Rahul Gandhi made the remarks after meeting with a transgender activist, Akkai Padmashali.
At the moment, India’s Supreme Court is debating whether to remove the colonial-era law Section 377, which criminalises gay sex between consenting adults.
The law was initially deemed unconstitutional back in 2009 bu a New Delhi High Court, but their decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2013.
During the talk with Akkai Padmashali, Rahul Gandhi said that most of Congress were in favour of decriminalizing gay sex. However, as the Indian National Congress aren’t currently in power, it’s unlikely that Gandhi will be able to make the change.
The final decision on whether to decriminalise gay sex is expected before the end of October.
But whatever the decision, India’s openly gay prince, Manvendra Singh Gohil has vowed to reform the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws. Gohil said: “It’s my duty, the duty of an activist like me, to educate these people about what is the facts.”
“And it’s only then that they will start accepting us and understanding our issues.”
Gohil also criticised the continuation of the colonial law, saying: “This law was not an Indian law. One has to understand that homosexuality has been existing in our Indian society since bygone eras.”
And India’s Supreme Court isn’t the only one debating whether to decriminalise gay sex. Kenya’s Supreme Court is reviewing the country’s penal code which criminalises “unnatural sex” as the current law is seen as too “vague.”
The way the judges rule could also end up having worldwide implications, if the judges rule to legalise gay sex. As Kenya is one of the most powerful Eastern African nations, there is the possibility that other African nations could also decriminalise it. The court is expected to give its final ruling on the 26 April.
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