India and LGBTQ Acceptance

India makes strides towards LGBTQ acceptance

One of the most conservative countries in the globe is taking steps forward to create more inclusive, safe place for LGBTQ individuals who are residing in the country. India, known for its strict morals and reserved ideologies, has increased acceptance to LGBTQ individuals by repealing policies that restricted same-sex marriage and relationships, hosting career fairs for LGBTQ individuals, and decriminalizing same-sex relationships. Currently, Indian activist Ankita Mehra is demanding an increase in civil rights by fighting for freedom of employment where LGBTQ individuals can self-express themselves, medical benefits for gay partners, and the right to adopt children.

Right now, there are numerous icons that are coming out as lesbian or gay in India. Their hopes are that their platforms will be able to pave way for other LGBTQ individuals to feel save and welcomed when they come out. India’s Bollywood movie industry is also hiring LGBTQ individuals for lead roles in their movies to aid in making steps in the right direction of acceptance. To create workplace opportunity, career fairs have been held with companies in attendance who accept and promote the LGBTQ community. In one instance, a career fair was held in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, where 7 companies were in attendance to network for potential employees. Here, individuals where given nametags where they could write the pronoun they’d like to be addressed by – 40 job offers were extended. Moving forward, the LGBTQ community only has high hopes when they look back on how far India has come already.

- Shayla Bannert

Resource:

Anand, S. (2019). India’s LGBTQ Activists Raise Their Voices. U.S. News. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2019-12-31/indias-gay-activists-grow-in-numbers-but-acceptance-remains-elusive