Speakers at a panel discussion on ‘Understanding Gender Sexuality and Identity’ here on Sunday stressed the need to understand gender identity issues at an early age.
The lack of a support forum for gender identity struggles and the difficulties associated with acceptance within close relations and society need to be addressed, pointed out George Paul, gynaecologist, and Jijo Kuriakose, LGBTIQ activist and president of Queerala, according to a release issued by Raising Our Voices Foundation (ROV), a Kochi-based NGO working on gender issues.
Daya Gayathri, student and transgender activist, referred to the miserable treatment that is meted out to transgender persons.
Sandhya Raju, lawyer and director, Centre for Constitutional Rights Research Rights and Advocacy, said that the legislative and other Constitutional bodies must address the concerns of the LGBTIQ community, particularly in the light of the Supreme Court judgment recognising the rights of the community.
The speakers said that improper sex education classes from a young age and taboo about conversations around sex resulted in society not understanding the community. Parents and friends have a major role in providing a support system to individuals especially adolescents undergoing gender dysphoria (being unease about one’s identity or dissatisfaction with life), they said.