Call to legalise homosexuality in India

A health minister in India has called for a ban on homosexuality to be overturned for the country to better tackle Aids.

However, so far his appeal has been unsuccessful, Thaindian News reported.

Under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code "unnatural sex" is prohibited, which includes men having sex with men.

Health minister Anbumani Ramadoss told the news portal this means doctors face penalisation for treating gay men or advising them about HIV/Aids.

Mr Ramadoss said there were about 2.46 million men in India who have sex with other men.

He stated that the government only knew the HIV status of half of them, which was concerning as 86 per cent of people caught HIV/Aids in India via sex.

"Which includes MSM [men who have sex with men, but do not identify if they are gay or bisexual] and transgender," Mr Ramadoss told Thaindian.

According to Aids charity Avert, HIV emerged later in India than other countries, affecting all sections of society not just sex workers.

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