LGBT community in Tamil Nadu seeks state govt's support

CHENNAI: Strongly criticising the Supreme Court's ruling declaring homosexuality as illegal, members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders community today sought Tamil Nadu government's support in protecting them and making amendments to IPC Section 377 (unnatural offences).

"We strongly criticise the IPC Section 377. We want Tamil Nadu government to support us and make amendments in the Section.... ", member of Chennai Rainbow Coalition, a body of organisations representing the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender ( LGBT), Sudha told reporters here.

"At a time when India is sending Mars orbiter mission to study about other planets, because of the Supreme Court ruling, we have gone back 150 years backwards and there is no place for us to lead our life," she said.

"Since we are representing a minor section of the society, we have been targeted. The Supreme Court ruling has hurted us. We will continue to voice our protest," Chennai Rainbow Coalition member Ramakrishnan said.

"We strongly urge the Supreme Court to reverse its decision. At the state level, we ask Tamil Nadu government to amend Section 377 so that it does not criminalise adult consensual relationships," he said.