Colonial ban

India's Supreme Court struck down a colonial-era ban on sex at the centre of years of legal battles.

"The law had become a weapon for harassment for the L community.

Section 377 of the Indian penal code, enacted by British rulers in 1861, banned "carnal intercourse against the order of nature".

Activists had been fighting the ban since the 1990s, suffering several court reverses before Thursday's verdict which sparked celebrations among the groups across the  nation.

Members of the community hugged each other and cried as news of the verdict spread.

"I am speechless! 

It's taken a long time to come - but finally I can say I am free and I have equal rights as others.

He is a college student who wore a rainbow scarf.

It has long been taboo in conservative India -- particularly in rural areas where homophobia is widespread.

The Delhi High Court decriminalised this in 2009, but the Supreme Court reinstated legal sanctions in 2014 after a successful appeal by religious groups.

According to official data, 2,187 cases under Section 377 were registered in 2016 under the category of "unnatural offences".

Seven people were convicted and 16 acquitted.

A:

A slim majority of Singaporeans still support a law that bans sex, an online survey showed on Monday, 

amid renewed debate on whether the city-state should follow India's footsteps and scrap similar British colonial-era legislation.

Previous legal challenges to overturn the ban failed 

but a prominent Singapore diplomat called on the community to renew legal action against the law, 

a day after India's top court decriminalized sex in a landmark ruling.

Fifty-five percent of 750 Singaporeans still supported the ban. < surveyed by independent market research and consulting firm> 

The Ipsos poll 12 percent opposed the law, while 33 percent were neither for or against it.

Ipsos conducted the online poll of people aged between 15-65 years over four days in late July and early August.

Under Section 377A of Singapore's Penal Code, 

a man found to have committed an act of "gross indecency" with another man could be jailed for up to two years,

 - although prosecutions are rare. 

The law does not apply to acts between women.

During its six decades since independence, Singapore has emerged as a modern, wealthy city state.

Yet, lawmakers remain typically cautious over social reforms, 

partly due to sensitivities stemming from the ethnic and religious mix among Singapore's 5.6 million inhabitants 

- a population that includes citizens, permanent residents and foreigners

Its survey was undertaken to mark the 10th anniversary of Singapore's annual parade.

An event draws thousands of people.

He called on the community to bring a class action and challenge the law.

The issue was up to the Singapore society to decide - 

but the majority of Singaporeans were opposed to any change to the law.

A growing minority want it to be repealed.

The normative values of Singaporeans with respect to the issues are gradually shifting."

"As has occurred in other countries globally, 

increased dialogue regarding relationships has contributed to higher acceptance among Singaporeans.

He has previously said that ...

Singapore society "is not that liberal on these matters".

"Nonetheless, a social consensus remains far from being reached.

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