US monitors India's next steps after court declined to legalize same-sex marriage

A writer and member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT community) holds the pride flag while waiting to hear the judgement on same-sex marriage by the Supreme Court in New Delhi, India, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States was "closely monitoring follow up steps" from the Indian government after India's Supreme Court declined to legalise same-sex marriage, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday, adding it encourages India to take steps to offer equal legal protection to same-sex couples.

India's top court on Tuesday declined to legalise same-sex marriage and left it to parliament to decide, agreeing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that the legislature is the right forum to rule on the issue.