New Delhi (02/04/2022): Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule on Friday introduced ‘The Special Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2022’ as a Private Member’s Bill which aims to provide equal marriage rights to LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Seeking an amendment to the Special Marriage Act, the Bill says that “this Act may be called the Special Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2022 and it shall come into force at once.”
Justifying the reason for the Bill, the Baramati MP in a statement said, “In the year 2018, the Supreme Court of India struck down an archaic, draconian legislation of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 namely section 377. Through this landmark judgement (Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India), homosexuality was effectively decriminalised. While this was a much needed, progressive leap forward, LGBTQIA individuals still face persecution, discrimination and social stigma within society.”
While the determination of one’s sexual orientation has been realised, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP said LGBTQIA individuals are still unable to marry and create their own families.
