Nine months after the Supreme Court struck down parts of Section 377, nearly 69 per cent Indians say it is time to legalise gay marriage in the country, according to a survey of over 200,000 users by dating app OkCupid over the last year. Another 26 per cent of respondents said they were contemplating the issue, while the remaining 5 per cent were against it.

In addition, 79 per cent of the app’s users said they cared a lot about LGBTQ issues, with another 71 per cent being willing to participate in a public demonstration to demand and fight for LGBTQ rights. Over 47 per cent said they had friends who identify as LGBTQ.

Among the respondents, a much greater number of female users expressed support and empathy towards LGBT issues than male users. For instance, 90 per cent of women said they cared about LGBTQ issues as compared 68 per cent men. On the question of gay marriage, nearly 82 per cent women said yes, as compared to 55 per cent men. Over 66 per cent women said they had LGBTQ friends, as compared to just 40 per cent men.

Nearly 87 per cent users believed that using the term ‘gay’ as an insult was highly disrespectful. Opinion was divided on the term ‘queer’, with 43 per cent saying they loved to use it, 39 per cent being indifferent to it, and 18 per cent considering it a slur.

The survey also revealed that LGBTQ users have found it easier to come out to their families rather than co-workers or random acquaintances. Just 19 per cent of users from the LGBTQ community are completely out to their co-workers, while another 48 per cent said they are partially out to their peers. In comparison, 44 per cent users had talked to their family about their sexuality, while another 37 per cent users had partially opened up to them.

