Sangama

(A sexual minorities NGO working for Human Rights)

Invite to Press Conference

Delhi, 18 Dec 2015: Sangama, a Bangalore-based NGO of Sexual and Gender Minorities, working for the human rights for the last 15 years, along with Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum, Sexual Minorities Forum- Kerala, National Alliance for Peoples Movement (NAPM), National Coalition of People living with HIV in India( NCPI PLUS) and activists will address a Press Conference on Friday, the 18th of December 2015 at Press Club from 4:30 to 5:30pm on the Introduction by Shashi Tharoor, a private member’s bill in Parliament, to amend Section 377 of Indian Penal Code.

We acknowledge the efforts and welcome the move to introduce the bill. No responsible Parliament should ignore the harassment and persecution which the sexual minority citizens have been subjected to because of an outdated and archaic s.377 and the resulting legal framework. It is the bounden duty of the parliamentarians, sworn to uphold the Constitution, to redress the real grievances of the sexual minority community. Even as the opinion against the retention of Section 377 builds up, it is clear that the law continues to be used to target, harass and persecute sexual minorities, including Transgenders and various other identities, across the country. The insidious danger of section 377 lies in the fact that it permeates different social settings including the medical establishment, family and the State. Violence gains a semblance of legal acceptability. Sec. 377 expresses the deep societal repugnance towards sexual minorities and provided the fig leaf of legitimacy for the harassment of sexual minorities. India HIV/AIDS Alliance has also welcomed the introduction of the bill. They were instrumental in building the momentum against s 377 in 18 states under “Pehchan” program

Various Civil society and sexual minority groups will be part of the press conference

Venue: Press Club of India

Time: 4:30 to 5:30pm (immediately after the bill was introduced in the Parliament)

Date: 18^th Dec, 2015