Legalizing homosexuality can increase HIV/AIDS cases

Legalizing homosexuality can increase HIV/AIDS cases Different people have different views regarding homosexuality. According to Section 377 of Indian Penal Code, homosexuality is an offence and person indulging in such act can be given life imprisonment. Gay rights activists filed a PIL to seek the court's direction to decriminalise gay sex among consenting adults in private.

The Centre pleaded that giving homosexuality a legal status will lead to an increase number in HIV/AIDS as it is one of the main reasons for spread of HIV/AIDS. In a written submission filed by Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, the Centre placed reports of various countries to substantiate its stand.

The centre said, "In Bangkok, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men rose from 17% in 2003 to 28% in 2005 and it is estimated that as many as 21% new HIV infections in Thailand in 2005 were attributable to unprotected sex between men. In Zambia, one in three (33%) surveyed men who have sex with men tested HIV-positive. In the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, 43% of men who said they had sex only with other men were found to be living with HIV."