LGBTQIA+

The LGBTQIA+ (yes it is no longer only LGBTQ+) has struggled so much to get their basic rights , I repeat “BASIC RIGHTS”. People didn’t even consider them as humans and treated them like untouchables. People in the LGBTQIA+ community weren't given jobs just because of their sexual orientation they weren't given freedom of speech or freedom of expression, all human rights were denied to them. Every day LGBTQIA+ community fights for equal rights and people in India think it is okay to call someone "chakka" , "meetha" or "gay". 

To people who ask why is it offensive, imagine living in a world where people make fun of you , put you down and treat you like untouchables just because of your sexuality orientation , Imagine having to hide your sexual orientation because of the fear that society won't accept you , forget about society even their own parents don't accept them and consider it to be a disease. Why? Because they aren't "normal" do you understand how difficult it is for them? You are insulting them and strengthening the stigma around the community. Stop using these words as an insult or as a "joke". 

According to Hinduism a man attracted to a man and a women attracted to a women is lust and lust is sinful , even our constitution considered homosexuality as a crime u/s 377 of the IPC , Section 377 makes sexual activities "against the order of nature" illegal and punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to pay a fine

On 6 September 2018 , the Court ruled unanimously in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India that Section 377 was unconstitutional "in so far as it criminalises consensual sexual conduct between adults of the same sex". Yet even today a lot of people in the LGBTQIA+ community face problems like forceful marriage, rape & discrimination. 

There are some positive actions like Modi Government wanting to give more jobs to LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Parades being held in over 21 Indian cities, support groups helping parents of the LGBTQIA+ community to educate them and many more yet we need to realise that India is way behind when it comes to LGBTQIA+ community, people still look down upon the LGBTQIA+ community and insult them & the society normalises such behaviour. The society still doesn't accept them and treat them in a bad way. We need to understand that a person's sexual orientation shouldn't be a parameter to decide if they deserve basic human rights or not. 

They are humans too they breathe the same air as us, they have emotions too. Why can't we treat everyone the same? Normalise people in the LGBTQIA+ community don't treat them different, they are humans too, homosexual marriage is still illegal in Indian, a lot of people still remain behind closets because of the fear of society, homophobia and trans phobia still exists in Indian society, we have a long way to go and as youths we need to bring a change in the society . 

The LGBTQIA+ community deserve to live a life where they aren't ashamed of their sexual orientation instead they should feel proud and embrace their sexual orientation with pride. 

Author: Sanjana Karthik

Image credits: Google