Cubbon Park walkers file plaint against homosexuals

BENGALURU: Days after the Supreme Court decriminalised homosexuality, Cubbon Park walkers have a filed a police complaint seeking legal action against homosexuals, alleging that many of them have been indulging in illegal activities on the park premises of late. Walkers say they trouble other visitors, especially men, by instigating them to take part in ‘immoral’ activities, and also indulge in smoking and drinking through the day and night.
S Umesh, president, Cubbon Park Walkers' Association, said the number of homosexuals and other members from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community visiting the city’s prime lung space has increased after the apex court verdict.“We don’t have a problem with anybody visiting the park. But homosexuals are roaming around in the park in groups, shouting slogans and instigating men to join them in immoral activities and even abusing them. They have created such an atmosphere that the number of other visitors, including foreigners, children and other tourists, has reduced,” Umesh said in a complaint filed at Cubbon Park police station, a copy of which is with TOI.
“Moreover, homosexuals are smoking and drinking in the park and engaging in immoral activities, which have to be stop. These people are involved in illegal acts during the night; elderly people are unable to go for a walk in the park after 8pm,” the complaint added.
‘Park belongs to everybody’
Transgender rights activist Akkai Padmashali, however, said sexual minorities have common sense and know how to conduct themselves. Akkai described the complaint by the walkers as another example of moral policing. “All kinds of people visit the park. Be it heterosexual or homosexual, the park belongs to all. If there are few homosexuals really creating problems, let cops initiate action against them. But I see a bigger problem in attitude towards homosexuals here. This despite the Supreme Court upholding the rights of the LGBT community. The way people from our community are looked at must change. We are open to speaking to members of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association and addressing their concerns,” Akkai added.
Pramodi K, a transgender, said, “Cubbon Park is also a place where one can find sex workers looking for clients; there are people of all kinds. Targeting homosexuals is a crime.”
Cubbon Park police confirmed they received a complaint from the walkers’ association and said beat constables have been instructed to look into the matter. “We cannot obstruct couples frp, the LGBT community as they can sit in the park like any other couple. However, we can take legal action if they misbehave with anyone,” said an official.