Greater Acceptance of the LGBTQ+ Community

RAINBOW CORNER

In our country, the LGBTQ+ community makes up eight per cent of our population, and we have gradually begun to adopt this "new" perspective of practising tolerance and treating others with respect, regardless of differences

We cannot ignore the fact that the LGTBQ+ community has contributed significantly to the development of Indian culture of which we are all very proud. As Indians, we should come together and celebrate this magnificent contribution. But the celebration should not be because of the contribution alone, but it should be because the LGBTQ+ community deserves the same love and respect as all other classes of people.

The umbrella term, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Others), refers to those who do not identify with cisgender heterosexual "ideals". The LGBTQ+ community in India also includes the hijras, a distinct social group that combines elements of a caste system and a religious cult. They are "neither males nor females", or men who become women by adopting women's clothes and conduct, depending on the culture. In our country, the LGBTQ+ community makes up eight per cent of our population, and we have gradually begun to adopt this "new" perspective of practising tolerance and treating others with respect, regardless of differences.

The concept is not as novel as we might believe it to be if we look into our past. India has historically embraced love in all of its forms. All types of love were accepted and celebrated in ancient India. This is evident in Indian religious literature that had homosexual themes and characters, but was otherwise indifferent to the notion of homosexuality.

The Rig Veda features the proverb, 'Vikriti Evam Prakriti', which literally translates into "what appears abnormal is also natural". Lesbians were known as "swarinis," and they frequently got married and had kids together. This is according to the Kama Sutra. Although there was significant opposition to homosexuality during the Middle Ages, LGBTQ+ persons were not shunned. The culture was accepting of them, and no one faced persecution for having a different sexual choice. Mubarak, the son of Alauddin Khalji and the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from 1296 to 1316, was rumoured to have dated a nobleman in his court.

Sexual acts "against the order of nature", including all homosexual acts, were made illegal in India in 1861 after the arrival of the British. They introduced Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized homosexual acts. It was mainly because of the Catholic Church's view that a sexual act performed for purposes other than reproduction, was sinful.

The World of Homosexuals, the first study on homosexuality to be published in India, was written by mathematical wizard Shakuntala Devi in 1977. "Full and total acceptance" of the community was demanded, not "tolerance and pity". The first All-India Hijra Conference was held in Agra shortly after in 1981, and 50,000 members of the community from all over the country participated in it.

LGBTQ+ individuals have become more accepted and tolerated in India since the last ten years, particularly in major cities. However, the majority of LGBTQ+ persons in India continue to live a secret life out of fear as their relatives who may view homosexuality as a sin. The rural LGBTQ+ community still experiences discrimination as members of the community frequently undergo forced opposite-sex marriages and rejection from their families. People's preconceptions cause them to believe that LGBTQ+ individuals are strange and distinctly different. More Indian teenagers than ever before may accept homosexual and queer identities today, but LGBTQ+ persons still struggle to be accepted within the confines of families, homes, and schools.

Being L, G, B, or T is neither an "issue" nor an "option" in and of itself. LGBTQ+ people are just people with sexual preferences that are different from what may be considered the "standard" as a result of different acquired behaviours and having a unique perspective and mindset from others. It is factually incorrect to state that sexual inclinations that deviate from the norm, are wrong.

Article 15 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, caste, sexual orientation, or place of birth. Why should a person who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community, not be able to live in this society with respect if normal men and women already have that right? It matters what humanity says, not what our faith says. The curses or blessings of the hijras have great significance for ordinary persons if we consider religion from a Hindu perspective since Lord Rama had granted a boon to the hijras in exchange for their loyalty.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill was passed by Parliament on November 26, 2019. A 'trans' person was defined in this measure as someone whose gender does not correspond to the gender assigned at birth. It outlawed treating them differently when it came to employment, education, health care, and other services. The gay communities in India, however, rejected it since it required that each person be recognised as transgender based on an identity certificate given by the district magistrate upon the presentation of documentation of a sex reassignment surgery. The focus was primarily on hijras or transwomen, with little attention paid to intersex, genderqueer, or transmen.

Although the "third sex" is now acknowledged, trans persons are still not entirely accepted and are subjected to horrifying "modern" tortures. There are instances when doctors simply refuse to treat some sick members of the community because they fear coming into contact with them (the LGBTQ+ patients), both physically and mentally, would spread an infection. Trans people testing HIV positive have to face double discrimination because of their infection – a subject that is regrettably still taboo in India – as well as because of the gender they identify with, which does not always correspond with their outward appearance.

Legalizing homosexuality is India's first step toward acceptance, but the nation still has a long way to go before the LGBTQ+ community is truly and fully accepted. We have come a long way from our beginnings, but we must realise that no amount of legislation will be able to change our views. Instead, we must come to understand that each person is unique, and it is wrong to base someone's value on what we anticipate them to be. People's preconceptions make them believe that LGBTQ+ people are strange and wholly unique. More Indian teenagers than ever before may identify themselves as homosexual or have other unusual personalities nowadays, yet inside the walls of families, homes, and schools, acceptance of LGBTQ+ people still presents a constant challenge.

It is within our power to accord the LGBTQ+ people the respect and rights that their human dignity demands. Despite all of the twists and turns, LGBTQ+ people continue to work for social acceptance. The Supreme Court's ruling can only serve as a starting point; however, the general public have a responsibility not to discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community. The public have to support their inclusion. The community is still fighting for same-sex marriage. By giving the legal sanctity of same-sex couple's reception, protection from mistreatment, and other issues or simply allowing sexual activity between same-sex couples does not mean they are not in danger anymore.