What’s the environment?
BJP and Congress proposals ignore calls for same-sex unions and transgender employment quotas as thousands of LGBTQ+ Indians ballot.
- BJP, Congress proposals include LGBTQ+ claims
- Right campaigners claim that legislation promises are insufficient.
- Needs for same-sex relationship, trans employment quotas
If India’s two main parties win a general election that begins on Friday, they will pledge to make improvements to LGBTQ+ people’s lives, but politicians claim that by detracting from the issue of same-sex wedding, they are only offering lip service to queer and trans rights.
Despite development on LGBTQ+ right, same-sex connections remain illegal in India and some LGBTQ+ citizens hide their identity for fear of discrimination. In a significant loss to justice gains, the Supreme Court last month declined to legalize gay marriage.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is expected to win a second term and oppose same-sex unions. It has promised more homes, national ID cards, and access to public health plan for trans people in its statement.
The opposition Congress party has vowed in its coverage plan to create a legislation that will recognize same-sex civil unions, stopping short of supporting equitable marriage, and to make changes to the constitution to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.
But LGBTQ+ rights protesters said both parties ‘ vows were upsetting, with the BJP ignoring gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens altogether and Congress only making vague ideas on recognising same-sex organizations after “wide conversation”.
This is all just a mouthful of praise. we’re a sizeable electorate, and this is all they could offer us,” Noor Enayat, a Mumbai-based LGBTQ+ rights activist, told Context.
BJP and Congress did not respond to a request for comment right away.
Enayat demanded that political parties conduct anonymous surveys of LGBTQ+ people to record their demands and launch awareness campaigns to increase acceptance of same-sex relationships among others.
Discrimination and abuse
There is no official data on the size of the LGBTQ+ population in India, the world’s largest democracy, but the government estimates there are 2. 5 million gay people. LGBT+ rights activists say the true figure is much higher.
LGBTQ+ Indians have made significant progress in the six years since the Supreme Court removed a colonial-era ban on gay sex, from their portrayal on television to greater political representation and inclusive corporate policies.
But many still fear coming out, and say discrimination and abuse are rife, preventing them from accessing jobs, healthcare, education and housing.
Trans Indians who are frequently shunned by their families and subject to police harassment and extortion are even more vulnerable, according to campaigners.
The quota system has never been established, despite a landmark 2014 decision that made trans people legally recognized as” third genders” and made them eligible for jobs and school places.
Trans rights advocates claim that policies to protect them and promote their inclusion are urgently needed because of persistent marginalization and poverty, especially among trans women who frequently survive by begging or through sex work.
“( Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer ) people are mostly privileged in education, jobs and family acceptance… We transgender people require various rights. Otherwise, how will social justice and equality be achieved? ” said Grace Banu, a Chennai-based trans activist.
According to campaigners, parties should reform the law to allow for greater transgender representation in state and federal parliaments and establish the jobs and education quotas.
Of all of India’s political parties, the Communist Party of India ( Marxist ), which rules the southern state of Kerala, has the most LGBTQ-friendly manifesto, said Ankit Bhuptani, a Mumbai-based gay activist.
Still, while the party promises gay unions, trans education and job reservations and anti-bullying measures for LGBTQ+ students, it stops short of proposing marriage equality, calling instead for recognition” similar to marriage”.
However, Bhuptani said the LGBTQ+ community must concentrate on winning the BJP’s hearts and minds as polls suggest an easy victory for Modi’s party.
” India needs to have a holistic and strategic approach to the queer conversations, which is incredibly insufficient. We need more collaboration with the BJP, not confrontation. “
( Reporting by Annie Banerji @anniebanerji, Editing by Helen Popper )
