Homosexuality not a disease: UNAIDS

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) Homosexuality is not a disease
but a personal sexual orientation, UNAIDS said Tuesday,
disagreeing with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's
remarks on the subject.
"Consistent with WHO's disease classification, UNAIDS
does not regard homosexuality as a disease. There is no place
for stigma and discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation," UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe said in
a statement here.
At a convention on HIV/AIDS, Azad had Monday said
that "the disease of 'Men having Sex with Men' (MSM), which
was found more in the developed world, has now unfortunately
come to our country and there is a substantial number of such
people in India".
Though the UNAIDS statement does not make any mention of
the Health Minister or his remarks, Sidibe lauded efforts by
India's National AIDS programme to provide HIV services for
men who have sex with men and transgender people.
He said, "India's rich tradition of inclusivity and
social justice must include men who have sex with men and
transgender people."
Azad was found missing at the concluding ceremony of the
two-day conference Tuesday.
The minister's remarks has drawn flak from the gay
community and activists working in the field.