PUTA. A QUEER INVADER

we need your help.

The reason why we’ve decided to contact you is because we believe that your support to our cause is vital. It could help us raise the profile of the struggle for equality that we are fighting in our own country.

We are outraged and appalled at the wave of homophobia we are seeing growing every day, and at the increasing number of hate crimes being committed against people because of their sexual orientation, both in Italy and abroad. The recent cases in Italy as in the rest of Europe are testimony to this awful spread in violence.

But we would like to draw your attention on something which might be happening at thousands of kilometres away, but nevertheless affect us all because it shows how barbaric, violent and homophobic our so-called “Western civilisation” is becoming.

The Italian parliament just yesterday scrapped a bill aimed at protecting gay people from hate crimes, on the grounds that it would violate the country’s national constitution. A debate over the introduction of such legislation had stemmed from the wave of murders, beatings, verbal aggressions and acts of bullying against LGBT people occurred in Italy in the last few months.

However, the Italian parliament’s justification for throwing out the bill – which would have raised penalties against acts of violence motivated by homophobia – was simply absurd: they said that it would give “unequal protection” to gays compared to other groups, violating the principle of equality.

A number of MPs even motivated their choice by saying that the very expression “sexual orientation” is in itself “ambiguous”, as it could include things like paedophilia, zoophilia, necrophilia, incest and so on. And they didn’t simply state it verbally, but put it writing in a legal document that the majority of the parliament then approved.

This is delirious and insulting for our own dignity of Italians, but also for the dignity of every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual person living anywhere in Europe and in the world. It effectively touches each and every one of us living in the EU, because we are all part of the same Union, and there are basic principles of equality and respect that all of our governments are bound to respect.

Following the bill rejection, the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the Italian Parliament’s stance is a “step backward for human rights in Italy”.

We ask you to support us in our battle for equality, by helping us organise and hold a protest/demonstration in front of the Italian embassy as soon as possible, involving as many people as possible to have our voice clearly heard.

Helping us protect LGBT rights in Italy today also means protecting your own rights to be yourselves, to live and to exist tomorrow in every part of the world.

Arcigay – Gay & Lesbian Italian Association
www.causes.com/decriminalisation
www.arcigay.it

Italian Embassies All Around The World
http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Ministero/Rappresentanze/default.htm?LANG=EN

Write An E-Mail To

Giorgio Napolitano – President of Italian Republic
https://servizi.quirinale.it/webmail/

Gianfranco Fini – President of House of Representatives
http://nuovo.camera.it/588
or
fini_g@camera.it

Renato Schifani – President of Senate
schifani_r@posta.senato.it

Silvio Berlusconi – Prime Minister
http://www.camera.it/altresezionism/1568/1567/email.asp?recipient=berlusconi_s@camera.it
or
berlusconi_s@camera.it

Mara Carfagna – Minister for Equal Opportunities
antidiscriminazioni@pariopportunita.gov.it
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Vikram Doctor è un un giornalista del The Economic Times, l’edizione sull’economia figlia del Times of India. Come professionista dell’informazione e come attivista per i diritti delle persone lgbt da anni si spende molto, a Mombai, per l’abolizione del reato di omosessualità in India, contemplato nel famigerato articolo 377 del codice penale indiano. In questi ultimo anno la vicenda ha subito una forte accelerazione, grazie alla causa intentata da alcune associazioni che lottano per la prevenzione dell’HIV/AIDS contro l’art. 377. A loro avviso, la condanna giuridica e sociale che ne deriva aumenta le possibilità di diffusione della malattia, costringendo milioni di persone alla clandestinità e all’assenza di informazioni sanitarie adeguate. La causa, in discussione presso l’Alta Corte di Nuova Delhi, è a un bivio: dopo aver raccolto i pareri delle parti (a favore della depenalizzazione dell’omosessualità: le associazioni; contrario, significativamente, il governo federale, seppur con qualche incrinatura), i giudici si sono ritirati in camera di consiglio – per i report precedenti, si veda qua – . Elaboreranno il loro verdetto e sapremo se accoglieranno le richieste di abolizione o se al contrario confermeranno la situazione attuale. In ogni caso, la discussione in tribunale ha aperto un dibattito anche nella società e sui mass-media indiani.

Per capire a che punto stiamo, come reagisce alla discussione la popolazione indiana, quali prospettive ci sono per il futuro abbiamo rivolto a Vikram Doctor le seguenti domande a cui lui ha gentilmente risposto per e-mail.

1. Vikram, per quando è atteso il verdetto dell’Alta Corte?

Ormai ogni giorno. Non abbiamo certezze perché l’Alta Corte ci avviserà soltanto il giorno prima di annunciare la decisione. Dipende da quanto i giudici ci metteranno ad arrivare alla loro decisione. Gli argomenti sono stati completamente esposti, questo caso ha un alto profilo e i giudici sono conosciuti come indipendenti e coscienziosi, quindi la decisione dovrebbe essere presa presto. Ma non sappiamo quando.

2. Se il verdetto sarà positivo e accoglierà le richieste delle associazioni, che effetti avrà?

La decisione, qualunque essa sarà, sarà limitata – limitata allo stato di Delhi e limitata nel senso del tempo perché verrà quasi sicuramente presentato ricorso presso la Corte Suprema, per una decisione definitiva – .

Se sarà positiva, i nostri avversari ovvero i gruppi che negano l’importanza di un’azione contro l’AIDS e una parte della destra nazionalista, probabilmente sostenuti dall Ministero degli Interni indiano, si appelleranno quasi sicuramente alla Corte Suprema. Questo comporterebbe una sospensiva della sentenza. Se sarà negativa, i gruppi per i diritti degli omosessuali potrebbero appellarsi anche loro alla Corte Suprema (ma non abbiamo ancora una strategia precisa al riguardo).

Ma è una questione tecnica. Se vinciamo, sarà veramente una grande vittoria simbolica perché sarà la prima volta che un’Alta Corte in India si occupa delle questioni relative all’omosessualità. Inoltre, tra le Alte Corti dell’India, le decisioni delle Alte Corti di Delhi, Bombay e Chennai hanno un’importanza particolare, in quanto altamente rispettate. La decisione non sarà probabilmente vincolante, ma manderà un forte segnale giuridico, indicando la direzione nella quale i diritti degli omosessuali in India dovrebbero andare.

Abbiamo già evidenze su come questo caso stia influenzando la legge, ancor prima che la decisione sia pubblicata. Circa un anno o due fa, un giovane uomo inglese dal nome Desmond Hope è stato accusato di violazione dell’articolo 377 a Goa. L’Alta Corte di Goa gli ha dato garanzie sul territorio e questo ci dimostra come le attitudini verso l’omosessualità stiano cambiando in India.

3. Il reato di omosessualità previsto dall’art. 377 verrà abolito in tutta l’India?

Come ho spiegato, no. La decisione riguarderà Delhi, ma il suo effetto sarà percepito in tutta l’India. Devo anche precisare che non stiamo chiedendo che l’articolo 377 venga cancellato, ma stiamo chiedendo un cambiamento molto piccolo – stiamo chiedendo alle corti di dichiarare che esso non venga applicato agli adulti consenzienti. Le ragioni per questa richiesta è che la legge in questione viene ancora usata nei casi di abuso sessuale sui bambini e di violenza sessuale sugli adulti. Idealmente, dovrebbe essere creata una nuova legge per occuparsi di questi casi, ma in sua assenza speriamo che le corti useranno il loro potere per escludere gli adulti consenzienti dai reati previsti da questa legge.

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Vikram Doctor is a journalist working with the The Economic Times, the Times of India’s sister business publication. As a professional responsible for the dissemination of information and as an activist for the rights of lgbt people a lot or work is done, in Mumbai, for the abolition of the crime of homosexuality, contemplated in the infamous article 377 of the Indian penal code. In the last year the situation has greatly accelerated, thanks to a cause initiated by several associations which work for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and against article 377. According to the previously mentioned associations, the legal sentence and social condemnation derived from article 377 increases the possibility of the spread of the disease and forces millions of people into hiding without necessary information and suitable healthcare. The case, being discussed now in the high court of New Delhi, is at a crossroads: after having heard the positions of both sides (one for the decriminalization of homosexuality: and the associations against, namely the federal government, though not completely) the judges have retired to their chambers – to discuss the previous issues – . The judges will discuss their eventual verdict and we shall know if they will welcome the requests of abolition or if on the contrary they will support the present status quo. At any rate, the discussion in the high court has sparked a debate in Indian society and mass media.

In order to understand where we are now, how the Indian population will respond to the debate and what future prospectives exist we have asked Vikram Doctor to answer the following questions and he has kindly responded by email.

1. Vikram, when should we expect the verdict of the High Court?

Any day now. We don’t know for sure because the High Court will only let us know the day before that they are posting a decision. So it depends on how long the judges take to do their decision. The arguments have been thorough, this is quite a high profile case and the judges are known to be independent and conscientious, so a decision should be due soon. But we don’t know when.

2. If it is positive and welcomes the requests of the associations what effects will it have?

Strictly speaking the decision, whatever it is, will be a limited one – it will be limited to the state of Delhi, and will probably also be limited in time too, because it will almost definitely be appealed to the Supreme Court for a final decision. If it is positive then our opponents who include an AIDS denial group and a right wing nationalist, possibly supported by India’s Home Ministry, will almost definitely appeal it to the Supreme Court, which could apply a stay order. If it is negative, the queer rights groups could appeal it (but we haven’t really got a firm
strategy for this yet).

But this is technical. If we win it will be a really big symbolic win, because it will be the first time a really high court in India is pronouncing on the subject of homosexuality. Also, among the High Courts in India, the decisions of the Delhi, Bombay and Chennai High Courts are often given particular importance because they are particularly well respected courts. The decision will probably not be binding on other courts, but it will send a strong signal to the legal community on the direction that queer rights in India should take.

We already have evidence of how this case is affecting the law, even before it is decided. About a year or two ago, a young British man called Desmond Hope was accused of violating this law in Goa. The High Court of Goa gave him bail on the grounds that the fact that this case was being fought showed that attitudes towards homosexuality are changing in India.

3. Will the crime of homosexuality as stated in article 377 be abolished in all of India?

As I stated, no. The decision will be limited to Delhi, but its effect will be felt across India. Also, I should make it clear we are not asking for Section 377 to go, but are only asking for a very narrow change – we are asking to courts to declare that it does not apply to consenting adults. This is because the law still has use in cases of child sex abuse and male rape. Ideally there should be a new law to deal with these, but in its absence we hope the courts will use their power to exclude consenting adults from this law.

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