Alleged Discrimination of LGBTQIA Community Members

Dated: 19 -07 -2022

            Dr. T. Sumathy (a) ThamizhachiThangapandian (Chennai South):Globally, LGBTQIA+ community members have been subjected to brutal discrimination in education, health and employment. In India, more recently, bullying while questioning the sexual identity of a school student made him commit suicide. Such cases are on the rise and need to be seen as cases of institutional murder. Considering this harsh reality, the Union Govt should have come up with laws against such violent discrimination. On the contrary, 3 crucial legislations have been passed in the Parliament which curtail the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons.

I urge the government to withdraw the sections which are anti-LGBTQIA+ in these three legislations which include the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Medical Terminal of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 currently allows only hetero-sexual couples for surrogacy. I urge the government to amend this clause and include LGBTQIA+ individuals or couples to have the right to have a child under this Act. Further, I request the government to make LGBTQIA+ couples eligible for availing of ART treatment under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. Both the laws together currently prevent LGBTQIA+ couples from becoming parents in India. Also, the Union Govt. should immediately expand the definition of “women” to include transgender and intersex persons who might need access to abortions under the Medical Terminal of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021. Apart from the abovementioned specific demands, I urge the Union Govt. also to provide redressal of problems of LGBTQIA+ persons in jobs, housing bias, care for elder LGBTQIA+ persons and representation and inclusion in public spaces.