Mouth & Anus Comment During Sec 377 Hearing Creates Laughriot

“Mouth is an organ to eat and anus is an organ for excretion”: Respondents during Section 377 hearings.

Why do words like choice, preference, rights, freedoms, et al. fail to ‘penetrate’ the deep well of prejudices against the queer community?

Each of these words came up in the proceedings of the Supreme Court on 11 and 12 July, wherein petititions filed by individuals seeking the scrapping of Section 377 of the IPC were heard.

What also came up in these hearings was this statement: “Mouth is an organ to eat and anus is an organ for excretion. These are not sexual organs.”

#Section377 mouth is an organ to eat and anus is an organ for excretion. These are not sexual organs. Therefore, such acts are against biology and against the order of nature - as argued by the respondents.

— sflc.in (@SFLCin) July 12, 2018

The advocates representing the Centre used this statement to justify the validity of Section 377, which criminalises acts against the “order of nature”. The statement sent Twitter into a laughriot.

Twitter Points out Some #Basics

Tweeple were quick to point out some basic uses of the body parts mentioned in the statement.

Toh chumban kaise lete hai... Haiii haiiii https://t.co/gzxibgQvv6

— harish iyer (@hiyer) July 12, 2018

I use my mouth for opening snack packets, use it to bite others for defense, blow cigarette, play wind instruments, lick stamps, blow balloons. Wtf is wrong with these people? Just eat?

— வல்வில் ஓரி (@ValvilOari) July 12, 2018

It can be improvised.

— Romanov Cultist (@lordlebu) July 12, 2018

A Throwback to Biology Class?

While some Tweeple wondered why the advocates insisted on a throwback to Biology class, others followed the logic of their argument to present their own.

What are lawyers arguing for #Sec377 more deluded about: the animal world or human biology? Discuss. (Also, one moment's silence for the sex lives of these lawyers and their partners.) #Sec377 pic.twitter.com/M51uYOXxmp

— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) July 12, 2018

Court - "Please argue on the basis of fundamental rights"

Respondents - "Fundamental rights are very 1990s, we are going to argue fundamental biology. Our argument is https://t.co/V7fa909Oev

— Sad Background Music wearing micromini (@iamdatemike) July 12, 2018

#Section377 Nose is the part of our respiratory system. The basic function of our nose is to humidify & filter the air we inhale before it reaches to the lungs. Therefore, nobody should poke their nose in somebody else's business or sex life.

— Zzzz... (@zohaibysrn) July 12, 2018

And the brain is an organ to think, but you don't use that properly either, do you? https://t.co/cbeeQd5mMF

— Damsel in This Dress (@secondofhername) July 12, 2018

By this logic, respondents should not have used their mouth to speak and spew illogical nonsense. #Section377 🤷‍♀️

— Prachi Tadsare (@theonlytadsare) July 12, 2018

Sarcasm FTW!

Sarcasm reined supreme in the responses.

My country is a such a beautiful country which doesn't have anything illegal happening around and people's with high human values so penetrating through anus will definitely stain it's purity

— Abin Robert (@AbinRobert) July 12, 2018

this argument smells like ass, but since mouths are for eating alone, I'd rather not say anything.

— PhonyKaku (@MeanderingWonk) July 12, 2018

Some Tweeple had genuine concerns too.

College mein ghapaghap nahi Mila Kya??

— Attraversiamo !! (@i_upasana) July 12, 2018

One minute silence for the sex life of these people. https://t.co/mu0SqEVISa

— Nidhi Mahajan (@NidhiMahajn) July 12, 2018

Also Read: Supreme Court Revisits Section 377 – Here’s What to Expect