The arrest of four people on charges of homosexuality and running an online gay club in northern India has triggered criticism by NGOs and the United Nations' AIDS body, UNAIDS. Police in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state, said the young men arrested last week had dozens of members in their secret Internet club. Homosexuality is illegal in India but is prevalent undercover. Many nightclubs in New Delhi and other cities even host secret gay and lesbian nights. But if convicted, homosexuals face at least 10 years in jail. Those arrested are said to be in their early 30s. UNAIDS says making homosexuals criminals increases the stigma and discrimination they face, hindering the battle against HIV/AIDS. The government's own planning commission, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, recently recommended homosexuality and prostitution be legalised to help the fight. The government has yet to formally respond. The arrests have sparked criticism from gay rights groups with UNAIDS taking the lead. UNAIDS is concerned at the arrest of a number of gay in Lucknow. Criminalisation of people most at risk of HIV infection may increase stigma and discrimination, ultimately fuelling the AIDS epidemic. India has 5.1 million people with HIV/AIDS but UNAIDS and non-government organisations (NGOs) say the numbers are much more. The country is second only to South Africa in the number of HIV cases. The Naaz Foundation International, a gay rights organisation, had taken up the matter with authorities in Lucknow. India's gay community is trying to lift the veil of secrecy in a country where public hugging or kissing invites angry stares and even lewd comments. The Uttar Pradesh police recently thrashed heterosexual couples simply for being together in public areas of another city recently. In the past year, three lesbian couples hit the media headlines as they struggled to stay together under pressure from the public and their families. A petition to legalise homosexuality filed by the Naaz Foundation is before the Supreme Court. The government has told the court that the law cannot be changed because homosexuality is not accepted by the Indian society.
Reuters Health,
January 2006