In a landmark judgement in 2018, the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Spearheading the fight against the draconian law that criminalised homosexuality were Supreme Court lawyers Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju. Two days ago, the two lawyers opened up as a couple.
Appearing on a show hosted by CNN's Fareed Zakaria on his show GPS, the lawyers spoke about their fight against the law as they represented the petitioners seeking that the law be scrapped. During the course of the show, Zakaria says:
“I had asked you about the human impact of the decision but it is in a sense personal because you did not argue the case as personal, you are also a couple yourselves," to which the two nodded and agreed.
"Sure, that’s right," says Menaka, as Arundhati is heard adding, "That's right."
"The loss in 2013 was a loss as lawyers, as citizens," continues Menaka. "It was a personal loss. It was not nice to be a criminal who has to go back to court as a lawyer to argue other cases. It was a deeply personal loss."
"For queer folks in all these post-colonial countries, our governments have to have a sense that these are not our laws, these were never our cultures. And why have we not been more proactive in bringing forth law reform and expanding freedom? Surely, independence and decolonisation must mean that," she adds in the video.
Watch:
The judgement's relevance to the Global South pic.twitter.com/10xMOiiisy
— Saurabh Vashist (@saurabhvashist_) July 18, 2019
As the video went viral, many congratulated the couple and wished them luck. In response to one such tweet, Arundhati responded with "Good catch! And thank you.” Menaka also tweeted with a thank you.
we are not just fashion designers and make up artists, we are lawyers and teachers and players too. we are not just men and transgenders, we are women too.
— harish iyer (@hiyer) July 19, 2019
today, thanks to @DuteeChand @arundhatikatju and @MenakaGuruswamy 's public coming out, we will see a positive wave
The judgement's relevance to the Global South pic.twitter.com/10xMOiiisy
— Saurabh Vashist (@saurabhvashist_) July 18, 2019
Dear @MenakaGuruswamy & @arundhatikatju,
— The DeshBhakt (@akashbanerjee) July 20, 2019
What a beautiful & stunning picture to wake up to! This gives hope that battles are worth fighting for.
You guys are so defending me when I get hauled up to the SC
@MenakaGuruswamy my heart is full of love and respect for you and Arundhati. I’m so happy for the two of you. and as always forever grateful for the battle you fought.
— vivek tejuja (@vivekisms) July 19, 2019
Earlier this year, Menaka and Arundhati were named in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2019.
"This landmark judgment, overturning a 157-year-old law, was the outcome of a long-term campaign orchestrated by two amazing public-interest litigators, Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy. The fight has been hard. The LGBTQ+ community has battled on both legal and social fronts for decades - for their fundamental rights, for privacy, for dignity, for safety and for love. Their perseverance and commitment led an entire community to a historic win by humanizing their struggles and giving them the freedom to love. In their committed fight for justice, they have shown us that we as a society must continue to make progress, even after laws are changed, and that we must make an effort to understand, accept and love. It is who we are as people," actor Priyanka Chopra had written about the two women in their profile for the magazine.