RAINBOW WITH RIGHTS
LGBTQ – A COMMUNITY OF PRIDE
Abhipsa Sarkar
The word “Human Dignity” has been developed from the classical roman thought meaning ‘status’. Out of the 6 fundamental rights as proposed by our Indian constitution, human rights or the human dignity emerge as the most important rights for the citizen. It is the inherent attributes of any human being by virtue of their linguistic, cultural, personal or any other considerations. Human Rights is actually defined as the moral principles and certain standards to safeguard the human dignity in the municipal and international law regularly.
These are based upon values like dignity, justice, fairness and equity. These are also known as the fundamental rights, inherent rights, birth rights.The basic human rights contain the Right to equality, Right to freedom of speech and expression, Right to Life and personal liberty, Right to education, Right to protection from convictions, Right to freedom to profess, practice any religion, Right against exploitation and many more under these.
Many committees and bills have been passed on the favour of human rights to legitimate it wisely both in India and the world. The only aim is to provide the right and consideration to every people without any bar.
The Universal Declaration of India popularised the term dignity with the Human rights. Therefore, the term “human dignity” plays an important role in the development of human arbitration and human rights interpretation.
LGBT is that term that stands for LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL and TRANSGENDER, functioning for sexuality and gender equality. Its conception is from USA since the late 1970s. Scientifically, the term homosexual was termed, but then gradually gay and lesbian became very dominant. Turned its tables, towards the political aspects and aims over gay rights and there should be a spirit of feminism.
Some groups like Daughters of Blitis founded by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon got disbanded in 1970 due to their dispute over lesbian feminism and the disparity of roles of both were seen as patriarchal, refused to work with the gay men. But later in the 1980s, after the change of elation of Stonewalls Riots in New York City, many gay and lesbians were seen as bisexual or transgender people who are honest in their identity.
From 1988, the activism for the LGBT started in the United States. Later, LGB changed itself to a broader prospect to LGBT community. LGBT exclusively refer to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Another popular variant or community LGBTQ came up where Q refers to the queer or with sexual or gender identity. Each community and variant struggled hard till today, for the social acceptance and to enjoy their fundamental rights, to align with other gender communities. Other variant include LGBT+ are stated to be on the different spectrums of sexuality and LGBTQIA includes those people who actually belong to these communities but didn’t reflect their identity. Over the past decade, these communities have gained more acceptance and tolerance from every parts of India but are mostly facing discrimination, rejection from families and forced opposite sex marriages.
Specially, trans people are facing more difficulty in social acceptance.
So, now the LGBTQ communities are also fighting for equal rights and freedoms, to raise awareness they started campaigning mass movement with posters and flags. Pride Parade has been organised as a form of platform to voice the legal rights, pride, social acceptance achievements and demonstration for the same sex marriage. Pride parade are now undertaken at pan india and also across globe.
In 2014,
Indian apex court ruled that the rights and freedom of transgender people in india and decriminalised the same sex marriage under the Section 377.
This considering a historic turning point in empowering people and implementing community program.
The term LGBTQ are disagreed to by everyone and prejudices led to think and portrait them as odd, different and mismatched to the normal society. LGB issues are always seen a matter of sexual attraction which should never be seen as a factor of discrimination and hatred or abuse. They had to face innumerable difficulties where only homosexuality and heterosexuality is considered abnormal, harassment, intolerance, violence due to their sexual orientation. In many countries, these group of people are been deprived of their rights and as a result they develop a low self esteem and low self confidence and isolation from society. Other difficulties include the lack of communication between the parents and the children just ceases to juvenile detention or dropped out to streets. Racial discrimination are the most common in the workplace due to social, political and economic inequalities. Attempting suicidal tendencies and negative addictions to life as a result became a victims of crimes and other forms.
Today, many queer and homosexuality are more acceptable to the Indian youths than before because they understand their sufferings but it been a still taboo or a barrier of acceptance to the homes, families and schools of the LGBTQ community.
This term is neither a “problem “ nor a ‘choice’ by themselves but they are also mere individuals who differ due to certain norms, learned behaviours, having personal perspective and a different mindset to rise up in life, which might people muddled up with the term “sexual attraction and preferences”.
Diverse studies have shown the higher rates of same-sex attraction in homogeneous people, with a recent Australian study of atypical sex characteristics finding that 52% of respondents were non-heterosexual. Born with sex characteristics that do not fit social norms, intersex can be distinguished from transgender while some have both. On the statistics from the support of the public opinion, same sex marriage legally accounts for 58%, right to adopt accounts for 66%, 37% favoured that society should accept homosexuality and a good position of 26% is the perceived acceptance of gay people in the society.
International developments for LGBTQ community is much more evident in Ireland, USA, Nepal, Brazil, Canada, Belgium, spain, Norway, south Africa, Pakistan, china, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, ghana, iran, Qatar and many more.
Healthcare is also much related with this community. Many issues related to HIV/AIDS, breast and cervical cancer, hepatitis, mental health, depression and also issues relating to family problems, refusal clause legislation and laws are intending to immunize the health care professionals from liability from discriminating or disapprove on the grounds of community. This community people faces intense barriers while accessing oneself to the healthcare due to sexual orientation and discrimination upon the gender identity also targeted for bullying, physical assault and this can be mastered through proper friendliness and behaviour.
Article 15 of Indian constitution marked out the Prohibition of Discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or the place of birth. If all men and women are allowed to live ceremoniously, then why there is a question regarding the people of LGBTQ community. They should also receive respect and can wholeheartedly enjoy the LGBTQ rights, there should never be a hurdle to appreciate.
Human rights for the LGBTQ rights and activists present the heterogency of issues and we must held up worldwide expose based on sexual attitude and gender congruence. In order to implement, the govt of India to refine the laws for the achievement and acceptance of the LGBTQ community socially. They need to protect their rights without discrimination, providing better working conditions, alternate the social attitude.
Advances towards equality of LGBTQ people should be undertaken and advocate policies and laws to protect everyone’s dignity, a world where people can enjoy their rights fully and respectfully in a society.
ABHIPSA SARKAR
