CHANDIGARH: The happy mood in the local LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community on Thursday couldn’t hide its worries over one question: “The Supreme Court has decriminalised homosexuality by abolishing Section 377 of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC) but will society stop being judgmental?”
The community says it will start sensitising people, now that its members feel free to come out of the closet and move around with their partners without fear. Patiala’s Maninderjit Singh, who studies at
Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University in Fatehgarh Sahib, said: “Many people have misused this law. Forget outsiders, at the time of our breakup, even my partner threatened to frame me under Section 377, if I slept with anyone else.”
“The judgment,” he says, “has freed us of legal obligation but what about our families. Will my folks accept that I am gay? Are we safe outside? Will people stop judging us or commenting on the way we walk and talk? Will they accept our ways?
The verdict is a great step but much more needs to be done to change the public mindset. But it is a step in that direction.”
He wants a law to protect the community against discriminations. “In fact, I was expecting it in today’s judgment,” he said. Purav, a social activist and student from Chandigarh, said: “Earlier, we could not go out openly with our partners. People used to bully and threaten us. But now we can cite the law. I think this judgment of the Supreme Court will go a long way in changing people’s mindset.”
RELIEF: The LGBTQ community will start sensitising people
‘We can now come out of our shells’
Raman, another college student from the LGBT community, said: “This victory will encourage members of our community to come out of their shells, talk about self, and our feelings, so that the people around can understand and accept us.” Dhananjay
Chauhan Mangalmukhi, director of Saksham trust and convener of the non-official members of the executive council of Chandigarh Transgender Welfare Board, said: “This is a great victory for the community, born out of hard work and many pride walks. We have won the
battle of equality but the battle of acceptance remains. There is a need to create mass awareness to win real acceptance.”
She added that they will now demand equality for the LGBT community in educational institutes and workplaces. “We will fight for the rights of transgenders,” she said. “The community will celebrate the Supreme Court order in a few days, since it could not do so on Thursday because of the PU student council elections.
The LGBTQ community will start sensitising people
