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Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code had criminalized “unnatural sex,” extensively interpreted as homosexuality.
Lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi, the vice chairperson of a joint panel contemplating the adjustments, mentioned 63 of the overall 69 members of each homes of parliament had voted in favor of amending the code to scrap the availability. Six members had been absent.
“Homosexuality will not be considered as unnatural sex now,” Wangdi informed Reuters by telephone from the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, with out giving particulars.
The adjustments nonetheless want to be authorised by the King of Bhutan to turn into a regulation.
Rights activist Tashi Tsheten mentioned he was “thrilled and really happy” over the parliamentary transfer, calling it a “victory” for the LGBT+ group.
“I think the bill being passed on Human Rights Day itself is a momentous day for everyone in Bhutan,” Tsheten, the director of LGBT+ group, Rainbow Bhutan, informed Reuters.
“I believe everyone who has stood up for the LGBT+ community in Bhutan is going to celebrate today as this is our victory.”
The transfer by the majority-Buddhist nation of 800,000 folks comes after different Asian nations relaxed restrictions on the rights of the LGBT+ folks.
Neighboring India eliminated a centuries-old colonial prohibition on homosexual intercourse in 2018, triggering celebration throughout the nation.
In Nepal, authorities will rely LGBT+ folks for the primary time within the nationwide census subsequent yr to assist sexual minorities achieve higher entry to training and well being schemes.
Bhutan is legendary for its “gross national happiness” index instead to gross home product to point out actual financial progress or growth.
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