LGBTQIA+ HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS
8882133897 Helpline number for mental health care has been launched for Transgender persons functional between 11 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 5 PM from Monday to Saturday, counselling will be done by professional Psychologists.
LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
It stands for:-
L: Lesbian:- Female attracted to other Females.
G: Gay:- Male attracted to other Males
B: Bisexual:- A person attracted to both males and females.
T: Transgender:– A person who is assigned to the male sex but identifies as a female termed as transgender and vice-versa.
Q: Queer:- They identifies themselves outside the category of man and women and anyone who is not straight.
I: Intersex:- It is an umbrella term, Intersex people are born with physical, hormonal, or genetic features that are neither fully female nor fully male.
A: Asexual: A person who has no sexual pleasures or desires, or who is not sexually attracted to anyone.PRESENT SITUATION OF LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY : –
The Supreme Court of India has clearly stated Article 15 of the constitution to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As of now, consensual gay sex is legalized by the Supreme Court of India, but marriage rights are not available to the LGBTQIA+ community.
There are countries around the world where same-sex marriage is legal some countries are the USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, and Australia.
As noted the latest application has been filed by the Overseas citizen of India and his partner, a United States citizen in the High Court of India to recognize their same-sex marriage in India.
HIGHLIGHTS OF STEPS TAKEN TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF LGBTQIA+
1.NAVTEJ SINGH JOHAR vs. UNION OF INDIA
On September 06, 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalizes consensual intercourse between persons of the same sex under section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, British era rule. India is one of the 125 nations where Homosexuality is legal. The court acknowledged that sexual orientation is a natural and inherent and biological phenomenon and not a matter of choice.
2.THE TRANSGENDER (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS) BILL, 2019
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has introduced “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights), 2019 which paved a way for equal rights. National Council for Transgender persons was also formed to advise the Government of India in framing policies concerning transgender persons.
3.EMPLOYEE STATE INSURANCE (ECI)
According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Employee State Insurance Act does not discriminate amongst the employees covered under the Act based on their sex.
4.COVID
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has given Rs. 1500/- assistance to a transgender person in the view of the covid pandemic.
The above steps taken are an appreciable move to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community.
(Source PIB (Public Information Bureau))
PROBLEMS FACED BY LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
They are struggling for their civil rights, Discrimination, Mental Trauma, Social Ostracism, Indignity and Harassment.
Apart from social difficulties they also face legal difficulties.
Countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, and Mauritania, etc have had the death penalty.
They stood up for their Rights and inspired us from their stories.
Let us have a look at people of LGBTQIA+ from India.
1.Aishwarya Rutuparna Pradhan first transgender civil servant.
2.Vikram Seth identified as bisexual a famous poet and novelist.
3.Anwesh Sahoo won the title of Mr. Gay World India the youngest winner in 2016.
4.Dutee Chand first and only gay athlete of India.
ROLE OF NGO’S IN THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
1.GATE (Global Action for Transgender Equality) is an international advocacy organization working to provide Transgender and Intersex rights and Education.
2.Chennai Queer Cafe a small group of queer women from Chennai is addressing the lacunae and offering a safe social space for queer cis women.
3.Maaya LGBTQ fights for discrimination and equal human rights.
4.Transgender Legal Rights Trust is working to seek and promote legal and social acceptance of transgender persons.
CONCLUSION
The need of the hour is to implement an Anti-Discrimination law to empower all the LGBTQIA+ community along with all the sections of society.
Awareness with the help of Television, Movies, news channels that have a large reach along with social media and other platforms can help us to contribute to the betterment of the socially excluded LGBTQIA+ community.
It is beyond the control of an individual. There should be a provision where authorities are obliged to realize the diversification of the disadvantaged sections of society.
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi a motivational speaker, Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, Bollywood actress, and transgender activist, and others like her have proved that these people are also no less than anyone.
They are vulnerable and are in disadvantaged positions. Though the rights of these communities are evolving in recent years, this is not enough a lot remains to be done.
