Gowda flip-flops on scrapping Sec 377, Swamy says homosexuality a 'genetic disorder'

If you had a slightly out-of-the-world experience today morning after reading the Economic Times, don’t be afraid, you’re not alone. A report in the paper, quoted union law minister DV Sadananda Gowda as saying the following about scrapping Section 377 of the IPC: “The mood appears to be in favour of it. But it can be done only after widespread consultations and taking all views into account.” To emphasise how important Gowda’s statement was, ET noted, “This is a radical position for a politician who hails from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, part of the Mangaluru Lok Sabha constituency. This coastal belt is known for conservative social mores and is a stronghold of the Sangh Parivar, which has strong, and negative, views on homosexuality.” [caption id=“attachment_2319448” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sadananda Gowda. AFP.[/caption] How did this happen, we wondered. Is it a minister from the same party, whose Home Minister declared that BJP will not support 'unnatural' homosexuality and a stand the entire party had endorsed back then? Not only that, the report stated that the government could consider extending the right to get married to homosexuals in India. However, the temporary admiration for the BJP had to die a premature death. Guess who put an end to these pleasant speculations? Subramanian Swamy. ANI quoted him as saying: I think the law minister was misquoted,our party position has been that homosexuality is a genetic disorder-Subramanian Swamy,BJP

I think the law minister was misquoted,our party position has been that homosexuality is a genetic disorder-Subramanian Swamy,BJP

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2015

And when someone reminded Swamy that his brain has grey matter, which should be put to use at times, he rejected the idea pompously with the following response.  “The issue is not respect. We respect handicapped persons. Homos are genetically handicapped.” It may be a good time to mention that Swamy is a member of BJP’s national executive. Gowda, perhaps afraid that he may stick out as the one unfortunately sensible person in his party, also decided to retract his statement. He alleged that he had been misquoted and the Section 377 cannot be withdrawn as it is a ‘sensitive issue’. We are guessing he meant it’s an issue that requires no sensitivity, just a slight slip of the tongue really. So the world may be waving a rainbow flag in their face, but the BJP is really colour blind when it comes to this issue. What is even more strange is that it seems that no one in the party is allowed to have an individual opinion. Everyone, like it or not, has to join the chorus of bigotry. It would have been perhaps slightly more mature if the BJP hadn’t hastily declared that their law minister has been misquoted. Or had gotten someone with a slightly militant stance than Swamy to clear their stand. However, going by Swamy’s own declaration, maybe Section 377 should be de-criminalised by the BJP. After all, a handicap shouldn’t land you in jail. No other ‘handicap’ is a criminal offence in the country. And maybe, to drive home their point, the party can start a new Selfie campaign. How about: #SelfieWithBigot ?