The Not-So-Changed Status Of The LGBTQ Community In India: 2018 To 2022

Swarnima Singh, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bangalore, Karnataka

'This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.'

– Elliot Page

Introduction:

We live in a society where inequality and discrimination form the crux of the societal norms that prevails in various fields of health, education, religion, and other social and political spheres. The Supreme Court's landmark judgment on decriminalizing consensual gay sex was a bold and needed step in the modern era. This ruling affirmed that equality and dignity should get prioritization over the orthodox and narrow outlook that built a wall preventing homosexuals from enjoying the same rights as every other citizen. The main objective of the makers of the Indian Constitution was to ensure a society where people lived freely, exercising their choice and freedom, unobstructed by the poignant attitude of the individuals that always held them back. However, despite what these makers had in mind and the SC's historic ruling, the mindset of the community is still stuck in the deeply entrenched conservative and archaic inclination. The fact that homosexuals still face health disparities and backlash over their sexual orientation by health workers is a matter that requires serious concern.