India judges decline to legalise same-sex marriage
India’s Supreme Court has declined to legalise same-sex marriages but have said the rights of LGBTQ+ people must be upheld.
The five judges said they could not legalise gay marriage which they say is parliament’s job.
The verdict is disappointing for tens of millions of LGBTQ+ people in India. Many have said that they felt let down, whilst others hope that the government will indeed provide them more rights and benefits as directed by the court.
The court heard petitions in April and May, seeking to change the law to allow same-sex people to be legally married in the country.
Petitionsers for same-sex unions said not being able to marry violates their constitutional rights.
In 2018, the Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex in a landmark ruling. But the Indian government and religious leaders have strongly opposed same-sex marriage, saying it goes against India’s culture.
