The paper explores the contestations around Section 377 and how the histories of science and religion in India can help us understand the enduring power of colonial legacies of sexuality.
Paper long abstract:
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code of India was introduced into India in the 19th century during British rule and still remains law in contemporary India. Section 377 criminalizes sexual activities that are "against the order of nature," outlawing behavior considered perverse. In recent years, the section was both deemed unconstitutional by the Delhi High Court, whose ruling was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court, leaving it as the law of the land. Here I explore the contestations around Section 377 and how the histories of science and religion in India can help us understand the enduring power of these colonial legacies.