India

On the 30th June 2009 the Delhi High Court overturned a 148-year-old colonial law criminalizing consensual homosexual acts. Section 377 of the India Penal Code was amended but continues to govern non-consensual penile non-vaginal sex and penile non-vaginal sex involving minors. The age of consent is set at 18 years of age. This amendment to the Indian Penal Code was brought about due to the efforts by the NAZ Foundation (India) Trust, a sexual health organization based in New Delhi, who filed the petition to change Section 377 in 2000. India's newly emerging LGBT communities, along with changing gay scene in larger cities such as Delhi is an exciting development, in which gay nights are becoming more and more popular in several discos and bars. New Delhi's second Gay Pride Parade took place on the 28th June 2009. Homosexuality in Indian society remains however a taboo even though several, famous Bollywood actors have supported a liberalisation. The clout of the religious influence was demonstrated in October 2011, when pressure from Hindu and Catholic groups forced the government of the federal state of Goa to shelve plans for marketing it as a gay-friendly part of India. A number of politicians have also further stoked resentments towards homosexuals on occasions. It is possible that as a result of this amendment to the law in India, neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore will follow and amend their laws too, which are still based on outdated, British colonial law.