For a long time now, the LGBTQIA community has been fighting for equal rights. We’re sure that you’ve heard about the term equal rights before. But what does that really mean? What are these rights the members of the community have been fighting for? Pride month is a time for celebration! But, it’s also an opportunity to help educate and start a conversation about important things. So today, we’re here to shed some light and explain to you why this very simple thing, has been the crux of the whole fight that the community has been fighting.
Section 377
Before we get into what the rights are, it’s important to understand what the biggest hurdle faced by the community in India is, namely Section 377. For years now, members and even non-members of the LGBTQIA community have been fighting to get rid of this law that basically criminalises same-sex relations. This archaic section from the Indian Penal code was introduced by British colonial authorities, during the British Raj. This law has been the reason for many people’s suffering and also the reason why the community faces so much harassment. The new hearing for the abolishment of Section 377 is coming up soon. Hopefully this time around, the Indian judicial system can do away with this relic of the past!
The Rights We’re Fighting For
What would you do if we told you that you’re not free to love or marry anyone you want? What if you were forced to submit to archaic rules and could be harassed just because you were holding someone’s hand? You’d feel pretty shit too, right? That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the LGBTQIA community. It’s been years of being oppressed and ridiculed by a society that can’t even give us the most basic human rights. We want the right to be able to love who we want, without it being a criminal offence. We want the right to be able to hold the hand of whoever we want, without being harassed. We want to be allowed to marry the person of our dreams, even if they are of the same sex. What we really want, is the freedom to be ourselves. That’s not too much to ask for, right?
What It Would Mean To Be Free
For a long time now, the LGBTQIA community in India has had to deal with being denied basic human rights. Being able to finally be free and be considered an equal in society would mean the world. It will finally bring the struggles, the harassment and ordeals that members have faced, to an end. It will also help a lot of people come out of the closet and choose a happier life. It will pave the way for the generation to come and finally people will be able to come out from hiding. Sure, it sounds really dramatic, but just think about everything they’ve had to deal with over the years. The freedom to be able to express your true self is something a lot of us take for granted. It’s a luxury not a lot of people have.
Everyone deserves their basic human rights! Times have changed and it’s high time we move past these archaic rules and laws that chain us down. They belong to a time that was filled with hate, brutality and intolerance. It’s not about westernisation or forgetting culture! It’s about being happy and letting others be happy too. The tides of change are here and we truly hope that this time, it’s here for the LGBTQIA community too. In the mean while, let’s all band together to help educate others about these issues. In this uphill battle, every supporting shoulder helps!
#HappyPrideMonth