“There is nothing wrong with you. There’s a lot wrong with the world you live in”
-Chris Colfer
The LGBT community are the people belonging to sexual minorities, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender whose sexual desires are different from that of the heterosexual people and they are standing up for their rights and equal citizenship which is often violated. In recent times, more Indian youths may be able to accept homosexuality and queer identities than ever before, but even now the LGBT community finds it difficult to accept their sexuality and freely express their gender preferences to their families, friends and the society.
The Constitution of India provides any person an equal status before the law and equal protection of the laws within the territory of India. The term “any person” here means every individual, without any discrimination on the basis of any category which includes, caste, creed, religion, sex, etc. The people belonging to LGBT community in India are included within the words “any person” and is given equal status to that of every individual in India. Along with Right to Equality under Article 14[1] of the Constitution of India other fundamental rights such as the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, Article 19[2] and the Right to life with dignity and Right to Privacy under Article 21[3] are also guaranteed to the people belonging to this community. The State is required to protect these rights from getting violated and protect them from discrimination. LGBT community in our society have not been seen with respect.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people face myriad of difficulties in a society where heterosexuality is presented as the only acceptable orientation and homosexuality considered abnormal. Abuse is their daily routine and they deal with it almost every day. They are more likely to experience the threat of intolerance, discrimination, harassment, and violence because of their sexual orientation than those who identify them as heterosexual. This is mainly due to homophobia. They are exposed to inequality and violence all over the world. They suffer from social and economic inequalities due to constant discrimination in the workplace. But there is still a ray of hope for the betterment of the community.
On 6th September 2018 something very momentous happened, that day changed the lives of the LGBT community in India. LGBT activists triumphed when the Supreme Court of India had delivered a verdict that decriminalized homosexuality by partially striking down Section 377 of IPC. The LGBT community have paved a long way and struggled so much to scrap down this draconian law. But there is still no law for same sex marriage and it is high time that government should pass a legislation for marriage of LGBT people and to take remedial actions for them otherwise LGBT people will be exploited by the people. Until and unless the government gives the LGBTQ people in India an equal status, just and the fair struggle for social recognition by LGBT community will go on.
[1] The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
[2] Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
[3] No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law, nor shall any person be denied equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
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