Under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, homosexual intercourse is a criminal offence.
I'm sorry, what?
No one has the authority or the right to tell me who I can fall in love with, sleep with, or raise children with. Absolutely no one. You argue endlessly against homosexuality, stubbornly set in your imperialistic, archaic ways, but all you're really doing is proving your lack of compassion and common sense.
Let's address some common questions and concerns, shall we?
1. "Homosexuality is wrong. Every holy book says so. Homosexuals will burn in Hell."
Look, even if the Bible/Quran/other religious text said "And God said unto him : I don't really care, man, it's all good... Just be a decent human being", there is bound to be someone out there running around convincing people that God was being sarcastic. My point is this - everything is open to interpretation.
Don't use religion as an excuse to hate a group of people.
I know a Muslim man who puts other Muslim men to shame. He prays five times a day, he performs his religious and social duties, he is a good, kind, and decent human being. He is also gay. This is what he has to say :
"Allah (swt) knows that I am a good person. I have a good relationship with my maker, and after years of troubled thoughts and self-doubt, I now know that all that matters is who I am as an individual, not who I choose to love. If I am wrong, Allah (swt) will judge me, but no human being, no matter his or her position, may do so. I am a good Muslim, I am a good human being, and I am gay."
Faith is private. It is between you and God. If you don't approve of homosexuality, don't engage in it - it's as simple as that. But know this - hating a group of people simply because you think God wants you to, or because you think you're "saving" them from eternal damnation, is not okay. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to tell a homosexual man or woman that they are not "worthy of God's love" simply because you think so. You've never spoke to or seen God - for all you know, he/she/it thinks you're an idiot.
Every religion teaches love and compassion. You are more likely to burn in Hell than any homosexual individual, for that all-consuming hatred you carry around. If God wants to judge people, God will judge people on his/her/its own terms. How people live their lives, who they love, and what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms is none of your business. Live and let live, and stop the hate.
2. "I'm a homophobe. I'm genuinely, sincerely afraid. I'm sure they're nice people, but it freaks me out."
If you're afraid of the ocean, don't swim in it. You can, however, still help conserve it, protect it, and protest against its destruction. Same rules apply to the LGBT community. None of them are going to try and take advantage of you simply because you support their rights. Get over yourself, and go make a difference.
3. "I think homosexuality is wrong because religion/personal experience/personal belief/I-don't-know-why."
Stop misinterpreting religious teachings (see point 1). Also, get over it. You are not a perfect human being, and you never will be. Mind your own business, and stop judging other people just because they're different from you. Past experiences and personal belief systems play a big role, but there is one key point a lot of folks seem to miss - people from the LGBT community are human beings, like everyone else. Homosexuality is not new, and it is definitely not "against nature". Hundreds of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, fish, and even spiders engage in same-sex sexual activity (Bruce Bagemihl, 1999).
Don't use "science" as an excuse to hate a group of people.
If you still don't want to support basic human rights (of the LGBT community), the least you can do is lock yourself away and maybe do some reading while the rest of us fight for their rights. I recommend 'Homosexual Behaviour in Animals: An Evolutionary Perspective' (2006, ed. Volker Sommer and Paul L. Vasey).
4. "You will burn in Hell because you support something so wrong and unnatural."
Save me a seat, will you?
5. "I hate religious people/straight homophobes/anybody who doesn't support my rights"
The whole live-and-let-live applies to you, too. If people hate you for what you are or who you are, let them deal with it - it's their problem, their metaphorical cross to bear.
Don't use your personal situation as an excuse to hate a group of people.
Rise above, and move on. Every individual is different, they are shaped by different experiences and beliefs. You cannot, no matter how hard you try, make an entire population change what they believe in or the way they think. Let it go. Change is a process, not an event. It took the human race several generations to realise that racism is wrong, but even today, people are racist, callous, and insensitive. Hating them is not going to do you any favours. Ignore them. Resist the urge to "educate" them. Realise that you are as flawed as they are, in your own way...and move on.
tl;dr -
* Faith is personal. Stop using yours to hate on people. No exceptions.
* People should be able to love whomever they want to without being judged.
* There is scientific documentation of homosexuality in hundreds of species.
* Homophobia exists in only one
* Live and let live - mind your own business.
* Be nice to people, irrespective of what they believe in.
* Change is inevitable.
It will take time. Be patient. Fight, be heard, and never give up.
We may not see results now, but it is our responsibility - and our privilege - to ensure a better, kinder life for future generations.
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