LGBT is a term that defines individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. They are also known as homosexuals. India is among the countries where gender inequality has always been an issue. Before homosexuality was considered illegal and thus was also denied by civil rights. Not just this, but people from the LGBT community had to face regular harassment, discrimination, and the threat to violence because of their sexual orientation. They have to face regular problems due to the narrow-minded society.
Even in some of the countries around the world, being a part of the LGBT community has been considered a sin. Due to the regular harassment, they go through they choose to hide their sexuality. In our country, many of the people who are a part of the LGBT community tries not to disclose their sexuality as it can risk their job. But, can you imagine how hiding their sexuality can affect individual mental health? You can hear cases where youths hide their sexuality from their own family because even their family doesn’t find it acceptable. The discrimination faced by them causes them to drop their schools and even their means of employment.
Our country has been provided with the law of equality under article 14 which clearly means every citizen has an equal right to stay free in the nation. In April 2014, the supreme court of India ruled in the case of NALSA V. Union of India, that the rights and freedom of transgender people in India were protected in the constitution. Further, in September 2018, section 377 according to which homosexuals were considered criminals were finally removed. Even after the passing of this judgement, the LGBT community is still facing discrimination around society. The question arises here that if a normal person has the right to live in the society that what does it go wrong with the LGBT community people?
Trans people especially face harsh discrimination and trolling in the rural areas. In our country, people have difficulty in understanding that every people have an equal right to live with freedom. Even some of the families forces opposite-sex marriages after their children reveal their identity. However, the passing of legal principles has somewhere brought a great positive change in the mindset of the younger people groups of the country. Even TV shows and films have continuously tried to make a change in society by bringing shows and movies where the LGBT community are respected.
The LGBTQ community in ancient India
Do you wonder if homosexuality existed in ancient India? First of all, yes, the LGBT community have always been a part even in the history of India. It is represented in many Hindu temples where we could see same-sex people embracing each other. Homosexuality has also been a part of the Kamasutra.
According to research, homosexuality has been existing for a long time. It was not really acceptable but everyone knew it existed without considering it as a crime. At the same time, it wasn’t encouraged.
Does legalization have promoted acceptance?
Homosexuality was firstly decriminalized in the year 2009 after a decision was passed by the supreme court. The decision invalided section 377 which included the criminalization of same-sex intercourse. But again in 2013 homosexuality was again declared a crime.
In Sep 2018 the decision was reviewed and again homosexuality was considered legal. But then, despite legalizing LGBT rights they are still not accepted in their own families. No doubt that the passing of this law has brought out a lot of happiness, but people living in the rural villages and towns are still going through a harsh path of acceptance. As a result, this legalization has made a lot of people happy in India, these people mostly come from cities where it is easier to celebrate, but they were many more to celebrate the victory. Society should be aware of the fact that they have the absolute right to define themselves in their own term and in their own languages.
Even though the “third sex” is slowly moving towards acceptance, trans people are still facing a harsh path towards considering and accepting them in society. There are many incidents where you can see or hear about a transgender being bullied and tortured. Not allowing them to sit along with normal people or making them feel different are still some of the practices going on in the rural areas of India.
It is high time that government should do something for the social acceptance of the LGBT community. The schools and universities should organise sessions where an individual can openly talk about their sexual orientation. Homosexuality legalization is the first step towards acceptance, yet the country has a long way to go before it reaches an actual acceptance of the LGBT community. The community still need to face a long social struggle for their own progression.
Author: aditi raj
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