INVISIBLE CONFLICTS OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY

“There is nothing wrong with you. There’s a lot wrong with the world you live in” 

• Chris Colfer 

Everyone is entitled to feel proud of who they love and who they are. We all have a right to express ourselves freely and this right is protected under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone has a right to life, safety, and freedom and by conferring rights on LGBTQ community we can end transphobia and homophobia and thus save lives since they are exposed to high risk of physical and psychological harm. By understanding their identities and embracing LGBTQ community we can learn to eliminate many barriers imposed by gender stereotypes and help this community take one step closer to living with dignity. These stereotypes by defining and limiting how the people belonging to this community are expected to live damages the dimensions of society. Thus, by removing these age-old taboos we set everyone free to come out in the open with their sexual preferences and achieve their full potential without any social constraints and discrimination. LGBTQ community is often at risk of social and economic exclusion but with decriminalisation of homosexuality, demand can be made for formulation of progressive laws and policies that are more inclusive of people regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation will permit them access to right to housing, employment, education, marriage laws, inheritance, adoption, health, and protection from gender identity-based discrimination, among others. Decriminalisation has also led to more self-acceptance along with psychological and emotional security among LGBTQ community.  

Innumerable impediments are faced by the members of LGBTQ community in the society where the only accepted orientation is heterosexuality while homosexuality is considered abnormal or mental illness or psychological disorder. People with homosexual orientation often struggle in acknowledging their homosexual feelings and find meaning of closure. Some members of LGBTQ community face problem or fear or never come out of the closet because of social and cultural expectations such as in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa, people of LGBTQ community continue to live in constant fear of being found out, attacked, and even murdered. LGBTQ people are more likely to experience discrimination, abuse, harassment, intolerance, threat to violence because of their sexual orientation than those that identify themselves to be heterosexual. They are often mocked, bullied, experience derogatory name calling and homophobic language for being different from others that escalated the level of slander, threat and intimidation triggered by gender non-conforming behaviour. They gradually develop low self-esteem and self-confidence and isolate from family and friends. Lack of communication and support from family often lead to conflict and misunderstanding thus resulting in many LGBTQ youths leaving home and family or being placed in foster care, juvenile detention. Some even drop out of school in the early years. LGBTQ teens have a high risk of suffering from mental and health issues because of rejection from their parents and caregivers. With bare job prospects, limited educational opportunities, lack of legal rights and continuous discrimination, members of LGBTQ community suffer from social and economic inequalities and face racism, violence, and poverty.  A lot of times they are victim of violent hate crimes, and are harassed on streets, beaten up, and sometimes even killed. On some occasions, hostility directed at LGBTQ community is fuelled by the government that ought to protect them. In Chechnya, a State-sponsored campaign led to targeting of gay men, some of whom were abducted, tortured, and even killed. LGBTQ activists in Bangladesh were hacked to death by armed groups and the police and government took little interest in ensuring justice to the families of victims. Many countries prohibit and do not legally recognise same sex marriage and same sex sexual activity is a crime in around 70 countries. It even attracts death sentence in nine countries including Iran, Yemen, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia. Criminalisation of homosexuality results in discrimination, inadequate access to services health care services and barriers to both availability and ability to access HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. Countries where such laws are not actually enforced but the knowledge of their very existence reinforces prejudice and hatred against LGBTQ community thus making them feel an outcast with no protection against blackmail, violence, and harassment.  

Though several welcoming victories have been made with respect to rights of LGBTQ community in India but that does not imply that the community is completely free or perceived as equal among their fellow citizens. It underlines how much work remains in India as well as around the world to eliminate antiquated and repressive anti-gay laws that focus on sexual orientation of people rather than humanity. With respect to societal and cultural consent and acceptance, where homosexuality will be considered to be natural and not made dominant identity of an individual, the world has a long way to go. In order to suit our ever-growing society and its dynamic culture, the makers of Indian Constitution left room for expanding or curtailing the laws in part or as a whole. Thus, the pressing issues of LGBTQ community are not something that cannot find light at the end of the tunnel. There is a need to stimulate debate on equality, diversity, promote shared understanding of equality, disseminate good practices, and also to sensitise, train and empower the general public to welcome and support LGBTQ community. There is an immediate need to introduce an anti-discrimination law that empowers LGBTQ community to establish productive lives and relationships regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation. Clinical assessment should be detailed and move past routine labelling and also assess various issues related to lifestyle choices, relationship, identity and social support. It is mandatory to assist people in understanding their sexuality and afford support for living in a pre-dominantly heterosexual world. With combined efforts of leaders, legislators, activists, academicians, and civil society progressive laws can be formulated that uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of LGBTQ community. Instead of changing the individual, India needs to put the onus on State and society to change its perspective and attitude towards LGBTQ community and look at them with respect and dignity rather than as a symbol of social pollutants and vulgarity. Positive, sensitive, and non-judgemental outlook will go a long way in relieving stress of this community and ensure more holistic care. We all need to work for a world where every individual can fully enjoy their rights. Taking initiative to enhance the LGBTQ community is the true essence of democracy. As Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe “I am what I am, so take me as I am.”