Realizing inborn need for freedom to love and even get married to one’s own choice, many western countries have legalised same sex marriage.
Jilima Yengkhom
Imphal: Everyone is born free and equal in dignity and rights. However discriminatory laws, policies, and practices against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are still in place around the world.
Given the biased and social prejudices, LGBT youth succumb to substance uses, sexually transmitted diseases, depression and suicide as compared to the general population.
Realizing inborn need for freedom to love and even get married to one’s own choice, many western countries have legalised same sex marriage. Despite legalizing consensual sex, the prevailing mindset in India prevent the LGBT community from reporting sex crimes against them fearing criminalization, stigmatization and discrimination.
Recently on 12th May, two Manipuri transgenders pursuing nursing in Bangalore were allegedly gang raped by three hooligans. While this case isn’t the first time, the victims choose not to report the incidents to the police fearing repercussion. Significantly the local police came to know about the incident and arrested the culprits on 19th May.
“Stigmatization and discrimination are the looming fear that prevent the for LGBT youth from coming out and opening discussing their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. This is turn leads to risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-destructive behaviour. These make them vulnerable to suicidal behaviours,” said Lisam Mala, a program officer with Manipur’s Social Welfare Department.
Fortunately the situation in Manipur has considerably improved with many supportive organizations coming to the forth and undertaking awareness and welfare programmes.
One such organization is the Ya-All, a NGO formed by the LGBT community non-governmental organisation of Manipur formed collectively by LGBT working in the area of sexual and reproductive health and mental health of the LGBT community in Manipur.
Recently a Queer Fashion Fest was organized to marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biophobia observation and commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the world from the list of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“We organized the Queer Fashion Fest to raise awareness of violence, discrimination, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide on the theme celebrating the existence,” said the founder director of Ya-All, Sadam Hanjabam.
Besides the beauty show, the event included free counselling on mental health using innovative tools to connect with the youth to share their issues. Ya-All had also organised many innovative, awareness events in the past like Yaosang Sports Festival for the transgender during Holi, sponsored 18 youth for a north eastern states level leadership training programme, Queer games and LIT fest where the focus were on educating the youth through arts. A media fellowship was also instituted to write on LGBT’s right and issues.
