Several members from the community who are fighting against section 377 of the IPC, which penalises homosexuality, are now planning to strengthen their campaign as they feel "a favourable wind is blowing in their direction".

The minister, during his address at the 17th International Conference on AIDS in Mexico City recently, said, "Section 377 of the IPC, which criminalise men who have sex with men, must go."

Aditya Bandhopadhyay, a gay-rights activist who attended the conference, told PTI from Mexico City, "I hope that the minister will now persuade his more medieval-minded cabinet colleagues and make them understand that human rights are universal and one cannot be discriminated against for sexual orientation."

"In spite of section 377, homosexuals have continued to live, love and have sex in India, so it is really immaterial to the IPC act. It has only stigmatised and made homosexuals more vulnerable, thereby increasing their risks of contracting HIV, which ultimately is a public health concern," Bandhopadhyay, a lawyer by profession, said.

Terming the minister's stand as "a great opportunity" for the community to fulfil their mission, Manvendra Singh Gohil, the gay prince of Rajpipala in Gujarat, said, "It will help not only the homosexuals in India but also in several neighbouring countries, where the practice is being considered as a crime." Gohil said homosexuality is now being accepted in almost all the developed countries and India should also stop discriminating with the community.

The gay community will also hold an 'Independence march' in Mumbai on August 16 to highlight their demand of equal rights.

"Our march will show that while the rest of India had achieved independence on 15 August 1947, gay Indians were still bound by a rule made by the Britishers nearly 150 years ago," said Gohil.

Nipun, an online gay rights activist from Indore, said, "the statement from Ramadoss will certainly help the cause of the gay community. But it is sad that the Law ministry is indecisive over the issue."

As more and more homosexuals are falling prey to HIV, it seems India is in for a re-run of what happened in New York in the 1980s when much of the gay community fell victim to AIDS and spread the disease to the heterosexuals as well, Nipun said.

"Ramadoss has touched a politically sensitive subject.

Though this comment may not lead to a debate in Parliament, it might influence the judges a bit as they too are humans and are vulnerable to the sufferings of others," said an IIT student, who preferred anonymity.

A case seeking to decriminalise homosexual acts among consenting adults by abolishing Section 377 of Indian Penal Code is also pending before the Delhi High Court.