Karan Johar backs gay rights, seeks abolishing of Sec 377

In a recent tweet, filmmaker Karan Johar said that no person should be alienated in the society on the basis of caste, creed, colour or sexual orientation. He also shared a link to a petition started by the Humsafar Trust that asks Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish Section 377. [caption id=“attachment_1599771” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Courtesy: Twitter[/caption]Johar isn’t the only one from Bollywood who is campaigning against this archaic law and asking people to sign the petition. The link was first shared by Talaash director Reema Kagti and was later retweeted by Johar. Kagti tweeted out the link with an interesting description of homophobia. The filmmaker wrote: “HOMOPHOBIA A fear some have that a gay man will treat them the way they treat women :-)…”

However, she was amazed at the luke warm response that her tweet garnered. In a recent interview to Times Of India Kagti complained, “I am appalled at the meagre response. If I would have put up a picture of an actor’s ear online, asking ‘guess who’, more people would have reverted. I urge people to sign the petition and say no to Section 377 as this takes our country back to the dark ages…..” The petition filed by The Humsafar Trust says that a law that violates an individual’s right to privacy, equality and a life with dignity needs to be changed. Filed at change.org, the petition upholds people’s rights to love and be loved, without being treated as criminals. With over 5000 signatures the petition is gaining popularity among the urban population who were greatly disappointed by the Supreme Court verdict on section 377. Here is the link to the petition. Johar too had criticised the Supreme Court verdict on section 377 and had lashed out against those who didn’t support the movement to abolish it. “For all those who think that this judgement gives them a right to talk about their self appointed machoism…GET A LIFE!!!” Johar had tweeted.  In fact, not just Johar, many Bollywood celebrities had condemned the Supreme Court verdict.