'Why should the government look into bedrooms?'

Mumbai reacts to the Union Home Ministry calling gay sex "immoral" and seeking a fresh ban on it

Suhel Seth, brand guru: I think the government should worry about basic things - like drinking water, sanitation, stopping their colleagues from watching po*nography in Parliament and the cash-for-votes issue. Things like gay sex are part of social evolution that India cannot keep itself out of. I can't understand why the government should look into bedrooms rather than boardrooms! An immoral government has no right to cast aspersions on society. And where are the moral icons left in politics any longer?

Mahesh Jethmalani, lawyer and solicitor: I think Mr Malhotra's antiquarian view is like Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It's extremely retrograde on the part of the government to make this move. It is completely lacking in sympathy and open-mindedness, and contrary to the modern laws of being liberal. I'm of the view that what consenting adults do in private is not the law's business!

Diandra Soares, model: Our country is being run by a bunch of uneducated imbecile hypocrites! Their quotes and use of words like 'immoral' and 'chance of spreading AIDS' proves just that! They ask "How can society tolerate homosexuality?" I ask, "How can society tolerate our disgusting, small, close-minded government? Instead of growing and moving forward as a country, we seem to be going backwards. Who is the government to judge God's creations? It's nature and each one is born the way they are. It's not a disease! Our government should first educate themselves on the matter and wake up to reality!

Rahul da Cunha, theatre director: I am very worried for our country... with every passing year, our society gets more regressive.

Onir, filmmaker: It's a shame that the government does not have the integrity to stand up for the fundamental rights of the queer community. It would rather please the regressive standpoint of certain groups who, in the name of culture and natural law, promote hatred and intolerance.

Anil Dharker, author and social commentator: What an outmoded stand to take! We must realise that homosexuality is not cultural but biological - this is something Malhotra seems to forget. When it comes to heterosexual sex, our society is less open about being exhibitionist about it. That does not mean we don't have the urge toward heterosexual sex. It's the same for homosexuality. There should be no penalty of any kind at all for engaging in it!

Arif Zakaria, actor: Although we choose to believe we're living in an egalitarian society, we're still bound by regressive chains of censorship, curtailment of free speech, caste distinction, reservation and gender bias. Morality is a self-quest and each individual should have the wherewithal to discern his or her morality. If that morality converts to lawlessness, then the state has all the right to intervene. No amount of hostility, lawlessness and violence can hide under the umbrella of morality, religion or gender preference. We live in a free world where you earn your living, follow the law, say what you feel, respect the law while still holding the right to condemn it. Hence the home minister's bill may be a small step for good politics, but a giant step back for a progressive society.

Ismat Tahseen, Melissa D'costa and Lisa Antao

Source: TOI!(: