'Homophobic' India, Pakistan in the same boat on same sex relations

United Nations, Mar 27: There is something when India and Pakistan found themselves in the same boat. India on Tuesday voted in favour of a Russian-drafted resolution that opposed benefits for same-sex partners of UN staff, but the resolution failed to pass in the General Assembly committee.

The move comes in the wake of a growing debate in the country about decriminalising gay sex.

India, along with China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE voted in favour of the draft resolution, which had 37 abstentions.

However, the draft resolution was defeated with 80 countries voting against it.

The resolution failed to pass after 80 nations opposed it

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been a strong proponent of equal rights for the LGBT community. Previously, a staff member's marital status was determined by the laws applicable in his or her nationality.

Should India have been voted against the resolution or it could have abstained from the vote like neighbouring Bhutan and Nepal.

Same-sex relations are a criminal offence in India after the Supreme Court had in 2013 overturned a Delhi High Court judgement that decriminalised gay sex in 2011.

Will UN decision propel a review in New Delhi of how to treat other gay foreign diplomats?

OneIndia News