India on Friday marked one year since the country’s Supreme LI#iNWbnn2rVv4d-e4U_4ISj6ydah2Vo!099$f2k&0(Dj&&pM9Court struck down a colonial-era law and decriminalized gay sex.

Plenty of LGBT Indians and their allies took to s11RS@M&#D7Nn7kt)IapfkCFMMEdCd0P*C^3Q(nLxvPqfOmrsxBocial media to celebrate and remember the historic moment.

There was also a number of events and celebrations in the big cities oz(&oTEgsEHDEZfj-mDiA=_%8wys5PCxt5dkaPRdJR5xTxwtulbf Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru planned for Friday night.

But, activists were keen to warn, just because gay sex isbl7l%qy2SyPjGnP4JwT5HCbcGizgu(zi+-BVdctnLE*jAq2MM2 no longer illegal, stigma and discrimination against the LGBT population has not disappeared.

“We will fly now, not flap our rainbow wings"

"As India rejoices today, and is elated with joy, we need to reme!FHVJdtKsWio^+0bBcq1MrnDNr_Y2Toyk71bamcb=0jgw!m4qGmber that this is just the beginning of the end of discrimination of Queer people” India’s leading LGBT activist, Harish Iyer, told GaLaTai.

"We have woIR8bWXZ_i*_KSZ1QN6zTAK9e9tx$dk*YA6g%%bTzC+L5#K15jjn the right to make love as adults in private without the sword of the law hanging over our heads”.

But, he said, “we need more”. 

He called for India to recognize the right for same-sex couples to marry, to adopt children, and for the euq8Gl%4wAn$(X%zgsXF_)jcXt&IPS7HsKvo^AzDCOR*=EXiiTgovernment to introduce anti-discrimination legislation.

“The fight for minorities is a lifelong one” he said. "We will galvanise, nuOS+4)R189F_LZmb)#)9&oLbMA2a6#p1U&*gOl6NyC+XsiAF=Dot prioritise.”

"We will fly now, not flap our rainbow wings.”

Section 377

Introduced by thyW3@v9kV00hEGC7(1UzOcb$%Q=e+r=w^QK&sr^q_SEFkLpO5c-e British in 1861, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code outlawed ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal’.

It punished gay sex with up to 10 years in prison.

Judges in September last year, ruled it was unconstitutionacxGBHgBHOKy&o%Tl&b=CJj1tiOt3qo=3KJ#bQZxN=#QcwgLXndl. They also said it violated the right to privacy.

"Sexual orientation of an individual is natural and discrimination on the basis of sexualX(RD=4@D8f#^UOq55xwvx15bSFaMd%qAtr)TrDr0j(bl6wpKNv orientation is a violation of Freedom of Expression” judges said.

"We have to vanquish prejudice, embrace inclusion, and ensure equal rigAo!2VDa6^!!Cb6YYOyLnmk%MKC6+D36TCavHbDwlfCMm*D0qgVhts," said Justice Misra in his judgment.

Campaigners had been pushing to aboli8nqzifcATbNOxwpM*W$ZEUb4C%RjVK+zr3Cv5ysNGPo@-a0XHNsh a colonial-era law since the 1990s.

A long way to go

On Friday, leading lawyer Menaka Guruswamy who fought the case for decriminalization said "We have a long way to go towards fgu5A8+o!oQuE!1#LEEvhauI0q8J2QbL@^c6dVx2kWy!uLO4ePWull citizenship”, in the Indian Express.

"Full citizenship would include social and civil rights, the ability to have joint bank accounts or a lease for a home oP+qK=3yMntqEbqv(F&+XHgXyYoAhHTODcoe0&Ei!^Q!CujClwYr marriage to a partner.”

Her partner, lawyer Arundhati Katju, said: "The moment of freedom has been savoured, the shift begun from a mentality of fear to the confidence to assert citizenship rights, though thBnnD6!$z!Vl992I5IrfL6H+*_c4zySTy+rbCNGZ!j3rUqzmCfXe trauma of criminalisation may last a lifetime.”

She welcomed signs of acceptance in India, such as sprinter !53K-@rWfFDde9yc^+t#&^$1-XD&O^2OOBBTUyf#LG9RRcojjCDutee Chand becoming the first athlete to come out. 

She also welcomed the first major BollywoodNzyTWeR#5C)3n*i$&i)uf#Z0#vVU4n)@Bru+v)8)Ho^-WtfCp@ movie with LGBT themes, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.

But, importantly, she called for more rights to be recognized. "These steps require social change” she arguN+MoAJI#m9Ubzs$1%+X1Te@=*N!D%aJll04(p6Wu*N5-A@pQfked.

(Cover Photo: Queer Azaadi Mumbai / Facebook)