After Indian courts recriminalised gay sex a few weeks ago, many wondered how Bollywood would react. While it’s accepted that most within the industry have a fairly relaxed attitude to all things gay, it wasn’t clear who might step up and speak out – something many think would really help – due to fear over how it might effect their career in the conservative country.
However now Imran Khan hasn’t just said he supports gay rights, he’s even made a video where he tackles ignorant and homophobic attitudes, trying to set the record straight (or gay, rather). Khan, who is straight himself, was well aware that making the vid would bring up questions about his own sexuality, but suggests that if he’s gay because he supports LGBT rights he must also be a dolphin as he supports animal rights.
Khan told the Hindustan Times, ‘I’ve always been involved with gay rights. The scenario in this country is disheartening and depressing. These are basic human rights that people are being denied of – they’re no minority.
‘The idea of this initiative is to show those who do not support homosexuality how ridiculous their thinking is … We will take all the prejudices and amplify them until people realize that what they’re doing is wrong. This has become a cultural and moral issue, but morals are subjective. They are opinions, not facts. Sadly, in this country, laws are based on morality and not legality.’
As things stand, the only way for gay sex to become legal in India again is by the government passing a new law, something they don’t seem to be particularly keen on pursuing at the moment. The hope is that if those like Imran can keep working on hearts and minds, pressure can put put on the lawmakers to act.
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