The document summarizes the story of Harish Iyer, a gay man from India who was sexually abused by his uncle from age 7 to 18. After realizing he was gay in college amid bullying, Harish reported the abuse which ended. Though his family struggled with his sexuality initially, he has since gained their acceptance as well as a supportive job. The Delhi High Court recently ruled that gay sex between consenting adults is not a crime, bringing Harish relief and confidence in his identity.

1. METRO/GAY HO! FRIDAY, 3 JULY, 2009. MUMBAI
w w w.mid-day.com 2
VERDICT BRINGS PEACE TO
GAY PAEDOPHILE VICTIM
CONFIDENCE, ACCEPTANCE AND RELIEF A R E
URVASHI SETH His uncle first abused him
urvashi.seth@mid-day.com when Harish was just seven.
For 11 more years, the horror
“If you are gay, contact Harish went on with sickening regu-
Iyer” larity, till at 18, Harish finally
– Graffiti on a college wall. told his parents.
“My parents approached
HARISH Iyer now a more con- the police and the abuse
fident 30-year-old, says ended. By then I was in college
homophobia as much as sexu- and somehow my classmates
al abuse scarred him for life. seemed to sense, before I did
CELEBRAT I
ON TIME:
Gay activists
celebrate the
Delhi High
Court ruling
yesterday.
LEGALLY G AY:Harish Iyer (cricled) has finally gained acceptance. PIC/AFP
PIC/URVASHI SETH
that I was homosexual. There don’t know I would be as com- for his creativity. “We don’t
was humiliation and there was fortable if my children grew up care for what he is, all we care LANDMARK
graffiti on the college wall. It and told me they were homo- about is his performance at JUDGEMENT
was then, after the constant sexual, but I am certainly work. On the day of the inter-
taunts, that I realised I was, in happy for my brother.” view, Harish made it clear that
fact, attracted to men.” A creative professional he was gay. But that’s a per- T H E Delhi High Court
It was this realisation that with an event management sonal choice and our staff has ruled that gay sex among
finally gave him the confi- company, Harish was awarded no problems with it,” said consenting adults was not
dence to stand up against the Prateek N Kumar, owner of the a crime. The court,
brutality. “Only when I
refused to be browbeaten, that
my classmates treated me with
Did you company.
Said Harish, “Today, I am
legal. I know there will be
however, held that Section
377 would continue to
apply to non-consensual
respect,” said Harish.
With family, acceptance
know? many who will oppose the
decision but who cares. Loving
homosexual acts as well
as child abuse. The ruling
was a nightmare. “My mother Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, another man is not wrong.” is not applicable to people
was very angry, but she did Sudan, Yemen and pats o
r f who are below 18 years.
come to terms with it eventu- Nigeria and Somalia punish G AY COMMUNITY
ally,” he added. homosexuality with a death HAILS JUDGEMENT.
Harish’s sister, Rani, said, “I penalty. LOG ON TO
MID DAY M ATE
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