India’s lingering homophobia

News: Recently, the Kerala High Court sanctioned a lesbian couple to live together after they were coercively separated and incarcerated by their family.

Indian society has been facing a problem of homophobia. For example, the attitude like “God made Adam and Eve; not Adam and Steve” still lingers in Indian society.

What is homophobia?

George Weinberg, an American clinical psychologist, coined the term ‘homophobia’ in his book Society and the Healthy Homosexual (1972).

Homophobia is defined as culturally produced fear of or prejudice against homosexuals. This can manifest into legal restrictions or, in extreme cases, bullying or even violence against homosexuals. It is a culturally conditioned response to homosexuality.

Argument against such homophobia

The Indian Psychiatric Society authentically stated that homosexuality was not a mental disorder.

The social and psychological abhorrence against the LGBTQ+ community nullifies the constitutional principles of fraternity and dignity, enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

There are various historical figures or mythological characters who signalled towards queerness. For example, Shikhandi became a man to satisfy her wife; Mahadeva became a woman to deliver his devotee’s child; and Chudala became a man to enlighten her husband.

Way Forward

In words of J.B. Kripalani, a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly, “the principle of fraternity means that we are all sons of the same God”.

Dr.. B.R. Ambedkar, elucidated the Indian roots of the ideal of fraternity. He derived the principle from the teachings of the Buddha. He gave the highest place to fraternity because this is the only real safeguard against the denial of liberty or equality. He championed the ideal of fraternity to uphold the cause of the oppressed castes, Dalits. The same principle is also applicable to the LGBTQ+ community in India.

Source: The post is based on an article “India’s lingering homophobia” published in the “The Hindu” on 16^th June 2022.