Indian MP says homosexuality is ‘a genetic disorder like having six fingers’ after gay sex is legalised
Subramanian Swamy is a former cabinet minister (NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty)
An MP in India’s ruling party has called homosexuality “a genetic disorder like someone having six fingers” in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the country’s ban on gay sex.
Subramanian Swamy, who represents the governing Bharatiya Janata Party in the Parliament’s upper house, also said the ruling would lead to a spread of HIV.
Today’s (September 6) unanimous ruling overturned Section 377, a 157-year-old law put in place by the British Empire which made gay sex punishable by a sentence up to life in prison.
The politician represents the country’s governing party (PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty)
The controversial legislation has been widely used to clamp down on the LGBT+ community in India, which is home to 1.3 billion people.
So it’s understandable that the LGBT+ community in the country exploded with happiness and relief at the news, with many activists and celebrities — including several Bollywood stars — rushing to praise the decision.
This did not include Swamy, a 78-year-old former party president and cabinet minister, who called on the next government to lean on justices and overturn today’s ruling.
The country’s LGBT+ community reacted to the ruling with joy and relief (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty)
He told the Times of India: “Of course what happens in someone’s private life should not be of anyone’s concern, neither they should be punished.”
However, he followed this up by saying: “It is basically a genetic disorder, like someone having six fingers. Medical research must be done to rectify it.
“It is the American game,” he continued. Soon there will be gay bars here where homosexuals can go.
Swamy has been called India’s Donald Trump, but was throwing rhetorical rocks long before him (MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty)
“HIV will spread. So, after looking at the consequences I hope the next government will move a seven-judge bench to set aside this five-judge bench order.”
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu group widely acknowledged as the ideological brain behind the ruling party, accepted the justices’ ruling but emphasised their view that homosexuality was unnatural.
“Like the Supreme Court’s verdict, we do not even consider this a crime,” said spokesperson Arun Kumar,” according to NDTV.
The Supreme Court’s decision was unanimous (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty)
“Gay marriage and relationships are not compatible with nature and are not natural, so we do not support this kind of relationship,” he added.
“Traditionally, India’s society also does not recognise such relations.
This may be true in terms of the law for the past century-and-a-half, but that all changed today.
“Bi bi haters” (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty)
Darul Uloom Deoband, an influential Islamic school located in Swamy’s constituency with more than 7,000 students, also hit out against gay people following the decision.
The school’s Ulema Mufti Maulana Asad Quasmi said: “According to Shariat, homosexuality is haram and illegitimate,” according to Daily News and Analysis.
“This decision is against natural behaviour and anyone with their right mind will not accept this decision because Islam forbids homosexuality,” he added.
