The Supreme Court of Indian has just passed a historic ruling: homosexuality is no longer a criminal offense.

The court repealed Section 377, a 150-year-old law that was instated during British colonial rule which made consensual sexual activity that went “against the law of nature” punishable by up to a lifetime in prison.

The new ruling, which was announced by a 5-judge panel in Delhi earlier this week, marks the end of a century’s worth of anti-gay legislation.

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“The LGBTQ community has the same fundamental rights as citizens. The identity of a person is very important and we have to vanquish prejudice, embrace inclusion and ensure equal rights,” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, according to TIME.

“Intimacy and privacy is a matter of choice. We have to bid adieu to stereotypes and prejudices,” he added.

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