India Decriminalizes Homosexuality

Though the West is more technologically advanced and progressive, India has made headway with decriminalising homosexuality on Thursday, 6^th of September 2018. India’s Supreme Court collectively voted against the ban on consensual gay sex – a law that has been in place for years! “This law was irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary!”, says the Chief Justice Dipak Misra.

Australian travellers who identify as homosexual are free to go to India without worry of persecution or criminalisation. After 24 years of legal roadblocks, there was a cry of hope and inclusivity as the streets of India were alight with citizens celebrating the acknowledgement of progressiveness within an otherwise traditionalist country.

One judge cited, “History owes an apology to the members of the community for the delay in ensuring their rights.”

India is a tourist hotspot for Australian many travellers, as a top 10 country, reports Traveller. Tourism Australia is wanting to grow this number by having more flights to India by 2025, growing to half a million!

“We really expect it to take off from there in the long term”, says John O’Sullivan, a Chief Executive from Tourism Australia. Currently flying 6 days a week, the flight carrier is planning to increase by 50%, changing their schedule from 6 days a week to 9 days a week, maybe even 10!

Australian travellers are advised to go onto the Smartraveller website for more information on India’s decriminialisation of consensual homosexual partnerships if they are homosexual, to ensure they are up to date with the local laws.