April 20, 2024 00:29 (IST)
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Goa minister denies 'LGBT cure' remark, Ban says he stands for equality
New Delhi, Jan 13 (IBNS): Amid a row over a Goa minister calling the LGBT community needs cure like alcoholics, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that he stood firm for equality for everyone in the society.
"I am proud to stand for the equality of all people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. I speak out because laws criminalising consensual, adult same-sex relationships violate basic rights to privacy and to freedom from discrimination. Even if they are not enforced, these laws breed intolerance," the UN Secretary General said.
He advocated for the abolition of the controversial Article 377 in the Constitution that criminalizes homosexuality
"Indian government should really promote the human rights of those people with different sexual orientation, homosexuality. This penal code should be decriminalized for those people of homosexuality," Ban Ki-moon said.
This comes after Goa Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar created a furor by saying that the Goa government is planning to open centres to “cure” homosexuals and make them “normal”.
However, on Tuesday, he made a U-turn on his comment and said he was speaking about curing the drug addicts.
Claiming to be misquoted by media, Tawdkar said, "I was speaking about the drug addicted and sexually abused youths. I never commented on the LGBT youths."
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday did a damage control saying sexual orientation is a natural thing.
"It is a natural thing. [If he has said so] he could be ignorant then," said the CM on the comment of Ramesh Tawadkar.
"What would be the government stand? It is a natural thing," said the Goa chief minister on the issue.
State Sports and Youth minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, Ramesh Tawadkar said that there would be a centre for LGBT (Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) communities like Alcoholics Anonymous centres.
“We will train them and give them medicines too,” the minister had said.
According to sources, the minister also elaborated the government’s policy report on youth. The document lists LGBT community among stigmatised groups that need focused attention.
Tawadkar’s remarks were likened to Yoga teacher Ramdev’s controversial statement in the past where latter had said that homosexuality was a “disease” and can be cured by yoga.
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