Don’t support SC verdict on Sec 377, shouts pastor at a Coimbatore court complex

Father Felix Jebasingh (29) of Puliyakulam Church came to the district court complex and standing in the corridor shouted slogans urging the people not to support gay marriages.

“Please do not support the court judgement on Section 377 (of IPC). Jesus Christ is arriving. His arrival is imminent.

This type of marriages will lead to total destruction of the society,” the pastor shouted vociferously even as police escorted him out. Further, he said, “God has destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah using fire and sulphur because they allowed homosexuality.

Don’t support homosexuality.” The pastor, clad in a full sleeve white shirt and a black pant, was referring to Sodom and Gomorrah, notoriously sinful cities in the biblical book of Genesis, destroyed by sulphur and fire.

Based on a complaint, the Race Course police booked him under IPC section 75 for causing nuisance in public place, but was later let off on station bail.

Gay sex among consenting adults is not a criminal offence, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled last Thursday, holding that part of a 158-year-old colonial law that criminalised it, violated the constitutional right to equality and dignity.

The top court decriminalised part of the Section 377 of the IPC that criminalises consensual gay sex, saying it was irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary.

The order was welcomed by members of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community and various political parties.