And the court has agreed to hear the petition.

In his petition, Sushil Kumar Kaushal said “even animals don’t indulge in such activities,” adding that allowing gay sex would help spread HIV/AIDS.

The latest development indicated that despite a recent Delhi High Court ruling, gays in India still face a long battle to gain acceptance – social and legal – in this deeply conservative country where even heterosexual sex is talked about in hushed tones.

“If such abnormality is permitted, then tomorrow people might seek permission for having sex with animals,” Kaushal said.

Wow. What a slap in the face to those who worked so hard to overturn the ban.

And in related news, India’s top television yoga expert Swami Baba Ramdev is also challenging the ruling, claiming homosexuality is a “disease” that can be cured by yoga.

Pardon me but what century is this?

While there is cause for much celebration today  for the LGBT community in India, today’s landmark ruling only applies to the New Delhi… the nation’s capital. But it is progress…

Update: Contrary to initial reports, it appears the ruling DOES apply nation-wide.

The Delhi High Court ruled that treating consensual gay sex between adults as a crime is a violation of fundamental rights protected by India’s constitution. The ruling, the first of its kind in India, is not binding outside New Delhi.

Hours after the ruling was issued dozens of members of New Delhi’s gay community — some with rainbows painted on their faces and others holding signs that read “Queer and loving it” — gathered in the heart of the capital to celebrate.

…

But some religious leaders quickly criticized the ruling. “This Western culture cannot be permitted in our country,” said Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, a leading Muslim cleric in the northern city of Lucknow.

Sex between people of the same gender has been illegal in India since a British colonial era law was issued in the 1860s classifying it as “against the order of nature.” According to the law, gay sex is punishable by 10 years in prison.

New Delhi is home to over 300 million people, nearly one quarter the entire population of India, so yeah, it’s definitely progress.

Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black on Oprah’s Live Fridays show discusses his Oscar win and his memorable speech.

I’d like to take this time to wish all my readers a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving. I know we have a lot to be thankful for this year, our health, our families and friends, and honestly, employment, but for many these are difficult times. To them I wish the very best in the hope that better times are ahead.

While it is a joyful day, I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the horrible events and terrible loss of life in Mumbai, India over the last several hours. Our thoughts go out to them.

And finally, it was exactly 30 years ago today that Harvey Milk and George Moscone were assassinated by City Supervisor Dan White here in San Francisco. The anniversary of Harvey’s death is especially poignant due to the release of the film Milk yesterday. Please check it out over the long break. You won’t regret it.

Below is a NO on Prop 8 ad I somehow missed during the campaign. The audio is from one of Harvey Milk’s speeches. It’s pretty darn moving, and appropriate on this day of thanks, and much needed hope.