The lgbtqia+ community in India

This is the best time around to write about this. Although the pride month is dedicated to queer rights, they sadly have to fight for their right to existence 24/7 and not only for a single month in the year. And as our laws are turning progressive day by day, giving us all hopes, the general mindset of our country just isn’t.

The people (especially of India) like to dismiss this topic in the name of preserving their “culture.” So here, we are going to talk about whether our culture really prohibits homosexuality or not. I am mainly going to talk about Hinduism in this article since I am one and I can speak out the perspective.

I have heard the saying ” Homosexuality is a foreign concept” in my life enough times to do proper research on it. But is it really?

The research proves out to be quite conflicting. It is now being said that the stigma around homosexuality and sex education is, in fact, a foreign concept “gifted” to us by the Britishers when they colonized us. The liberals keep their perspective that homosexuality and even polyamory were “recognized” in the ancient history of India, and they keep forward various ancient carvings, books, and art as proof.

While on the other side of the spectrum, some people have argued that the carvings were made by poor carvers who projected their knowledge and fantasies through their art, since talking about it was socially unacceptable at that time. The truth can actually fall on any side of the spectrum but we can’t be oblivious to the fact that our gods did not forbid homosexuality either. In fact, they represented the communities.

“Many deities in Hinduism and Indian epics are represented as both male and female at different times and in different incarnations or may manifest with characteristics of both genders at once, such as Ardhanarishvara, created by the merging of the god Shiva and his consort Parvati whose half right body is a fully male body and half left body is full female.

Many chronicles of changes in sex and polyamory are often found both in traditional religious narratives such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas as well as in regional folklore. But then again, there are no direct mentions and so, these interpretations might go on to hurt religious sentiments.

Regardless of whether our pasts and religions have shown proves of supporting the community or not, our society should unfold to progress towards a world where all human beings are valid and loved. Because in my interpretation of a “religion”, peace and love comes before beliefs and rules. God supports humans who support other humans in overcoming their battles in life.

1. Moral education- We have been pressing on the topic of proper sex education in schools while letting the importance of home values and life skills slip. Because education starts at home and that’s where a child is mainly raised. Although, moral education in schools is very good start, it should be modified to not only focus on children, but on parents as well.
2. Better inclusion in the parliaments and mainstream media – People and especially children need to realize that the people belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community are also normal human beings like them and are capable of handling honorable positions.
3. Inclusion of struggles and stories in the curriculum- Children need to know from the very beginning that this world has been pretty cruel and this world needs determined people to bring about a change which is the need of the hour.
4. Individual change- Speak up against any prejudice in your households or anywhere else. The topic of homosexuality is pretty massive, so don’t step back when it comes to educating yourself and other people about this.

“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.” – Barbara Gittings

Because nobody gets the right to prohibit someone else from living their lives. So just keep spreading love !