Thiruvananthapuram: India is yet to decriminalise homosexuality. But one organisation in Kerala has shown the way forward by passing a resolution which supports the scrapping of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), a pro-left youth organisation, which boasts of an India-wide membership of 1.15 crore youth, passed the resolution in its 10th All India Conference and also called upon its members to fight for the rights of the LGBT community.
"The LGBT community in India has been subjected to severe discrimination and oppression. The DYFI stands in solidarity with their struggle and calls upon the youth to fight for their rights, and demands for a decent and dignified life. The transgender population was first recognised by the 2011 Census and their population was recorded as 4.88 lakh and about 56 percent of them are illiterate," said DYFI resolution.
The DYFI resolution further stated, "We demand that there should be special budgetary provisions for the education of the transgender community. They should be given reservation in jobs and educationally institutions treating them as socially and educationally backward class similar to that of schedule caste and schedule tribes."
It also stated that homosexuality is not a crime and that all citizens have the right to choose their sexual preference and demands the scrapping of Section 377 of the IPC.
The national convention is being held in Kochi from February 1 to 5.
All 700 delegates at the conference also pledged their organs for donation. The national president of DYFI and Lok Sabha MP, MB Rajesh, administered the oath and all delegates gave a letter of consent agreeing to donate their organs.
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