Varun Sardana, fashion designer
It is a huge step, because legalisation brings with it a sense of freedom. You don’t have to live in shame or be intimidated. It will take time to change society, but all good things need a beginning, and in the long run I am sure we shall have a less homophobic society.

Hemant Sagar, fashion designer
It is time the decision was made. In all these years what I really missed was, what they call in France, the right to indifference. Being gay is not a choice we make. You are born with it, much like your eye colour or your skin tone. I don’t think society at large is homo-phobic, but a few people are. During a particular stage in society homosexuality might have been an issue when reproduction was of primary importance in a union.
But since 1965, and then the Stonewall Riots in 1969, things have not been the same. Pleasure for pleasure in the bedroom is a personal choice now, and should remain that way for both homo and heterosexuals.

Lesley Esteves, journalist
This is one of the happiest days of my life. We’d presented a strong case for so many years now, but one couldn’t have predicted this would happen. The news is still sinking in.

Sunil Gupta, photographer
I’m 55, HIV+ and emotional and I didn’t think this would happen. I’ve been talking about this since the 1980s when nobody else breathed a word about it and didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime. We were in the courtroom today when the ruling was announced. I’m extremely happy.

... contd.