A World AIDS Day rock concert scheduled to happen today in Pune, India has been delayed to sometime next week out of respect for the victims of last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The concert is part of a larger effort in India to use World's AIDS Day to reach out to younger Indians.

According to the World AIDS Campaign, "Approximately 2.5 million people were living with HIV in India in 2006. Whilst almost 25% of the country’s population is between the ages of 15-29 years, this age group accounts for 31% of people living with HIV."

The campaign includes events across the country as well as a "Stop AIDS Leadership Pledge" program that asks young Indians to send an SMS text message to show their support for combating HIV and AIDS. In return, AIDS organizations can use the numbers collected by the pledge's to develop a better outreach network to at-risk youth.

The Delhi High Court is considering whether to make gay sex legal in India, the world's second most populous country. This morning, anti-gay rights advocates told the court that legalizing gay sex would increase the spread of HIV & AIDS. Advocate H P Sharma told the court:

"There is an increasing tendency of homosexuals in India to indulge in group sex. What is even more disturbing is that in the name of HIV/AIDS control, they try to get safe places for carrying out perverted sexual practices on a collective scale. Homosexuality will adversely affect the public health and in the name of thrill, enjoyment and fun the young shall walk into the trap of homosexual addiction. The tragic aspect of this is that alcohol, drugs and disease are the natural concomitants of homosexual activity."

The court rejected arguments made last week that gay sex causes bodily harm after gay rights advocates showed the bench World Health Organization documents refuting the claim. The opposition countered that no study had been conducted in India on the matter, but the court replied "Human beings are same everywhere." Gay sex is illegal under Section 377 under the Indian Penal Code and offenders can be sentenced to life imprisonment.

India's gay sex debate continues!

While health officials hope to lift the nation's colonial-era ban on "buggery," more conservative politicians are pulling out all the stops to keep the prohibition in place. One civil servant went to so far as to argue that lifting a ban on anal sex would lead to personal injury for participants.

The High Court, however, wasn't buying it:

"In several countries where ban has been lifted (from gay sex), no one has claimed that the act is injurious. Even WHO does not say that it causes injuries to people involved in such acts," a bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar remarked while hearing arguments being made on behalf of senior VHP leader B P Singhal that such acts cause injuries to private parts of the people who indulge in gay sex and that it should not be allowed even between consenting adults.

"Do you have any material to substantiate the claim that indulgence in such acts causes injury to people's body," the bench asked.

No evidence was submitted, and the court later remarked "human beings are the same everywhere." That simple, yet powerful statement comes after the court denounced claims that homosexuality's a disease.

Two Swedish lesbians broke a barrier in India this weekend when they married at the Taj Mahal:

The young women, Sara and Sandra had been living together in India's national capital, New Delhi for past one year and 'solemnized' their marriage according to the Vedic rites and rituals.

The newly married couple said that they were extremely happy to get married in the city of Taj Mahal, the monument of love and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
…
According to Baba Dharam Das, the temple priest said that although he had some misgivings, when the two women said that they are in love with each other and wanted to get married, he solemnised the marriage.

"These two foreigners came here and said that they want to get married according to the Hindu rituals. They said that they would get married and it would be a woman-woman marriage. I conducted the marriage and they are happy now,"said Das.

That's the power of love!

Delhi's High Court came out for the homos this weekend.

As legislators and health officials butt heads over whether to decriminalize same-sex relations, the Court issued a harsh statement opining that homosexuality is not a disease:

"Show us one report which says that it is a disease. A WHO paper says that it is not a disease but you are describing it as a disease. It is an accepted fact that it is a main vehicle that causes (AIDS) disease, but it is not a disease itself," a Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah said.

The Court's observation came when Additional Solicitor General P.P. Malhotra, appearing for the Centre, contended that homosexuality is a disease which is responsible for the spread of AIDS in the country.

"The AIDS is already spreading in the country and if gay sex is legalized then people on the street would start indulging in such practices saying that the High Court has given approval for it," Malhotra said.

Aside from being ignorant and offensives, Malhotra's arguments are being contradicted by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss. According to Ramadoss - and countless other experts the world over - prohibitive laws contribute to the spread of HIV, rather than containing it, as Malhotra would like to believe.

Infighting continues over same-sex love over in India.

A High Court last week ruled that their colonial era prohibitions should remain, but some in the government, particularly the Health Minister, insist the law, called Section 377, does more harm than good. But government leaders aren't having it and told the Court yesterday to ignore Minister Anbumani Ramadoss pleas, which include highlighting the rate of HIV infection among shamed gays.

…The Government on Monday told the Delhi High Court not to consider Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss’s views on legalising gay sex among consenting adults and said Section 377 of the IPC was “the will of Parliament and the people, how so wrong it may be”.

“Your Lordships can ignore the statements of the Minister…his statements cannot change the law,” said Additional Solicitor General PP Malhotra on Monday before a Bench of Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Muralidhar.

Such a stance astounds us - if a health official insists a population - and a nation - are in danger, we would be inclined to believe them.

It's been nearly 60 years since India became sovereign, yet the government yesterday decided to uphold a colonial era law prohibiting homosexuality. How queer!

Testifying before the High Court yesterday, gay activist Shyam Diwan implored India's leaders to remember their post-colonial democratic dream:

The Constitution gives fundamental right to equality and it prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. But these rights of 25 lakh homosexuals in the country are being violated. Moral argument cannot triumph over the constitutional rights in a democratic society where fundamental rights prohibit any discrimination on the ground of sex.

The Ministry of Health has also been fighting against the law, called Section 377, and have asserted - quite rightly - that such legislation contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Home Ministry, meanwhile, fought for the law, highlighting a growing tension within the government.

Despite the facts and personal testimony, government leaders said yesterday they were "obviously" not going to overturn 377. It seems they would rather live under rhetorical British rule. Said Additional Solicitor General PP Malhotra: "Obviously, we will take a stand against the scrapping of Section 377 IPC that classifies sex between two men as a criminal offense. We object to their plea." Isn't it funny that Malhotra referred to men in his response?

Indian activists are gearing up for a battle this week as their government prepares arguments for and against Section 377, a colonial era law banning same-sex love.

The Indian government has agreed to hear their pleas after eight years of struggle. And, if all goes according to plan, lawmakers will revoke the legislation.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss twice last month called for 377's removal, saying such a law only brings shame and self-loathing, which can lead to unsafe sexual practices and, of course, the spread of HIV.