Same sex marriage in India has been a discourse for a long period of time. This has become the next milestone for the queer community of India after the decriminalization of section 377, legalizing same sex relationships in India. Several petitions were sent to supreme court throughout the years to legalize same sex marriage in India. The Indian supreme court is considering the petitions of LGBTQIA+ activists to legalize same sex marriage in India. The case hearing is being live streamed on YouTube (India Today channel) on 18th april 2024, Tuesday. The petitioners are requesting that the Special Marriage Act of 1954 be amended to replace the phrase “man and woman” with the term “spouse” in reference to marriage.
The topic has been trending on twitter. The discussion is divided amongst netizens with many saying legalizing same sex marriage will affect the Indian family ecosystem while others showing their support stating that marriage is a basic human right. Culturally, homosexuality is now being discussed on internet media like YouTube, OTT Platforms, and even Bollywood. The idea of homosexuality has been represented by the ‘art’ genre through films like Ek Ladki To Dekha To Aisa Laga and Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan, which are both commercial successes.Â
The Indian filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri who directed the best film category winner of the DadaSaheb Phalke international film festival award and box office success film, The Kashmir Files (2022) recently posted several tweets regarding his stance on this highly debated discourse. Responding to arguments that suggested same sex marriage being an ‘urban elitist’ concept, he reasoned that those who drafted such a narrative must be people who haven’t been to small towns and villages. Agnihotri adds that marriage is a human right and need. He describes India as an inclusive civilisation where same sex relationships must ‘be normal, not a crime’.
He also tweeted this morning that love cannot be planned with an artistic hashtag #CreativeConsciousness, a phrase which refers to a mindset that is open, curious, and receptive to new ideas and perspectives, and that values imagination and innovation. While listing out both conventional and unconventional actions and ideas present in society he adds same sex marriage claiming that ones ‘story’ cannot be at the cost of others.Â
Responses of rage and support followed his tweets including ones that accused him of being an opportunist or uninformed and ones that were of surprise that a non-leftist supported the queer community. Despite the backlash he received for his tweets, he maintained his stance on this matter. He remains to be one of the very few celebrities in India who voiced their opinion on this matter whether in support or not.
The discourse on legalizing same sex marriage in India continues to be a hotly debated topic with arguments revolving around basic rights or effects on the family ecosystem, often which were avoided by public or influential figures. In the conversation, the director and filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri offers his support for the normalization of same-sex partnerships in India.
