M. S. Shamsi studies the nauseatingly abominable crime of homosexuality, and opines that apart from the legal one, this issue essentially calls for a detailed discussion from medical, religious, psychological, moral and social points of view to reach at correct conclusion.
The talk of nauseatingly abominable crime of homosexuality, though persisting from the days of yore, has of late, reverberated the whole world due mainly to the organised voice of tiny minority LGBT+ group. This has become the topic of serious discussions and deliberations in the corridors of power, parliament and even judiciary. As per report, so far about 34 countries have already legalised homosexuality or the same sex ‘marriage’.
In our country too there is much hubbub on this issue. Print and social media are flooded with views on this despicable concept. The 10-day hot hearing on this issue in the Supreme Court argued by the lawyers of eminence, which chiefly centred on labyrinthine interpretation of the legal definition of the term ‘marriage’ and its applications, could not so far yield any result as the judgement has been reserved.
Although the very talk of homosexuality, being outrightly beyond the pale, does not deserve any attention yet the present scenario has compelled every right thinking person to necessarily build a strong dyke to prevent the society from the devastating deluge of this egregiously unnatural behaviour. Apart from the legal one, this issue essentially calls for a detailed discussion from medical, religious, psychological, moral and social points of view to reach at correct conclusion.
HEALTH WOES
There have been clear indications by the renowned doctors and medical institutions of serious health risks for the gays or lesbian couples. Their studies are based on their researches and empirical evidences. John R. Diggs, JR. M.D., of Catholic Education Research Centre writes in his thought-provoking article, “The Health Risks of Gay Sex”: “As a physician, it is my duty to inform patients of the health risks of gay sex, and to discourage them from indulging in such harmful behaviour. Sexual relationships between members of the same sex expose gays, lesbians and bisexuals to extreme risks of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), physical injuries, mental disorders and even a shortened life span. There are four major distinctions between gay and heterosexual relationships, with specific medical consequences i.e. levels of promiscuity, physical health, mental health and life span.”
After giving statistical evidences, regarding levels of promiscuity, he writes, “The medical consequence of this promiscuity is that gays have a greatly increased likelihood of contracting HIV/AIDS, syphilis and other STDs. Common sexual practices among gay men lead to numerous STDs and physical injuries, some of which are virtually unknown in the heterosexual population. Lesbians are also at higher risk for STDs. Any degree of sexual promiscuity carries the risk of contracting STDs.”
About mental health, he further goes on to say: “It is well established that there are high rates of psychiatric illnesses, including depression, drug abuse, and suicide attempts, among gays and lesbians. This is true even in the Netherlands, where gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) relationships are far more socially acceptable than in the U.S. Depression and drug abuse are strongly associated with risky sexual practices that lead to serious medical problems.
“The only epidemiological study to date on the life span of gay men concluded that gay and bisexual men lose up to 20 years of life expectancy.”
The Mayo Clinic, USA, cautions that apart from the risk of HIV/STD for homosexual couples “there are some specific health concerns that gay men and other men who have sex with men need to be aware of. These are serious liver infections that can spread through sex. (Some people get vaccinated against the serious diseases like) the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is associated with anal cancer in men who have sex with men. Mpox vaccinations are also advised for some men who have sex with men. Not all sexually transmitted infections can be prevented by vaccines. For example, hepatitis C is not covered by a vaccine, and it can lead to liver failure and liver cancer”.
“Gay men and other men who have sex with men may be at an increased risk of depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Gay men also are more likely to have body image problems and eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, than are other men”.
There are many data to show rather prove the dangerous effect of unnatural sex on individual and public health whether it is sodomy or lesbianism or by whatever name one may call.
SOCIAL DISORDER
While writing on the “Effect of homosexuality upon public health and social order”, P. Cameron, K. Cameron and K. Proctor say, “Are homosexuals not dangers to society and is homosexuality compatible with full health?” To answer these questions 4,340 adult respondents drawn via area probability sampling from 5 metropolitan areas of the USA self-administered an extensive sexuality/public order questionnaire of over 500 items. Bisexuals and homosexuals (about 4% of the sample) as compared to heterosexuals”.
Their findings are highly perturbing and very dangerous for the social order. They say that homosexuals are (1) more frequently exposed themselves to biological hazards (e.g., sadomasochism, fisting, bestiality, ingestion of faeces); (2) exposed themselves sexually to more different bodies (e.g., more frequently admitted to participating in orgies, reported considerably larger numbers of sexual partners); (3) more frequently reported participating in socially disruptive sex (e.g., deliberate infection of others, cheating in marriage, making obscene phone calls); and (4) more frequently reported engaging in socially disruptive activities (e.g., criminality, shoplifting, tax cheating). From the standpoints of individual health, public health and social order, participating in homosexual activity could be viewed as dangerous to society and incompatible with full health.(National Library of Medicine, USA, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Showing the harmful effect of homosexuality on family and the society, how saner are the aversions put forth by SamvardhineeNyas, an RSS affiliated unit working on women’s health, education and empowerment. Their aversions, based on their survey report, are summarised hereunder: (Indian Express, May 7,2023).
- Homosexuality is a psychological disorder and legalising the same will promote more disorder in society.
- If same sex civil marriage becomes common, most same sex couples with children would be lesbian couples. This would mean raising yet more children without fathers. With offspring of same sex couples “fatherless”, it will become difficult to control delinquent behaviour in boys and “sexual activities in girls”.
- Same sex couples would also end up orienting their children towards homosexuality. They themselves will go for same sex marriage not realising the difference and importance of opposite sex marriage.
- Of the 300 doctors surveyed across the country, 84.27 % i.e. 253 doctors refused to give status of ‘marriage’ to such relations as per their reports”.
And how can the union of two perverted same sex persons be given the status of marriage – a solemn and sacred knot of wedding between a man and a woman to form a family and raise children under the soothing shade of a father and cosseting lap of a mother? Here I quote senior advocate Mr. A. M. Singhvi, who put his point in the Supreme Court, saying, ‘Ultimately the message is that what same sex couples have is not as important or significant as “real” marriages and that such “lesser relationship” cannot have the name of marriage.’
RELIGIOUS INTERDICTIONS
From religious point of view, this act is all the more abhorrent and grave sin.
The holy Qur’ān condemns this disgusting act in strongest words saying that, “Lot said to his people, ‘do you commit such lewdness as was never committed by the people before you?’ You lust after men for sex rather than women! You have indeed transgressed all bounds…. Then (as punishment) we rained on them the shower (of brimstone and turned the cities upside down as mentioned at Chapter 11,verse 82). So see how (gruesome) was the end of the evil – doers. (Qur’an: chapter-7, verse 80-84). Today the place, called Sodom and Gomorrah, where the people of Prophet Lot (Peace be tohim) ‘the community of homosexuals’ was stoned to death by God lies submerged in the southwestern part of dead sea near present Israel.
Not only the holy Qur’ān but the holy Bible also vehemently condemns this abomination. The same story of Lot has been mentioned in the Bible (Genesis: 19, 1-11) condemning this act. Similarly, it is mentioned, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22) How explicit is the Bible on this issue when it says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (Corinthians 1: 9-10)
Attention is also drawn to the para which mentions Biblical viewpoint on homosexual intercourse. In no uncertain terms it is stated:“The historically dominant viewpoint is that this verse is a blanket condemnation of both male and female homosexual activity.” (Romans 1: 26-27)
Mary Beth Bonacci, a frequent lecturer on chastity, writes in her article entitled ‘Dangers of Homosexuality’ published in The Arlington Catholic Herald, a diocesan newspaper of the Arlington (VA) diocese, “Homosexual activity is also dangerous spiritually. God designed sex to be used in the context of marriage, for a man and a woman to give themselves to each other and bring a family into the world. To use the sexual function any other way is a sin. All sin, including homosexual activity, cuts a person off from God. It is choosing our own way over His way. Morality is God’s instruction manual, and going against it hurts us, and hurts our relationship with Him.”
In Hinduism also homosexuality is not allowed. While retorting the views of Mr. Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Chief who, citing Hindu scriptures, called homosexuality a part of Indian culture, C. K. Saji Narayanan, a senior Sangh leader in his article published in The Organiser, the RSS affiliated magazine, called gay sex ‘a practice among Rakshasas’ and said India’s Dharmshastra penalise such sexual behaviour. (Indian Express, May 7,2023).
ILLOGICAL LOGIC
If we put the logics put forward by the protagonists of same sex marriage on the anvil of common sense, they fall apart and do not stand anywhere. They justify this abominable act on two basic premises –i.e. “freedom of choice of two consenting adults” and “its existence from ages”. The supporters of homosexuality argue ‘it is freedom of choice of two consenting adults’ hence should be respected as human rights. How deeply flawed is this logic? If two adults choose to consent to kill each other, will this act be legal? On this logic the rampant bribe should also be decriminalised because the two adults freely choose to consent.
Secondly, if the logic behind decriminalisation of any act merely on the ground of being in existence ‘from the time immemorial’ is accepted then so many crimes like theft, robberies, murder, rape, etc. must also be decriminalised as they exist from the time immemorial.
AVERT THE DISASTER
From the foregoing, it is quite evident that there is no room whatsoever for homosexuality in any civilised society. Decriminalising this abhorrent act is bound to bring disaster to our physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and individual as well as social wellbeing. The warp and woof of our family and social life and moral fabric shall be totally disintegrated. We all need to fight tooth and nail to avert the imminent disaster.
As the Judgement of the Supreme Court on this issue is reserved, we look forward with sanguine eyes towards the sagacity of the apex court for a rational judgement beneficial to the society at large.