Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Homosexuality In A Colonial Framework
(Pics: Pramod Samantray, BBC News) Wetka and Melka, have
declared their love for one another in a marriage ceremony in
the Indian district of Koraput. Homosexuality has been
criminalized since India was a colony of England. The 1861 law
states: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the
order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished
with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall
also be liable to fine. Though the government does not prosecute
these offenses there is still an extremely high level of
homophobia in India. According to the BBC their tribes were not
initially pleased with the pairs decision to marry. The
villagers were concerned that they would not be able to support
themselves without the help of men. Apparently due to the
obvious love between the couple they were "forgiven". Wetka and
Melka were ordered to pay a fine consisting of