LGBTQ+ Community Expects Better Policies And Laws For Them

LGBTQ+ Community Expects Better Policies And Laws For Them

Pune: As Maharashtra goes to the polls on October 21 to elect a new State government, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community has expressed that their expectation from the new government is better policies and laws for them. 

“The LGBTQ community needs visibility in society and political parties help by sensitising the public through their manifestos or at least mentioning us in their speeches,” said Misaal Bedi, a second year BSc student at Indian Institute of Science and Education Research.

“Enforcing strong laws which clearly state that any discrimination against LGBTQ+ community will not be tolerated and looked at as a criminal offence, will not only protect the dignity of the community members but also secure them in society,” added Bedi.

Founder of Sampathik Trust, Bindumadhav Khire said many benefits don’t get passed on to transgenders, like the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Pension Yojana because of lack of proper documents that are hard to get from government authorities.
 
“According to this scheme, a transgender’s gender identity certificate is needed, which so far hospitals aren’t providing. For example Sassoon Hospital gives certificate to castrated transgenders as ‘castrated men’.
Thus transgenders are unable to benefit from the scheme,” said Khire.

“The concern has been communicated with the Social Justice Department, but we haven’t received any response,” Khire added. “The State government should focus on running the ongoing policies efficiently instead of introducing new ones.” 

Most of the community members demanded there should be inclusion of gender sensitisation consisting OF LGBTQ+ issues in government office trainings and curriculum of police, judicial magistrates, gazetted officers, hospitals, schools, colleges etc.

“Government of Rajasthan is the only government in India which has included sexual orientation under Anti-Mob Lynching Act, 2019, so I hope and demand from the Government of Maharashtra to enact the same and protect our rights,” said Sampathik Trust Coordinator Anil Ukarande.

“The State government should issue circulars to health, education department and other local bodies that any kind of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex variation should be considered as normal variation of sexuality and not as an illness, disease, disorder or perversion. Any such reference in government offices in written, visual, audio mediums should be removed/ rewritten,” he added.

A team leader at Tata Consultancy Services, Sagar Barve who is also a member of Indradhanu forum which organises Pride March said, “We need law for same sex marriages, equal rights, inheritance rights among others. The medical insurance should should allow the applicant to declare LGBTQ partner as dependent.”

Barve stated that political parties in Central and State governments can play an important role in bringing the change in the society.

“The government hasn’t done anything for transgender community members. Their protection, separate washrooms for third gender, jobs, education for transgenders  and most importantly crimes against them are never registered,” he added. 

Barve said the schools and colleges should conduct sex education and explain about alternative sexualities. 

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