Same-sex marriage: All that is needed is a small change in the Special Marriage Act
The Indian ExpressMar 17, 2023
On Tuesday, India's Supreme Court began hearing final arguments on a number of petitions from LGBTQ+ couples and activists seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the country.
A five-judge constitutional bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is live streaming the debate in "public interest" as it calls same-sex union a "seminal" issue of great importance.
It's not a matter of religion, tradition, or social morality; it's about the fundamental rights of citizens, about freedom from stigma and harassment, and about LGBTQ+ couples having the same rights as heterosexual couples. The case has implications not just for LGBTQ+ couples but also for equality for all citizens under the Constitution at a time when India's democratic values are under attack by right-winger activists attempting to shift the country towards a theocracy.
While the LGBTQ+ community shouldn't be discriminated against, it's crucial to note that same-sex marriages aren't compatible with the Indian familial unit of husband, wife, and children. Proponents of marriage equality must understand that any attempt to disturb the exclusively heterogeneous institution would cause complete havoc in India's deeply religious society. The ripple effects of legalizing same-sex marriages are difficult to anticipate.
There's a 50% chance that the share of people living in countries where same-sex marriage is legal will be at least 16% in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.