Watch: This beautiful Indian video supports equality in an unlikely way

In this new Indian short clip, two girls sit around and discuss a wedding.

Discussing the impending nuptials, one asks: “Are all the preparations done? Do you have your wedding dress?

(Hit the subtitles button for English subs)

As the girls talk, one candidly says: “Can I tell you something? I am very afraid…”

The catch? They’re getting married to each other.

It might seem a bit obvious by Western standards, but the video sends a powerful message in India, where homosexuality is technically illegal.

The country’s Supreme Court opted in 2013 to reinstate Section 337 of the colonial-era Penal code.

Section 377 bans “sex against the order of nature”, interpreted to mean gay sex, and can be punished with up to 10 years in jail. The rule dates back to the days of British colonial rule in India.

Though the law is not commonly applied to women, all homosexuality is considered widely taboo in India – and there is no recognition for same-sex couples.

The new clip featuring the two women was released as part of the ’52 Films Project’ by Indian group FridayFictionFilms. It is titled ‘Tabdeel’ – the Urdu word for ‘change’.

India’s finance minister recently spoke out against the laws criminalising gay sex in the country.

He said: “When you have millions of people involved in this (gay sex) you can’t nudge them off.

“As jurisprudence world over is evolving, I think the judgement was not correct and probably at some stage they may have to reconsider.”

• Dec 01 2023

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