oppn parties Same-Sex Couples Should Be Allowed The Right To Marry

News Snippets

  • Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, referring to a spate of FIRs for putting up posters in Delhi which said "Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao", said that even the British did not act in such manner
  • The 2023-24 Appropriation BIll, which allows the government to spend Rs 45 lakh crore in the fiscal, was passed by Lok Sabha in 9 minutes without any discussion
  • Sources say that Amritpal Singh fled to Haryana and may now be in Uttarakhand
  • Experts say that Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament will kick in immediately as the conviction has not been stayed
  • Tatas to invest $2bn in super app Tata Neu
  • Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has said that inflation will drop as commodity and food prices have fallen
  • Government will define quality norms to ensure better 5G service
  • Stocks tumble again on Thursday after two sessions of recovery: Sensex loses 289 points to 57925 and Nifty goes down by 75 points to 17076
  • Amicus curiae and senior advocate K V Vishwanathan has told the Supreme Court that the changes made in law and three extensions given to the present director of Enforcement Directorate are illegal and will imperil the integrity of the agency
  • Supreme Court says it cannot judicially direct the government to acquire land or buildings near the court for advocates' chambers
  • ISSF Cup shooting: Indian pair of Rhythm Sangwan and Varun Tomar win silver in 10m sir rifle mixed team event
  • WPL: UP Warriorz take on Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator today. The winner will play Delhi Capitals in the finals
  • World Boxing: Four Indians - Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Ghanghas, Lovelina Borgohain and Saweety Boora - enter the frinals in their respective category
  • Bombay HC imposes costs and dismisses a petition by a housing society that sought to have a community-wise cap on residents
  • Delhi Police files 159 FIRs for defacement of public property and 49 for posters saying 'Modi Hatao Desh Bachao'
Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Parliament, Wayanad Lok Sabha seat declared vacant
oppn parties
Same-Sex Couples Should Be Allowed The Right To Marry

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2023-03-13 09:45:11

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

A gay person is not sick. He or she just has a different sexual orientation. Hence, contrary to the belief in society, they cannot be 'treated' - neither medically or psychologically nor by religious tantras and mantras. This was one of the compelling reasons that led to the decriminalization of same-sex relationships by the Supreme Court. If same-sex relationships are legal, then why object to same-sex marriages?

The Centre has submitted before the Supreme Court that legalizing same-sex marriages will 'cause havoc'. It has given the usual reasons that it will go against personal laws and societal values. It also said that there is "compelling state interest" in recognizing marriages only between heterosexual couples.

Other than being the overwhelming majority and being able to have biological children,how do marriages between heterosexual couples differ from those between same-sex couples? Yes personal laws are designed for heterosexual marriages, but laws need to change with the times. Once it is decided that same-sex marriages will be legal (which they should be), then laws can be suitably altered to account for that.

As for societal values, will the society be comfortable with same-sex couples just living together without legal sanction and the chaos it might create? Or will it be more comfortable in having them marry with defined laws? In any case, society has to be flexible and responsive to changes. Further, if same-sex marriages are not allowed, it is obvious that families will force gays to marry heterosexuals and live in a marriage that will never work and more importantly, will not achieve the society-defined end of having biological children and complete the so-called 'Indian family unit concept'. Who will take responsibility of ruining such lives?

Instead of creating hurdles, the government must look at how the laws - the definition of a spouse, of inheritance and adoption, among others - need to be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry. Since their relationship is now legal, same-sex couples need to be allowed to exchange vows legally and live in peace thereafter with laws altered to their specific needs and with full support from society and the government.