Manifestoes mum on LGBTQ issues; community upset at being sidelined

  • | Monday | 1st April, 2019

"Nitish Gautam, who identifies with the community, said that he feels the LGBTQ issues can never be addressed in party manifestoes as the community is considered as a 'miniscule minority'. On the contrary, the LGBTQ community is bullied and mocked". Yet, none of the political parties have focused on the community in their manifestoes for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections More than 2,000 people of Bhopal identify with the community. BHOPAL: The Supreme Court of India decriminalised homosexuality last year and gave the LGBTQ community the freedom to express and follow their sexuality without fear. Upset at being sidelined by political parties, some members of the LGBTQ community spoke to TOI about their problems.Abdul Majid, founder and president of the Anmol Samaj Sevi Sansthan which works for the welfare of the community, said, "We are fighting our own battles.

BHOPAL: The Supreme Court of India decriminalised homosexuality last year and gave the LGBTQ community the freedom to express and follow their sexuality without fear. Yet, none of the political parties have focused on the community in their manifestoes for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections More than 2,000 people of Bhopal identify with the community. According to them, though Section 377 was decriminalised, anti-social elements have started creating problems for members of the community. Upset at being sidelined by political parties, some members of the LGBTQ community spoke to TOI about their problems.Abdul Majid, founder and president of the Anmol Samaj Sevi Sansthan which works for the welfare of the community, said, "We are fighting our own battles. They are focusing on the transgenders, which is a good thing, but what about lesbians, gays and bisexuals? We still haven't got the right to equality. The other issues are still a long way to go. We are trying to sensitize people about the community and its rights. We -- as an organization -- are raising the issues and sensitizing the young generation, especially nurses, doctors and the police. This is an uphill battle."Nitish Gautam, who identifies with the community, said that he feels the LGBTQ issues can never be addressed in party manifestoes as the community is considered as a 'miniscule minority'. "Earlier the Supreme Court had put a stay on the petition to decriminalize homosexuality and the decision was taken after five years. I don't really see it becoming an important agenda for politicians any time in the distant future. Politics in India is all about appeasement so they target religious and communal issues, tell people they will give them money for being lazy. No one ever talks sense," he said.Speaking about the stigma the community members face, Shweta Shahi, a bisexual, said, "It's not like the government or the citizens are not aware of the issue, but even then, they do not want to acknowledge it. None of the politicians has spoken about it openly, nor have they even acknowledged the existence of the community. On the contrary, the LGBTQ community is bullied and mocked"."Despite the decriminalization of homosexuality, people still do not want to associate with the community, neither do they want to help us raise issues of marriage and adoption. I'm not in favour of any of the parties", Shweta added.

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