Several countries, including India, have formally recognised third sex and

homosexuals as equal citizens after a protracted battle that included numerous

movements and protests in various parts of the world.
By alluding to them as "We the people of India," the Preamble to the Indian
Constitution recognises all its citizens without discrimination. It ensures
political, monetary, and societal justice.
In September 2018, as part of its revision of Section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code, the Supreme Court of India issued a decision legalising adult same-sex
marriages based on consent. This ruling is generally regarded as a historic one
because of how broadly it interprets constitutional rights and the power it
gives the LGBTQIA+ community.
Although it was a major step forward, it does not mean that LGBTQIA+ people
in India have full freedom or are treated equally to the rest of the population. It
lessens the importance of the enormous task that needs to be completed in
India and throughout the rest of the globe.

What does the LGBTQIA+ abbreviation actually mean?

The acronym LGBTIQ+ primarily refers to people who identify as being lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (one's sexual or gender identity),
intersex, and asexual, even though no single phrase can adequately describe
the numerous genders and sexual identities that exist in the world today.
Lesbian: Referring to lesbian women or female homosexuality.
Gay: A homosexual person (typically referring to a man).
Bisexuality: It is the desire to both genders or to more than one gender,
whether it be romantically or sexually.
Transgender: People who identify as transgender do not necessarily manifest
themselves as the sex with which they were born.
Queer: Queer is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or are
not cisgender. (Questioning one’s sexual or gender identity)
Intersex: An intersex is a group of conditions in which there is a discrepancy
between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries).
The older term for this condition is hermaphroditism.
Asexual: Asexual is the lack of sexual attraction to others or low interest in
sexual activity.

What is the history of India's recognition of the LGBTQIA+

community?
The foundation of old Indian culture was the acceptance and celebration of all
forms of love, as well as a de facto acceptance of the idea of homosexuality.
The Khajuraho Temple in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh offers one specific
example of the existence of sexual fluidity among gays. People in Britain
thought that sexual behaviour was "against the order of nature" in 1861. As a
consequence, there is a clause in the Indian Penal Code that makes it unlawful
to act in any gay manner.
Shakuntala Devi published "The World of Homosexuals" in 1977, which is
regarded as the country's first in-depth analysis of homosexuality. Instead of
just promoting "tolerance and compassion," the statement promoted "full and
complete acceptance." In 1994, they gained legal recognition as a third sex and
were given the right to vote. In 2014, the Supreme Court of India issued its
ruling declaring that transgender people should be treated as a third group of
gender.
Members of the LGBTQ community now have the freedom to publicly express
their sexual preference without fear of retaliation, thanks to a ruling by the US
Supreme Court in 2017. The protection of a person's right to private includes
their sexual orientation. On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court struck
down the part of Section 377 of the Criminal Code that made homosexual acts
of consenting intimacy illegal. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights)
Act, which was enacted into law in 2019, aims to safeguard the legal rights,
welfare, and other interests of transgender people.

What difficulties do the LGBTQIA+ groups in India face?

In addition to homophobia and transphobia, people who identify as LGBTQIA+

may also experience other forms of discrimination, such as racism, sexism,
poverty, or other problems, all of which have the potential to have a negative
impact on their mental health. Because of the marginalisation that LGBTQIA+
people experience, access to necessary resources is frequently refused to
them. These resources consist of access to healthcare, legal and judicial
assistance, and educational possibilities. The Impact of Families' Responses on
LGBT Children: Many LGBTQIA+ children and teenagers avoided talking about
their feelings with their parents because they were afraid of their reaction.
People who identify as LGBTQIA+ can suffer greatly from mental and physical
health problems if their families do not support them in a society where
marriage, education, and career opportunities are governed by strict social and
cultural norms.
Unheard Voices: The voices of LGBTQIA+ people living in urban areas are being
heard online and offline through different platforms. Due to a lack of exposure,
comfort, and internet availability in their location, LGBTQIA+ people who live in
rural areas may repress their feelings. This is due to the possibility that physical
violence will rise if you choose not to get married.
Homelessness: The majority of LGBTQIA+ children who are homeless have
either been expelled from their families because they are gay or have fled
abusive relationships or circumstances. In their most formative years, they are
deprived of a formal education and the required social support. Additionally,
they frequently engage in risky sexual behaviour and drug usage because they
have no other way to support themselves monetarily.
Unrecognized in Social Circles: Access points for travel (such as ticket booking
forms, security screening, and bathrooms) are frequently skewed towards one
gender. This includes school uniforms, dress standards, and appearance. People
who identify as LGBTQIA+ are frequently compelled to discuss their gender
identity in front of an audience when using public transportation. People who
identify as LGBTQIA+ frequently have to display their gender identity in front of
onlookers when using public transportation.
Inadequate opportunities Employment: When it is difficult to obtain the proper
documentation pertaining to one's gender identity, including school records,
employment prospects are negatively impacted. Because of the biased
eligibility requirements, some professions have gender restrictions, making it
challenging for transgender people and those who don't identify as one of two
genders to attain such positions.

How Should One Proceed in Light of the Situation?

A shift in the general public's perception of LGBTQIA+ people Because they are
available to rural communities where social media has not yet penetrated,
television and movies will probably prove to be the most effective tools for
redefining family roles and attitudes. This is so that LGBTQIA+ experiences can
be accurately and diversely relayed through tales and programmes that are
featured in television and film.
Movies like Aligarh, Badhaai Do, and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Morden
Love Mumbai have the ability to significantly help the cause of changing
society's negative perception of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Moving Away from Favoured Treatment and Toward Equal Treatment:
LGBTQIA+ individuals don't appear to be extra-terrestrials; they don't have any
diseases; their sexual orientation is genetic; and being homosexual is a natural
occurrence, not a disease. Instead of receiving preferential care, they should
receive equal treatment. They will fully integrate into the process of societal
development if they are treated equally in Indian society. Gender neutrality is
the practise of treating both sexes equally without demonstrating preference
for one over the other. Additionally, it suggests that social norms such as
language, law, and other forms of social behaviour should not assume
gendered roles.
How to Become a Better Parent: Every parent has a basic responsibility to
accept their children as individuals, including their identities. If they accept the
child as a member of that group, they will transform society into one that
values diversity and respects the individuality of every person.
Promoting LGBTQIA Youth Empowerment and Awareness: It's important to
have a forum that's open and accessible so that they can feel heard and
comfortable talking about their feelings. Thanks to the growth of online
communities like Gaysi and Gaylaxy, LGBT people have more chances than ever
to connect, share their stories, and collaborate. Supporting Pride Month and
the Pride Parade Initiative would be another good step.
-AINDRI MISHRA
ST.XAVIER’S SR. SEC CO-ED SCHOOL
BHEL,BHOPAL