[Commons-Law] Bengaluru Pride Pamphlet

[siddharth narrain]

*Gender-Sexual Choice *                                  *Gender-Sexual
Freedom  *                                * Repeal IPC 377*

Bengaluru Pride 2008

*Bengaluru's First pride rally to commemorate Stonewall Riots Day*
        *
For the Visibility and Liberation of Hijra, Kothi, DoubleDekker, Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex people...*

On 29th June, 1969, police raided Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village,
New York City, USA frequented by sexual minorities. Enraged by the police
raid and fed up with routine harassment by the police, sexual minorities
rioted after the police raid. The Stonewall riots are generally seen as the
birth of the sexual minorities movement internationally. Each year sexual
minorities and their allies organize pride events and march on the streets
of cities across the globe to observe Stonewall riots day and is a
celebration of diverse sexuality and gender identities. This year pride
events are being organized not only in Bangalore but also in Kolkata and
Delhi.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalizes consensual sex between
adults by terming all sexual acts other than penile-vaginal intercourse as
'against the order of nature'. This archaic statute was introduced in India
by the British in 1860. Through Britain got rid of their anti-sodomy law a
long time ago, India continues to carry forward this colonial legacy.
Criminalization of sexual minorities through this law acts as the main
structural reason for the horrendous human rights violations against sexual
minorities. Police and goondas take advantage of this law and harass, abuse
(verbally, physically and sexually), blackmail and extort money and other
valuables from sexual minorities.

Unfavourable laws coupled with stigma, discrimination and social rejection
block most sexual minorities from accessing various social entitlements
including voter ID, ration card, passport, driving license, housing,
education, employment, savings and credit facilities, insurance, old age
pension and old age shelter homes.

One of the major issues that hijras and other transsexuals face is that sex
change is not legally recognized in India and there are no procedures for
legal change of a person's sex after going through sex change. As  a result.
Hijras and other transsexuals cannot prove their identity as their bodies
and gender expression do not match their 'sex' on official documents. Unable
to prove their identity, hijras and other transsexuals have been completely
marginalized vis-à-vis employment, education, inheritance, ration cards,
savings and credit facilities and housing.

In this context, we demand that:

1.    Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code should be amended to exclude all
forms of sex between consenting adults from the definition of the offence.
2.    State should accord choice of gender/sex to people who have undergone
sex reassignment surgery, including persons who have undergone male
castration or bilateral mastectomy (surgical removal of both breasts) or
hormonal therapy as part of sex reassignment procedures.
3.    State should take steps to prevent police/ goonda violence against
sexual minorities and take effective measures to punish those who perpetrate
offences against sexual minorities.
4.    State should initiate special measures for the welfare of hijras and
other transsexuals (the most marginalized section of sexual minorities) E.g.
education, employment, savings-credit facilities, housing, skill development
etc.
5.    Sexual minorities should get all social entitlements without any
discrimination. This includes voter ID, ration card, passport, driving
license, housing, education, employment, savings and credit facilities,
insurance, old age pension and old age shelter homes.

*PRIDE MARCH on 29th June, 2008 (Sunday)

STARTS from National College Grounds, Basavangudi at 2 PM

PUBLIC MEETING at Town Hall at 4 PM*

All are Welcome! Join us in large numbers!!

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* Organizers*: Alternative Law Forum, Aneka, Good As You, Karnataka Sexual
Minorities Forum, Karnataka Sexworkers Union, LesBiT, Sadhane, Samara,
Sangama, Suraksha, and Swabhava.
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