Shreyas Malik, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies
INTRODUCTION
Homosexuality is a sexual orientation not behavior, connoting choice that describes people having sexual or romantic attraction to members of their own sex. One can be homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual. Etymologically, the word homosexual comes from the Greek word homo that means 'same'. The word gay generally refers to male homosexuality, but is also used loosely for homosexuality in general. The word lesbian always refers to homosexuality in women. Homosexuality is an orientation that you might be born with or a behavioral choice that a person makes.
Attitudes toward homosexuality and homosexual relations continue to be one of the more complex areas of public opinion in a country like India. The treatment of homosexuals can be linked to Indian traditional society, which tends to be deeply conservative. Family is an important part of Indian culture, and institution of marriage is seen as strengthening family values. As Indian society is very collective in its nature, it excludes the promotion of homosexual values. Indian society by and large not only disapproves of homosexuality but also justifies it being treated as criminal offence.
