Homosexuality was decriminalised in India in 2009, an increasing number of LGBT tourists are viewing India as a holiday destination. A survey conducted by Roth’s firm in the United States last year ranked India as the second most desired cultural or adventure destination, just behind Thailand.
Four years ago, there wasn’t a single gay tourism company in India. The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) now lists seven gay-friendly or exclusively LGBT travel agents in India. ”Word about India has travelled far and wide through the Internet,” said Sanjay Malhotra, owner of Indjapink, which calls itself India’s first gay travel boutique. He started with 20 clients but now has more than 100.
“In India, it is fairly common to see boys holding hands,” said Wu, who lives in San Francisco, via email. “I personally feel pretty safe.”
How India legalized same sex marriage
The Naz Foundation (India), a New Delhi based NGO was at the forefront of the campaign to decriminalise homosexuality. The organisation aims to sensitise the community to the prevalence of HIV, as well as highlight issues related to sexuality and sexual health. The organisation has strong linkages with human rights groups and agencies such as Lawyers Collective, Human Right Law Network, Amnesty International, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Naz India has collaborated with these agencies to address cases of sexual rights abuse. Naz India’s efforts in sensitising the government to different issues related to the epidemic include the amendment of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code commonly known as the ‘Anti-sodomy Law’. This act criminalises same sex sexual behaviour irrespective of the age and consent of the people involved, posing one of the most significant challenges in effective HIV/AIDS interventions with sexual minorities.
No related posts.