Azad flayed for remarks on homosexuality; he clarifies

Gay rights activists said Azad’s assessment was “unscientific and irrational” and stressed the need for a change in the community mindset.

“I would say that he was thinking of his constituency while he was airing his narrow comments,” said Anjali Gopalan,head of NGO NAZ Foundation that promotes equal rights for homosexuals and works with HIV positive people.

Protests were held on the steps of the Town Hall in Bangalore against the remarks with several activists carrying the multi-colour rainbow flag symbolising the gay culture.

Ashok Row Kavi,a gay rights activist,said,”It is pretty bad but what can we do. We can’t do anything to change people’s mentality.”

In view of the uproar,Azad hurriedly convened a press briefing to say,”It is not my intention at all to hurt the sentiments of any section of society. I never used the words

homosexuality or gay and the ‘disease’ that I was referring to was HIV and not as quoted”.

“I have used only technical language and not used any of the words “gay” or “homosexuality” used normally,” he said.

Congress steered clear,saying it was not a party issue.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s comments on homosexuality have not gone down well with several Bollywood personalities,who have criticised his ‘regressive’ stand on the issue.

“Ghulam Nabi Azad needs urgent counseling for his regressive statement. His ‘unnatural’ stand is dangerous for healthy democracy. Its because of these regressive people the largest democracy in the world deprives the largest number of sexual minorities their democratic rights,” filmmaker Onir tweeted.

“I m shocked to hear that our health minister would make a statement about homosexuality calling it a ‘disease’ WHO does not think so Sir!,” said Actress Celina Jaitley,who is a supporter of the rights and equality of the LGBT (lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender) community and supports the gay rights movement in India.

“Dear honourable Mr Health Minister,the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of diseases in 1990,” said CelinaJaitley.

“Just woke up to read the astonishing comments made by our Union Health Minister,Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad,who claims Homosexuality is a disease!!” said filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani.