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Concept of LGBT Anf The Problems They Face

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8 views4 pages

Concept of LGBT Anf The Problems They Face

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priyanshu.g4804
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Concept of LGBT

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. It intends to signify a
diversity of sexuality and gender identity and also used to refer to anyone who is
non-heterosexual or non-cisgender. To recognize this inclusion, letter Q has been
added for those who identify as queer or are questioning their sexual identity as
LGBTQ, recorded since 1996. Before the sexual revolution of the 1960s, there
was no common non-derogatory vocabulary for non-heterosexuality; the closest
such term, “third gender”, traces back to the 1860s but never gained wide
acceptance in the United States. The first widely used term, homosexual, was
thought to carry negative connotations and tended to be replaced by homophile
in the 1950s and 1960s, and subsequently gay in the 1970s. As lesbians forged
more public identities, the phrase “gay and lesbian” became more common.
The murder of the LGBT activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Rabbi
Tonoy in Bangladesh marks the turning point for LGBT activism in the Indian
sub-continent as we stare the latter half of 2016. So to put it simple, everyone is
afraid to death of stirring up the hetero-normative pot that’s anyway boiling over.
The courts are full of failed marriages; the cities are brimming with abandoned
children even as teenage pregnancies surge and dowry deaths reach a crescendo.
But LGBT rights seem to threaten the very fabric of society. And the irony is that
another Supreme Court judgment has given transgendered persons a sense of
dignity, but affirmative action doesn’t seem to see the light of day on the ground
level.
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code has a strange history that reveals its
fundamental instability. The British Raj instituted the current status in 1860 to
criminalize all sex acts between consenting adults that are not heteronormative.
The law criminalizes any sexual act “against the order of nature,” but often
promotes corruption by authorities who harass, blackmail and extort from sexual
minorities and sex workers in India. In addition to confusion about the law, its
dubious dependence on what constitutes “natural”, and its gross mockery of
equality, there are three powerful undercurrents to this law that have not yet been
written about. These three major areas are: 1) the need for education amongst the
young voters (since India has the world’s largest population of youth); 2) the need
to recognize Section 377 as a law that economically hinders India’s efficient
development into a world super power; and 3) the troubling hatred of women
enshrined in Indian law at a time when the country’s global reputation is marred
by high profile rape cases.
We must view Section 377 as a law with global reach. Many western
countries, including the U.S. most recently, have legalized marriage equality. Not
only does the U.K. no longer have such a law, but the new constitution of Nepal,
India’s northern neighbour, explicitly outlines “protection, empowerment or
advancement of gender-based and sexually oriented minorities.” Section 377 is
an obstacle to economic development of the world’s largest democracy. Section
377 perpetuates and institutes a new class of citizens deemed untouchable by
virtue of their gender and sexuality.
We must recognize the dire threat to development and democracy that
legally-supported sexism allows. Section 377 tacitly enshrines hated towards
women by perpetrating violence against all things “female”. The ongoing
institutionalization of the draconian law also contradicts the April 2014
recognition of the Third Sex. This is India’s “Tryst with Destiny”: the British-
instituted Section 377 must be repealed for once and for all to establish a strong
democratic society, transformative education, gender equality, economic
prosperity, and human decency.

Problems Faced by the LGBT Community


Despite the very obvious and troubling fact that there is a stamp of illegality on
the very identity of the LGBT community in India, we're constantly trying our
best to break out from the status quo and change the existing circumstances.
It's a pity that members of the LGBT community are still having to combat
an array of nuisances that no member of civilized society should have to deal with
in this day and age.
1. There is no proper sex education in place.
While the very idea of sex is still a huge taboo in our society, sex education has
a critical role to play in our process of growing up. We have however come a long
way and there has been a considerable increase in the levels of awareness about
the birds and bees amongst teenagers in contemporary society. When it comes to
a queer individual growing up in the Indian society however, the situation is
dismal. Most of us have no idea how to go about getting dirty, until we get down
to doing some practical "research".
2. Health issues end up getting ignored
Growing up heterosexual, the two distinct dangers associated with sex are
restricted to accidental pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. But
homosexuality leads to a whole host of different health problems that don't get
talked about. There are a plethora of STDs at large, and because of the lack of
awareness and information available, we end up ignoring health issues that we
might potentially be threatened by.
3. There's no end to the ugly labelling and homophobic slurs.
Other than the fact that members of the LGBT community face physical assaults
far too frequently, there is also the incessant verbal assault that we have to deal
with on a daily basis. More often than not, the terms 'gay' and 'faggot' are used
loosely with a blatantly negative connotation, and it just is not cool. Being gay is
not a fucking expletive.
4. Being gay is still largely dismissed as a mental illness.
Even in the age of information, the lack of awareness that exists is daunting. And
not just amongst the older generation that refuses to come to terms with the reality
of alternate sexualities, but even amongst the millennials. It's awfully
disheartening to come across young, seemingly educated individuals doling out
misinformed opinions. Google, you guys. Before you form a strong, bigoted
opinions, why not resort to the Internet and do your part in educating yourselves.
5. Coming out is an ordeal you have to go through with every time
you meet someone new.
Coming out to your loved ones with your sexuality is one of the most emotionally
tumultuous, gut wrenching experiences that anyone could have to go through in
their lives. But even if you've made it through that ordeal unscathed, talking about
your sexuality and discussing it with every single person you meet is not a very
inviting prospect. Other than frequent loose judgements being passed, there are
also the risks of being ostracized and assaulted for being just who you are.
6. Sexual assault within the LGBT community is a reality.
Victims of same-sex sexual assault are invisible to professionals used to handling
male-on-female rape, and are shunned by a community that will accuse victims
of destroying their glorious vision with the idea of inconvenient victimhood. A
lot of people still have trouble believing that it's even possible for a woman to
rape someone. Clarifying the reality invites comparisons to an evil, predatory
lesbian, but ignoring it is doing nothing to battle the epidemic of gay people being
assaulted.
7. Constant exposure to invasive, uncomfortable questions
While you're more than welcome to ask questions and clarify doubts you might
have in your understanding of alternate sexualities, wanting to delve into the
details of one's private sexual life is point blank rude. "How exactly do you do
it?" is a question that most lesbians are faced with on a daily basis. I REALLY
don't want to talk about that. How about you Google 'scissoring' instead?
8. There are inherent problems within the community
This one time, at Jantar Mantar, where members of the community and allies
flocked to protest the re-criminalization of Sec 377, there was blatant display of
a very apparent classist attitude. The movement for gay rights in the country is
inherently an elitist one, despite the fact that this ' minuscule minority' consists of
the working class and the lower middle class as well. Watching people on stage
talking about their experiences being boo-ed at because of their imperfect diction
by seemingly educated allies, was an extremely jarring experience.
The public image of the gay man is still a perfectly sculpted slab of muscle-
cake, and there is a prevalent pressure to comply with that very image to be taken
seriously within the community, and also, in the search for partners.

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