
LGBTQ are the segment of society that has no rights: Keshav Suri
Keshav Suri, 33, executive director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, which owns The Lalit hotel, filed a petition in the Supreme Court last week against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises all forms of non-penile vaginal intercourse.
On April 23, the court directed the Centre to respond to Suri’s plea to tackle discrimination against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and intersex people within a week. The Lalit is one of the 83 global firms that support the United Nations Standards of Conduct for Business, released in October 2017. In an interview with Dhamini Ratnam, Suri said the discrimination brought about by Section 377 does not only threaten the dignity of LGBTQ people but also hurts the country economically.
At what point did you decide to file a petition seeking to challenge Section 377?
I was born gay and there was never a moment in my life where I doubted it. Of course there was family drama when I came out to them, but I have been able to file this petition only due to my mother’s support.
It was the shooting at Pulse in Orlando [a nightclub in Florida where a shooting in June 2016 left 49 people dead, many of whom were gay] that hit me. You could say it was my personal awakening. There were so many people who grieved for [the victims] openly in the US, and I wondered, what if something like that were to happen here? Would people say we deserved to be shot because they are gay? We’re that segment of society that has no rights. It was also my professional awakening to bring about change in my own company. I wanted to create safe spaces for the LGBTQ community.
Apart from arguing for dignity, your writ also focuses on the socioeconomic impact of discrimination brought about by Section 377.
As per World Bank estimates, discrimination against LGBTQ community costs the country billions of dollars [a 2014 interim report estimated the Indian economy lost the equivalent of anywhere between 0.1 and 1.7% of its GDP.] It’s time to stop ignoring this. At the same time, there is also a high spending community that does not come to the country because of Section 377. The tourism of this country is taking a big hit. It’s a matter of the pink dollar.

WHO chief thanks India, PM Modi for 'support to global Covid-19 response'
- In the last few days, India has supplied Covid-19 vaccines, being manufactured in the country, to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Somnath Bharti gets 2 years in jail for assaulting security staff at AIIMS

As farmers' protest continues, Delhi Police bolster border security

Mamata attack Centre over disbanding Netaji's brain-child

Bihar govt puts classified files related to Subash Chandra Bose on internet
- The directorate of state archives in Bihar, decided to upload the prized collection of documents and files related to Bose on the internet and dedicate him the page on his 125th birth anniversary.

PIL seeking direction to govt to fill vacant ATPMLA posts filed in SC

Covid-19 vaccination: Nearly 14 lakh beneficiaries inoculated

PM Modi has no respect for people, culture of Tamil Nadu: Rahul Gandhi

Notification issued for gram panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh

Lotus will not bloom in Tamil Nadu, says DMK leader Kanimozhi

Petrol, diesel prices touch all-time highs

Pak’s secret tunnel to push terrorists for 8 years in Jammu detected by BSF
- It is important to detect all the cross-border tunnels on the Pakistan border because they nullify the impact of soldiers at the LoC blocking infiltration attempts

Declare Netaji's birth anniversary national holiday: Mamata urges Centre

BJP workers attacked by TMC supporters in Howrah

PM Modi gives 106,000 land certificates in 1st visit ahead of Assam polls
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a large gathering at Jerenga Pathar, a historic site where Joymoti, an Ahom princess, sacrificed her life in the 17th century.