The Rights of the LGBTQ+ Community and the Long Road Ahead

This paper aims to enlighten the readers on the sensitive yet an extremely crucial topic of the LGBTQIA+ Community and their rights. LGBTQIA+ Community includes people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgenders, queer, intersex, and asexual. For several decades, people belonging to LGBTQIA+ Community have been suffering discrimination, bullying, torture, and threats and are also prone to suicide due to a lack of support from their family members. Owing to society's non-acceptance and lack of basic human rights concerning employment, education, etc., they are forced to depend on prostitution and beggary to sustain themselves. Though there has been a scanty improvement in the last few years, especially concerning the decriminalization of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the society has nevertheless failed to welcome the landmark judgment of the court about the decriminalization of section 377 with open arms and are still hesitant to recognize and accept people from this community. The writer in this paper also highlights the presence of homosexuality in ancient times in India and draws the attention of the readers toward the various constitutional rights of LGBTQ+ people. Thereafter, the writer finally talks about the long road ahead that lies to make our country an LGBTQIA+ friendly country and accept their identity without forcing them into surgeries or making them feel guilty for their sexual orientation. However, making India an LGBTQIA+-friendly Country is not an easy task due to the rich culture, ethics, morality, and diverse religious principles that are followed in this country.