Flaunt it, get punished: Subramanian Swamy's message to LGBT community

NEW DELHI: As the Supreme Court decides to reconsider the Constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which criminalises homosexuality, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has a few words for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community.

“As long as they don't celebrate it, don't flaunt it, don't create gay bars to select partners it's not a problem,” said Swamy.

But he has a problem with gay people flaunting their love.

“In their privacy what they do, nobody can invade. But if you flaunt it, it has to be punished and therefore there has to be Section 377 of the IPC,” added Swamy.

Swamy has been vocal about his views on homosexuality.

In 2015, the BJP leader took to Twitter, expressing his stand on the subject:

Legitimizing homosexuality leads to commercial profit since Gay Bars will be opened in all cities on FDI. It is a genetic flaw celebrated — Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) November 29, 2015

The statement had generated quite a furor back then.

On Monday, a top court bench – Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar, and DY Chandrachud – claimed that the issue arising out of Section 377 needs to be debated upon by a larger bench.

The court has also issued a notice to the Central government seeking its response on a writ petition filed by five members of the LGBT community, who stated that they live in fear of police because of their natural sexual preferences.