Sex workers oppose decriminalisation of gay sex

New Delhi, July 3 : While thousands of homosexuals across the country celebrate freedom from the criminal tag following the Delhi High Court verdict, a group representing sex workers Friday wrote a letter to Law Minister Veerappa Moily opposing the move.

Bharatiya Patita Uddhar Sabha (BPUS), which is active in 10 states, said: 'We oppose the move. Unless the law ministry takes care of our view then we will be forced to appeal near the Supreme Court.'

Khairati Lal Bhola, BPUS chief, told IANS, 'In our country millions of women are struggling to earn their livelihood through sex trade and have been demanding legal sanction for their trade for years. Now people practising unnatural sex have been decriminalised.'

'Why is the government so apathetic towards sex workers?' Bhola asked.

India has nearly 2.5 million prostitutes operating out of nearly 300,000 brothels in 1,100 red light areas across the country.

The Delhi High Court Thursday ruled that gay sex among consenting adults was no crime. In a packed courtroom Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), saying it violated Article 21 of the constitution which promises equality for all citizens before law.

--IANS