Criminalization of Conversion Centres and Therapy: A Pressing Priority

“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts” - Barbara Gitting.
Homosexuality is not a disorder and should not be treated like one. The acronym LGBTQ+ is used as an umbrella phrase, and the community's health issues are frequently grouped together. Each letter denotes a separate community with its own set of health issues. Despite the fact that there is a little body of information on LGBTQ+ health, these stigmatized sexual and gender minorities have been the topic of comparatively little health research. The authors in this paper aim to create a valley of awareness for the mental wellbeing of this community. This paper expresses the concern for non-compliance of the law by the society after the decriminalization of Section 377. It aims to propagate the notion to criminalize conversion therapy and such centres which violate Constitutional and basic human rights by treating all homosexuals as mental health patients. It also throws light on the dark side of the society and the socio-legal impact of conversion centres on homosexuals. The assumption that homosexuality can be cured through conversion therapy is absurd and has no scientific reasoning. This paper further enumerates the international approach towards criminalizing such therapy and safeguarding the rights of homosexuals.