India court declines to legalize gay marriagesAFP, NEW DELHIIndia’s top court yesterday declined to legalize same-sex marriages, but said the country had a duty to acknowledge LGBTQ relationships and to protect them from discrimination. A five-judge constitutional bench — set up to consider important questions of law — began hearing submissions seeking the legalization of same-sex marriages in April, with arguments completed in May. LGBTQ community supporters leave the Supreme Court after it ruled against legalizing same-sex marriages in New Delhi yesterday. “It lies within the domain of parliament and state legislatures to determine the law on marriage,” Supreme Court Chief Justice D.Y. However, the Hindu nationalist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has staunchly opposed same-sex marriage, and said that any change was up to parliament, not the courts.

Source: Taipei Times October 17, 2023 17:49 UTC