Dear Reader,
Why does marriage feel so important? For Rituparna, it’s because that is how “we get to celebrate ourselves, the people we love”. Rituparna and Amrita live together, have a joint bank account, and are parents of three beautiful cats, but with one difference from other happy couples — they cannot get married because the law in India does not allow same-sex marriage.
Rituparna’s story is that of thousands of same-sex couples. A story of tiring, unending legal battles, debates, ostracization, and sheer frustration. This could change if on April 18 the country’s top court sees their plight and rules in their favour. Five years ago, in a historic judgment, the Supreme Court decriminalised sexual relations between same-sex people by striking down Section 377. Today, nearly 20 petitions from the queer community sit before the SC asking for the legal right to marry. The heads of various religious formations have typically opposed the move. As has the Central government. But the SC can change history and make India the second Asian country after Taiwan to legalise same-sex marriage.
Saumya Kalia explores the possibilities in this poignant piece through the stories of three couples — Rituparna and Amrita, Utkarsh and Ananya, Rebello and Megha — who all ask the same thing: What’s the difference, after all it’s only about love.
Wishing you a lovely week ahead,
Team Frontline
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