A lot can change now for lakhs of homosexuals after Wednesday’s Supreme Court verdict making gay sex a crime, a setback to the 2009 Delhi high court order that had helped many come out of the closet, warned city-based psychiatrists.

"The apex court’s verdict will drive gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community into a hideout. Our experience says that when something is declared against the law, affected communities suffer with the socalled moral police using the law to their advantage," said psychiatrist Arvind Panchanadikar.

A group of 20 doctors, mainly psychiatrists,havefiled an affidavit as part of the Naz Foundation case before the Supreme Court emphasizing that homo sexuality is not a disease or a psychiatric illness.

Panchanadikar has been associated with Samapathik Trust, which works for LGBT issues, for over five years and has supported the petition. "Psychiatry or psychology doesn’t mention being gay as an abnormality or an illness. The recent verdict will deliver a massive blow to the community, but would also increase their resolve to fight," Panchanadikar added.

Parental acceptance of their wards’ sexuality is bound to be hit after the recent verdict, said psychiatrist Soumitra Pathare. "The community’s members may be scared to seek treatment for their own stress, depression or any other illness linked to issues with involving their sexuality," Pathare added.

"The verdict may also lead to a rise in risky sexual activity or contracting sexually-transmitted diseases and abuse," said psychiatrist SwapnilDeshmukh,who gets almost one patient every day seeking guidance about the issue.

"People who come to us want to maintain confidentiality, don’t reveal their real names, do not give phone number or address and prefer to come alone. Because of lackof awareness and acceptance, these people try finding a sex partner on the net hiding their identity butit makes them more proneto physical/ sexual abuse and at a risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases like HIV," he said.

Deshmukh said the verdict will not have any impact on seeking help from doctors.

May lead to rise in STD cases May hinder social acceptance, which had gradually started after 2009 Delhi HC verdict Criminality quotient may lead to rise in abuse or harassment May drive away people from seeking medical help