Danish Ahmed: Good work there :)
True, homosexuality was as much an acceptable part of the ancient cultures as is heterosexuality now. In fact, being anti-gay was considered barbarianism by the civilized world ( refer Plato's quote below). Its not just Alexander who was homosexual, Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony apparently shared a sexual relationship and so did even the gods!
Remember Achilles had withdrawn from war and returned only to take revenge after the killing of his lover Patroclus by Hector

Criminalization of homosexuality began more as Church-empire building measure... you know the rest ;)

Here is what Plato has to say
"Homosexuality, is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engendered in their subjects, or powerful friendships or passionate love-all of which homosexuality is particularly apt to produce."
-Plato

Hindian Guy: @Rajeev

Define absurd acts. If someone was holding hands with his wife or hugging her or even kissing her in a park, especially with no kids around, and you came and told them what thry should or should not do, what you will get is one tight and hard slap for *your* absurd act and nuisance.

Even better, even the high court ruled earlier this year that even police cannot take action in such case and it is not a crime. So whoever you harass can instead call the police and get *you* arrested for harassing him and his family.

You'd better learn to obey the laws and how to live in a civil society and stop trying to enforce your village boy ideas on the modern society. If you cannot handle the modern world, go and live in some remote village perhaps. You definitely have that option. Your so-called right to live away from modern society can definitely work in a remote village. So you best go and stay there.

It is clear that your ideas of "absurd" and "sanctity" are suited to a village :)

Hindian Guy: @Rajeev

Out of curiousity, if majority decides that all women should be raped, or that all babies should be killed, will you willingly volunteer your own family members based on your alleged belief that whatever majority wants, should always be given to the majority?

I see lots of heterosexuals kissing on streets as well. I find nothing wrong with kissing in the first place. It is not exactly sex, is it? You are just a prude who will gladly pay money like an idiot to goto movies and see two people kiss or simulate sex, and yet get all crazy and angry if someone merely hugs, holds hands or kisses in front of you.

If you have problem with kissing, how come you passively accept it when same is shown to your own family members, sisters and mothers on TV and movies? What is exactly so different if someone does it in front of you instead of in a recording?

You are basically quite possibly still immature or are just plainly crazy and insane and unfit to live in society.

Thra M: @rajeev: And do not tell me that you are speaking to me about supressing through a mob - only when its a public nuisance & trying to be kind. The mere fact that you can choose to speak like that to me via a 'warning' & 'speculation' is distasteful & disrespectful. I am not your property to be 'warned' so. The closest somebody owns me is my parents. You are just the next citizen here. So, look at yourself and ask why you behave so - instead of discussing and understanding the person talking to you. Is that the decorum you support?

Thra M: @rajeev: And if you see public nuisance - would you not gather your 'friends' and attack both straight and gays so? Or is this attitude reserved only for gays?

And going back to the issue of majority. That is a matter of strength. So, what is your personal law say if you are one to one with someone tougher than you. Can he convince you by getting physical? That is a matter of strenght too... right? I think you are promoting means that are the real ones which can destroy our society - not my existence. Which will continue... whether you like it or not.

Thra M: @Rajeev: Majority opinion is not = law. Agree? Majority opinion can be wrong because of ignorance. Can you agree on that possibility? Answer that.

Next, how can I be diseased just because you say so? According to any reasonable behaviour someone making a judgment against another just because he thinks so and not seeing what key insitutes say- is anti-social and self-serviing

The divide is not between homosexuals and hetrosexuals. My family, friends and people close to me are all straights. The divide is between people who are ignorant and who are not.

The fact that you choose to threaten and want to decide the world purely because of your view is distasteful. Whether its against gays or others different.

That is one reason why I feel blessed being gay, because it makes me have patience to try to understand people who seem different .

I may be gay. But I maybe more 'majority' than you in another classification. Maybe I should employ that with you in another forum?

Rajeev Govardhanam: @ Thra M....Majority means...majority opinion. Not the election winning of some cast, creed, religion or party. I was a supporter of legalisation of homosexuality in order to avoid police harassing this "Diseased lot" . I am a supporter of legalisation of "Prostitution" in order to avoid police pick pocketing the hard earned money from them. But, if these legalisations become a public nuisance, I cannot support that. May be a good way is to lift the ban for one year and see how it goes. But, let me tell you, if I see any absurd act in public, I will make an organisation of hetrosexual people to suppress this socalled homo/bi/group sexualists and will fight for "social sanctity"...hope "homosexuals" will not stretch "Heterosexuals" to that extend........

Thra M: @rajeev: Not sure whether you say it should be legalised or not. Public sex is not allowed anyways and no one is asking for that. That is anyway not the demand. Straights and Gays will show affection anyways - its another matter what that means.

The ban does nothing for human spirit. For me, the ban makes people dishonest with others and themselves, live in the dark, marry when they should not and hence cheat, be forced to marry, be an excuse for others to ridicule and hurt people's respect ... For me, life must be lived and not spent running away.

Majority rule is not equal to law. Just to clarify. Else, India would never have progressed in many areas we take for granted today. Besides, in the end of the day, almost everyone is a minority in one way or the other. if majority rule is ever equated to law the country can be 'minoritised' segment by segment until only one man is left standing. Hope you understand.

I would never speak here if I did not have faith in India.

Rajeev Govardhanam: Dear Thra M, I am not claiming the entire majority(heterosexuals) are matured. What I told is why something should be legal and why something should not be. Did I say rape of opposite sex can be legalised? If government bans masturbation in private and when it is lifted, is it ok to do in public? out of "happiness" because there is a group come together can they do anything? I oppose any sexual display in public to keep the sanctity of public life. But, when it comes to private, I agree and can be legalised. But, for that as well, there has to be certain level of maturity. Also, we all know whether homosexuality, bisexuality, group sexuality, even worse etc happens in India whether it is banned or not. But, at least this ban keeps that activities more private and hidden under closet....I think this time is good for only that......let majority rule. We are democracy.

Thra M: @rajeev: You are immatured to make a decision on a whole population based upon your breif experience - though even that is contestable. You are not gay. You have not lived that life. You are not sure what it means to people who you did not 'see' till yesterday. Who for long you term criminals. Your quick conclusions are a sign of immaturity in my view. I am productive, I am useful, I am lovable, I love. I have straight friends who think opposite to what you think. And I have gay friends who are great people.

Now, I assert that you are immature. Because everyday I see on TV straight people raping, stealing, killing, being corrupt and more. So, according to your logic I think straight people have brought the suffering that this world witnesses. I see straight people caressing in parks too. And since you are one, you are like them. You think this is logical way of thinking?

Rajeev Govardhanam: Friends, I know these are very close to someone's heart. So as mine which I think, till the time, you keep it inside four walls, it should not be considered illegall But, when they want to show that in public by kissing each other or caressing, which I saw in that procession on street whether it is heterosexual or homo or sex with animals is a complete uncivilized immature act. I think the so called homosexuals in India at present is not matured enough to get that relaxation. They looks little unashamed or takes pride in showing their passion in public which should not be allowed at any cost. If, any small relaxation is being taken to this extend, then I am afraid of that relaxation.

Hindian Guy: @Rajeev

And what exactly do you think you will be "forced" to see? Last I checked, public sex is still illegal and nobody is even demanding to make it legal. So what nonsense are you talking about?

It is you who is immature and irrational. And clearly if you want to jail someone for no fault of his, or just because of some imagined affront to you, isn't it you instead who is unable to behave and function in civilized society? By your logic then, shouldn't you yourself be the first to be jailed?

Thra M: @Rajeev: I am not sure what you mean. You think your son will become a homosexual by seeing another? Did anyone become a 'hijra' since we seem them everyday? Did the homosexual become straight since he watches straight movies all his life? Will you lie to him that homosexuals do not exist? The fact you do not understand homosexuals and their right to be open, is because someone probably told you they do not exist or told you some fairy tales about them. And now you are trying to supress another person due to that. How is it good?

Rajeev Govardhanam: I was not worried about removing that clause till the so called homosexuals came out in open for a rally or procession kind. Now, I think, they have some problem in accepting themselves. If they are left open, then we may have to witness a lot through our eyes and I may have to ask my son to close his eyes when we are out it malls or restaurants. I think, homosexuals are not matured enough to behave themselves.

Hindian Guy: @Varghese

It is disgusting how people like you tell lies and make false claims without providing any proof.

Baba Ramdev is an idiot. He is not a doctor or psychiatrist to know about diseases, so he is just a liar doing publicity stunts.

Many animals exhibit homosexuality. Check on google dear ignoramus. There is nothing unnatural about it.

And WHO and every reputed psychiatrical body says that homosexuality is not a disease. So obviously the only disease here is your being a compulsive liar. Please take a treatment with a good psychiatrist for it.

Varghese Varghese: Homosexx
What Baba Ramdev said about Homosexuallity is TRUE, It is a [mental] desease which

has to be treated/curable.

Think about Animals which have no Rationality has got the 'wisdom' to chose its mate !?

Think about the Plants,the numerous lliving beings in the sea and land.

If some people have the tendency to be Gay/Lesbian leave them alone or

consider it as unnatural.

WE DON'T NEED ANY LEGISLATION TO MAKE THE UNNATURAL-

NATURAL IN A MODERN CIVILISED SOCIETY.

WE DON'T WANT THE HUMAN RACE TO END BECAUSE OF SOME

UNNATURALS. WE LOVE THE NATURAL WORLD AS GOD HAS CREATED.

Ali Hasan: तुम बहुत अच्छी हो, तुम्हारे जैसा कोई नहीं.
तुम सुन्दरता की एक मूरत हो.

Shrimant Keskar: oh oh good speach

S S: quote"....Alexander the Great, who commanded his first battles while only 16 went on to conquer the entire known world" Celina get your facts right at least when it comes to your own country!! Alexander failed to penetrate into India let alone conquer it. "known world" Hah!

Bipin Jaiswal: hi