India's Supreme Court Surprise Hinders Gay Rights

Video:Hundreds protested in New Delhi Wednesday after India's Supreme Court overturned a lower court's ruling that had decriminalized gay sex, a surprising setback for the gay-rights movement. Via The Foreign Bureau, WSJ's global news update.

Reporter:A disappointing surprise for gay rights setback in this largely conservative country. The back story is that in 2009 a New Delhi high court ruled that a 19th century provision in the country's penal code that effectively banned gay sex should not apply to consentual acts but on Wednesday the Supreme Court rejected the decision that the old law was constitutionally valid and can only be changed or erased by parliament and not by the courts.

Interesting choice of words by the reporter regarding this story. He offers insight into the "back" story and explains the confusion regarding the "penal" code.

First of all, it's not like they thought they had a chance. The country is largely conservative and is a society wracked by many different classes, underclasses and equality among the various groups doesn't seem like much of a priority, say, like the way cows wandering throughout India's largest urban areas are given the highest degree of attention and support probably most equal among India's mostly Hindu society .

The thing that the traditionalists in India need to be wary of is public perception. These crowds that homosexuals manage to stir up can present this narrative that the majority is in favor and that can sway people. Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Muslims should get out there and voice support for keeping the old laws, or else the parliament might change the law.

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