In what was perhaps the most volatile session of the day, the queer panel took questions from audiences on Day Two of the India Non-fiction Festival.
'The State does not accept our rights, what more can I say about this judgment?'
'The reopening of the petition shows that there was something that was flawed in (the earlier) Supreme Court judgment, and this means another step forward.'
In a landmark judgment, after months of deliberations, the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalised homosexuality. A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Rohinton Fali Nariman, A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra in its verdict said, "Criminalising gay sex is irrational and indefensible." Following this historic judgment, reactions poured in on Twitter, celebrating the verdict. Here are some of them.
'People who were afraid to come out in the fear of losing their reputation will now do so fearlessly.'
'A progressive judgment could have moved India forward, given hope to millions of young homosexual men and women, by telling them that there is nothing wrong with them, their feelings and emotions are fine, that it is natural and alright for them to be attracted to people of their own gender and to express love as they wish to. 'But instead, the Wednesday ruling does not protect the rights of a large minority. And that is indeed shameful and hugely disappointing,' writes Aseem Chhabra. 'Instead the Supreme Court judges did not step in to protect the rights of a large minority. And that is indeed shameful and hugely disappointing,' writes Aseem Chhabra.
Single mother Gauri Sawant hopes to change the way people view transgenders in India.
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