Knowledge is Power

If any aunty, politician, policeman comes at you with a 'Hamare culture main aisa nahin hota bull shit..." empower yourself with history lessons, information,;

"Although in Indian culture, heterosexuality has been openly considered the norm, there is much evidence, both historical as well as recent, showing that men in India have and continue to engage in different types of sexual or other relationships. 

For example, some men may not even consider anal intercourse sex when done with another man. Ancient Indian scriptures as well as more secular texts provide evidence of same-sex (i.e. male-male or female-female) relationships. The Ayurvedic texts, Susruta and Caraka Samhitas, dating from the first century detail taxonomies of gender and sexual variations, including same-sex desire. 

Scriptures such as the Puranas and Mahabharata among others also provide references of same-sex relations and behaviour. The stigma that has become attached to such relationships and behaviours, has been attributed in part to colonial influences, family and community attitudes towards marriage and having children, and somewhat more recently to Hindu nationalism rather than religious inscriptions itself per se. 

One source of this stigma included the addition of section 377 to the Indian penal code by the British in 1860, which still exists in Indian law. Colonial influences imported a much more repressive attitudes towards sexuality than what had perhaps existed in pre-colonial India. This law criminalized same sex behaviour and has been an ongoing source of discrimination and harassment and has also hindered prevention efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Recently, the Delhi High Court has ruled against section 377, which will help HIV prevention efforts, although appeals are ongoing and the Supreme Court is now considering the case."