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Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code had criminalized “unnatural intercourse,” extensively interpreted as homosexuality.
Lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi, the vice chairperson of a joint panel contemplating the modifications, mentioned 63 of the full 69 members of each homes of parliament had voted in favor of amending the code to scrap the availability. Six members have been absent.
“Homosexuality is not going to be thought-about as unnatural intercourse now,” Wangdi advised Reuters by telephone from the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, with out giving particulars.
The modifications nonetheless must be authorized by the King of Bhutan to change into a regulation.
Rights activist Tashi Tsheten mentioned he was “thrilled and actually joyful” over the parliamentary transfer, calling it a “victory” for the LGBT+ neighborhood.
“I feel the invoice being handed on Human Rights Day itself is a momentous day for everybody in Bhutan,” Tsheten, the director of LGBT+ group, Rainbow Bhutan, advised Reuters.
“I imagine everybody who has stood up for the LGBT+ neighborhood in Bhutan goes to rejoice at this time as that is our victory.”
The transfer by the majority-Buddhist nation of 800,000 individuals comes after different Asian nations relaxed restrictions on the rights of the LGBT+ individuals.
Neighboring India eliminated a centuries-old colonial prohibition on homosexual intercourse in 2018, triggering celebration throughout the nation.
In Nepal, authorities will rely LGBT+ individuals for the primary time within the nationwide census subsequent 12 months to assist sexual minorities achieve higher entry to training and well being schemes.
Bhutan is legendary for its “gross nationwide happiness” index as an alternative choice to gross home product to point actual financial progress or improvement.
