Bhutan’s Parliament has recently taken a historic decision by planning to decriminalize homosexuality in the country.
The Legislative Committee of the National Assembly has decided to remove Sections 213 and 214 of the Penal Code of Bhutan that considers ‘unnatural sex’ as an offence.
The members of the committee have supported the decision of decriminalization of homosexuality that was first recommended by Finance Minister Lyonpo Namgay Tshering.
Section 213 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 states ‘A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of unnatural sex, if the defendant engages in sodomy or any other sexual conduct that is against the order of nature.’
Section 214 states ‘The offence of unnatural sex shall be a petty misdemeanour.’
With the committee giving wholehearted support to the decision of the finance minister, the members further asked him to put it in writing so that they can act on it and put it up as an amendment to the National Assembly on June 11.
A five judge bench of the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality on September 6 last year.