India’s rape problem continues as reports have surfaced indicating a gay man was forced to have sex with his mother and lesbians were raped by family members in attempt to “cure” the individuals of their homosexuality. All over India, family members are performing ‘corrective rapes’ on their gay children in a sick attempt at curing their sexual orientation. Now, an LGBT crisis intervention team is acting to help prevent the brutal attacks. In one instance, a boy was forced to have sex with his mother, while other reports show that lesbians are raped by handpicked family members, often brothers or cousins, in effort to “cure” them. There have been 15 reported ‘corrective rapes’ over the past five years, according to the LGBT collective, but it is believed that many more go unreported. “We are sure there are many more cases, but they go unreported,” Vyjayanti Mogli, a member of the collective, said .“We came across such cases not because they reported the rape, but because they sought help to flee their homes.” Mogli added, “If it is found out that she is in a relationship with another girl, elders in the family believe having sex with the ‘would-be’, even if it’s forcibly, will cure her.” While mothers and family members are often involved, he said, “It’s usually a cousin who’s roped in for this ‘project.'” India’s Supreme Court banned gay sex in 2013. Prior to that, gay sex was legalized in 2009 when a court ruled that banning “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” was against a person’s rights. Now, under current law having gay sex could result in 10 years in prison.
