexuality is still a distant dream in India.

Since a number of petitions, protests and campaigns could not make the Supreme Court decriminalise section 377, we thought maybe if we snatch away from the privileged the right to make simple choices, it might help.

Here are a few suggestions. People, are you listening?

1. Gol Gappa Without Paani

Yes, we all relish the feeling when the gol gappa breaks in our mouth, flooding it with the spicy and sweet paani.

What if you got only the gol gappa and no paani; only the vada, but no pav; only the rajma, but no chawal? That doesn’t sound correct, right?

So does allowing only heterosexuality but no homosexuality.

2. Bollywood Without Bhai

Weren’t we all teary eyed when Bajrangi turned back after hearing munni’s voice in Bajrangi Bhaijan? Aren’t we eagerly waiting to see his brotherly affection in Tubelight.

Imagine Salman Khan vanishing from Bollywood in the blink of an eye. Difficult to come to terms to, right?

So is it for someone to live without the one they loves.

3. Bride Without Lehenga

Wedding day – the bride is all smiles, walking towards her husband-to-be, wearing a silky smooth salwar suit. What? Why not a lehenga?

She was not able to choose what attire she could wear on her W-day. Something sounds wrong, right?

So does people not being able to chose who they can love and spend their lives with.

4. Cow Without Controversy

“Gau hamari maata hai.”
“Let’s ban beef across the country.”

What if, instead of this, all we get is peace, cooperation and logic? Umm... Sounds impossible, right?

So is getting married to and expressing love for somebody of the same sex.

5. Shaadi Without Baraat

‘Raaja ki aayegi baraat, rangeeli hogi raat...’, but what if the dulha comes in a car/bike/bus but not on a ghodi and without their relatives dancing around it, because shaadi me baraat is not allowed.

Unjust? Probably so.

But so is not allowing some people the freedom to love.

6. Marriage Without Sex

Yes, many a time marriage happens for sex.

But what if the wife refuses to have sex? Oh sorry, she can’t, because her husband can force it on her, and she has no right to say anything. Why? Because unlike consensual homosexual sex, marital rape is not a crime.

Unfair? Yes.

But so is criminalising consensual sex with someone you love.