Bhutan parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, to delight of activists
GOPAL SHARMA A joint sitting of both houses of Bhutan's parliament has approved a bill to legalize gay sex, making the tiny Himalayan kingdom the latest Asian nation to take steps towards easing restrictions on same-sex relationships. Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code had criminalized "unnatural sex", widely interpreted as homosexuality. Lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi, the vice chairperson of a joint panel considering the changes, said 63 of the total 69 members of both houses of parliament had voted in favour of amending the code to scrap the provision. Six members were absent. "Homosexuality will not be considered as…