They said the judgment will help solve health issues

such as HIV/AIDS, adding that the abolition of

Section 377 for adults shall also solve several ailments among the weaker segments of society.

Maya Sharma, Parma’s Founder trustee, said: “This judgment is indicative of the changing values of society and will enable further change. Generally, this movement has been seen as western, but in reality, this change would not have been possible without support and participation of people cutting across the religion, caste and age lines.”

Pointing out what kind of legal challenges women have faced recently in the state, Sharma said: “While marriage is almost compulsory for all, when it comes to women, there was a complete lack of choice. Recently in Ahmedabad, a same-sex couple went to the police for help only to be turned away because there was no provision for protection of a woman having a woman partner.”

With this decision, she added, “protection and support can be provided to those in child custody and women who are forced to elope to stay with the loved ones. They will all have protection under the law”.

She went on to say, now they hope that the general perception of gays would be forced to change.

“As it is legal now, women can make their own choice. And when you make use of right to choice, you are automatically fighting discrimination, which in turn legitimises your right as a citizen,” stated Sharma.

Prince Manvendrasinh Gohil of Rajpipla and founders of Vadodara-based NGO Lakshya, which works for HIV/AIDS among gays in Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara, could not be contacted despite several attempts.

Sylvester Merchant of Lakshya said, “The abolition of Section 377 will help us to work on several cases of HIV/AIDS. The health department will have to take this issue into cognizance after judiciary has intervened into it. Due to their intervention, the alternative sex will be accepted over the period.”

He added: “We have been a part of several meetings being held by the NAZ foundation, which had filed the petition in the Delhi High Court, for legalising gay, bisexual and transgenders. It had been a continuous struggle for the last five years, meeting activists across India to fight for the gay rights. We are eager to see what people think about it and then take the next step.”