This is FUCKING HUGE NEWS.

As you probably know, close to 20% of the people in the world live in India. You know, over a billion people. What you are perhaps less likely to have known is that the doubtless significant proportion of this population who are same-sex attracted in the pants area (and I specify this advisedly - while homos in the West sometimes complain about the iniquity - and iniquity it is - that their public displays of affection are frowned upon while heteros can kiss and fondle in public pretty freely, in India men all walk around holding hands with on another, but the idea of a man and woman holding hands in public has been frowned upon) have been criminalised since the 19th century, courtesy of the British.

Today, this is apparently no longer the case, as the Indian supreme court has ruled that the Indian criminal code violates Indians' fundamental human rights by criminalising homosexuality. And this is potentially huge, as I say, legalising gayness for a large portion of humanity.

Still, it remains to be seen what will happen. Since this is a judicial decision, it in itself does nothing immediately to affect social attitudes in India. Most importantly, it doesn't mean that politicians will accept that homosexuality will be tolerated now. There may yet be backlashes, appeals, repression. Still, here's hoping this is good news for Indian gays, that it will prove an important step on the road to recognition.