LGBT rights in Kerala
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Kerala face legal and social difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT persons. However, Kerala has been at the forefront of LGBT issues in India after Tamil Nadu.[1] It became one of the first states in India to establish a welfare policy for the transgender community and in 2016, proposed implementing free gender affirmation surgery through government hospitals.[2][3][4] Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2018, following the Supreme Court ruling in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India. In addition, numerous LGBT-related events have been held across Kerala, including in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. However, there is also increasing opposition to LGBT rights recently as evidenced by the anti-LGBT campaigns spearheaded by meninist groups and Muslim organisations like Indian Union Muslim League, Samastha and Jamaat-e-Islami.[5][6][7][8][9]
LGBT rights in Kerala | |
|---|---|
| Status | Legal since 2018 |
| Gender identity | Third gender recognised; transgender people may change legal gender |
| Discrimination protections | Discrimination protections in line with Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships | No recognition of same-sex relationships |
| Adoption | No |
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity edit
Homosexual intercourse was made a criminal offence under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code in 1861. This made it an offence for a person to voluntarily have "carnal intercourse against the order of nature." In 2009, the Delhi High Court decision in Naz Foundation v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi found Section 377 and other legal prohibitions against private, adult, consensual, and non-commercial same-sex conduct to be in direct violation of fundamental rights provided by the Indian Constitution.[10][11]
On 11 December 2013, the Supreme Court of India overturned the 2009 Delhi High Court order decriminalising consensual homosexual activity.[12][13][14] Justices G. S. Singhvi and S. J. Mukhopadhaya, however, noted that the Indian Parliament should debate and decide on the matter.[15] Protests against the Supreme Court verdict ensued. On 28 January 2014, the Supreme Court dismissed a review petition filed by the Central Government, the NGO Naz Foundation and several others against the ruling.[16][17][18][19]
On 2 February 2016, the Supreme Court decided to review the criminalisation of homosexual activity.[20] On 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down Section 377 as unconstitutional, ruling that it infringed on the fundamental rights of autonomy, intimacy, and identity, thus legalising homosexuality in India, including in Kerala.[21][22]
Recognition of same-sex relationships edit
Same-sex marriages are not recognised or performed in India. However, in recent times, movements advocating for such recognition has emerged in Kerala, and India in general.[23]
In a survey conducted by India Today, 58% of participants from the state rejected same-sex relationships - the 4th highest among the 12 states surveyed.[24]
Discrimination protections edit
In line with Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India and National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited via Article 15 of the Constitution of India. However, this article only extends to discrimination by state or government bodies.[25]
Adopted in 2019, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 bans unfair discrimination against transgender people in educational establishment and services, employment, healthcare services, access to the "use of any goods, accommodation, service, facility, benefit, privilege or opportunity dedicated to the use of the general public or customarily available to the public", the right to movement, the right to "reside, purchase, rent or otherwise occupy any property", the opportunity to stand for or hold public or private office, and in government or private establishments.[26]
Transgender rights edit
In 2014, the Indian Supreme Court ruled to recognize a "third gender" in the case of National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, affirming the transgender community's freedom from discrimination and right to equality. The state of Kerala was the first to follow up on the ruling, introducing a government transgender policy in 2015. The policy addresses the right for people belonging to transgender communities to identify as "male", "female" or "TG" (Third Gender). It has provisions to protect the community by providing equal access to social and economic resources, protecting the right to equal treatment under the law, the right to life, liberty and justice, and the right to non-discrimination based on sex.[27][28]
Kerala has been at the forefront of transgender rights in India. It was one of the first states with a policy for transgender people, which was introduced in 2015, and has introduced several welfare programs for the community.[29] In 2016, the State Government proposed introducing free sex reassignment surgeries in government hospitals. Kannur district in 2016 allocated a part of its budget towards employment and skill training programs for transgender people.[30] However, societal discrimination, particularly in employment and housing, and various implementation issues remain major problems. A lack of training means that many government hospitals cannot offer gender affirming surgery, so patients must instead go to costlier private institutions. While the government provides reimbursement for gender affirming surgeries and a scholarship scheme for transgender students between classes 7 and 10, stigma, lack of care standards and issues with fund disbursement (as people who undergo these procedures must raise the funds themselves before being refunded afterwards) hamper access.[29]
In February 2016, President Pranab Mukherjee opened the "Gender Park" in Kozhikode as an institution dedicated to policies concerning gender equality and LGBT issues.[31]
In 2016, the country's first transgender school opened in the city of Kochi. The school prepared students for the 10th and 12th standard board exams and provided vocational skills training. The school welcomed 10 transgender students ranging from ages 25–50. Transgender activist Vijayarajamallika, who was the head of the school, stated, "the school aims at making transgender people eligible for taking decent jobs and living a dignified life." She further stated, "we have admitted six candidates so far, all male-to-female persons, from 14 applicants. Of the 10 seats, we have reserved one for female-to-male and one for the disabled." The teachers of the school were also transgender. The school sought to open more opportunities for the community to gain an occupation and an education.[32] Three months after its opening, however, the center stopped functioning as a school with no academic staff, students, or accreditation.[33] The building was turned into a hostel for the transgender staff of Kochi Metro and related institutions.[34]
In 2017, the clothing brand Red Lotus hired two transgender people to model their sarees, Maya Menon and Gowri Savithri. This gained a lot of attention and went viral on social media. The line is part of Sharmila Nair's collection "Mazhavil" (മഴവില്ല്) or "rainbow", representing the rainbow colours associated with LGBT rights, and is dedicated to transgender people.[35]
In 2017, a workshop was held in Kozhikode to address the implementation of the state's transgender policy within social institutions. It was organized by the Social Justice Department, and around 30 representatives of the transgender community attended. During the workshop, they discussed proposals such as having identity cards for transgender people, developing a pension plan for those within the community who are over 60, the implementation of skill development training programs, having scholarships and educational loans for transgender students, and providing driving lessons in order for transgender people to be employed as Uber drivers.[36]
The Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam opened a clinic in 2017 that exclusively attends to the transgender community. The clinic has a panel of doctors who are specialized in the area. This was the first government clinic of its kind, and focuses on serving the transgender community, as well as opening its doors to sex workers. The proposal for the clinic was put forward by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) after a campaign had voiced health concerns for the transgender community.[37]
A recent spate of transgender killings and lack of responsible investigation into the cases by the police have raised security concerns among the transgender community in Kerala.[38] There have also been a rise in incidents of harassment by police personals towards transgenders when they approach police stations for filing complaints which resulted in a direction by the DGP to address their grievances without delay.[39]
The suicide of Anannyah Kumari Alex, Kerala's first transgender RJ and activist, alleging botched-up gender affirmation surgery lead to protests by the LGBTQIA+ community of Kerala and initiated discussions about the irregularities and the absence of a specific protocol for conducting gender affirmation surgeries in various private hospitals of the state.[40][41] The state government appointed an expert committee to look into various issues faced by transgender persons in health sector and also initiated steps to conduct free gender affirmation surgeries in government hospitals of Kerala.[42][43]
The suicide of Mx. Praveen Nath, Kerala's first transgender bodybuilder, has turned the attention to transphobic groups mushrooming across Kerala recently, many of them are rooted in religious fundamentalism.[44] Minister R. Bindu blamed both cyber bullying and transphobia in the media for the suicide and has described Praveen Nath as a martyr.[45][46]
Living conditions edit
Until very recently, LGBT people were "invisible" in Kerala society. Despite Kerala being the most literate Indian state, ignorance concerning homosexuality was very high; with few LGBT people opting to come out, in fear that family members would "take them to a psychiatrist or file a police complaint against friends."[47] Local activists associate these attitudes as "the result of the Victorian sense of morality that treats sex as sin". This climate has eased in recent years. Gay conversion therapy is widely practised by both licensed psychiatrists/psychologists as well as quacks despite position statements by multiple psychiatrist/psychologist organisations condemning the practice as unscientific and illegal.[48]
Queerala (Malayalam: ക്വിയറള), is one of Kerala's main LGBT advocacy groups, campaigning for increased awareness of LGBT people and sensitisation concerning healthcare services, educational curriculum and workplace policies.[49] Queerythm (Malayalam: ക്വിയറിഥം), another LGBT organisation, also plays a key role in organising the annual pride marches in Kerala and runs a 24X7 helpline for community members in distress.[50] Sahayathrika, the first ever community based organisation formed in Kerala which mainly caters to the needs of female-born members of the LGBTIQA+ community, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022.[51]
Pride marches edit
Kerala Queer Pride (കേരള ക്വിയർ പ്രൈഡ്) has been held annually across various cities in Kerala, beginning in July 2010 in the city of Thrissur.[52] The tenth edition was held in Kochi in November 2019.[53] It was launched in the aftermath of the 2009 Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising all consensual sex between adults. The event focuses on advocacy regarding LGBT issues, as well as sensitisation of the police and media to prevent violence and discrimination against members of the LGBT community.[54] After a gap of 2 years due to Covid-19, the eleventh Kerala Queer Pride took place in Kollam in September 2022.[55] An annual pride walk has also been organised by Queerythm in Thiruvananthapuram since 2017.[56]
Public opinion edit
In the 2021 Mathrubhumi Youth Manifesto Survey conducted on people aged between 15 and 35, majority (74.3 %) of the respondents supported legislation for same-sex marriage while 25.7 % opposed it.[57]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Kerala Government Has Unveiled A Policy To Enforce Constitutional Rights Of Transgenders". The Huffington Post. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
- ^ Devasia, T. K. (19 March 2016). "Why Kerala's free sex-change surgeries will offer a new lifeline for the transgender community". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ "After She-Taxi, Kerala to launch G-Taxi for transgenders". Times of India. Thiruvananthapuram. PTI. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "How Kerala left the country behind on transgender rights". dna. 2015-11-14. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
- ^ "Kerala Muslim groups intensify campaign against gender politics, homosexuality". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Samastha to campaign in mosques against LGBTQ, gender neutrality". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "IUML leader K M Shaji says LGBTQ members are worst humans". Manorama online.
- ^ "Muslim LGBTQIA+ persons in Kerala suspect targeted hate campaign by Islamic groups". The News Minute.
- ^ "Secular Muslim forum condemns Kerala Muslim right's demonisation of LGBTQIA+ community". The News Minute.
- ^ Kusum Ingots v. Union of India, (2004) 6 SCC 254: "An order passed on a writ petition questioning the constitutionality of a Parliamentary Act, whether interim or final, keeping in view the provisions contained in Clause (2) of Article 226 of the Constitution of India, will have effect throughout the territory of India subject of course to the applicability of the Act."
- ^ Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui (28 December 2010). . The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ "Supreme Court sets aside Delhi High Court judgment in Naz Foundation; Declares S.377 to be constitutional". Archived from the original on 2013-12-11.
- ^ Nelson, Dean (11 December 2013). "India's top court upholds law criminalising gay sex". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Supreme Court makes gay sex punishable offence, again; Twitter war breaks out between those for and against the verdict". DNA India. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Homosexuality is criminal offence: Supreme Court". Economic Times. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Supreme Court refuses overruling its Verdict on Section 377 and Homosexuality". IANS. Biharprabha News. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- ^ J Venkatesan (11 December 2013). "Supreme Court sets aside Delhi HC verdict decriminalising gay sex". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ^ Harmit Shah Singh (11 December 2013). "India's Supreme Court declares homosexual sex illegal". CNN.
- ^ "Naz Foundation to file review petition against SC order on section 377".
- ^ ABC News. "ABC News". ABC News.
- ^ "Section 377 verdict: Here are the highlights". The Indian Express. 6 September 2018.
- ^ "India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling". BBC News. 6 September 2018.
- ^ "Breaking the norm! Transgender-couple in Kerala gets legally married – Big win for LGBT community in India". Financial Express. 10 May 2018.
- ^ "Section 377 anniversary: Half of country still doesn't approve of same sex relationships". India Today.
- ^ "Article 15 in The Constitution Of India 1949". indiankanoon.org.
- ^ "Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019" (PDF). socialjustice.nic.in. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Mahapatral, Dhananjay (15 April 2014). "Supreme court recognizes transgenders as 'third gender'". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "Kerala becomes first state to unveil transgender policy". The Indian Express. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Trans women want 'trans-friendly' Kerala to focus on basics: Healthcare, housing & jobs". The News Minute. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- ^ "Leading by Example: Kerala Opens India's First Transgender School". The Quint. 2 January 2017.
- ^ "President Pranab Mukherjee to inaugurate Gender park on February 27". The Economic Times. 24 February 2016.
- ^ "India opens first school for transgender pupils". BBC News. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ Mathew, Teresa (2017-03-27). "When Nuns Tried to Kick-Start India's First Transgender School". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ "Kochi: Transgender school turns flop, converted into hostel". www.deccanchronicle.com/. 2017-12-23. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ Rajeshwaril, Ankita (24 May 2016). "This designer's transgender models are winning hearts". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ Chitharanjanl, Sreedevi (14 February 2017). "Workshop on transgender policy held at Kozhikode". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ Nairl, Jaikrishnan (3 February 2017). "MCH to open transgender clinic". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "Same style transgender murders; Maria in 2012, Gowri in 2017, Shalu in 2019, Who next?". Malayala Manorama.
- ^ "Kerala top cop directs to address grievances of transgenders without delay". Economic Times.
- ^ "Probe ordered into death of transwoman Anannyah who had alleged botched surgery". The News Minute.
- ^ "'Should i've done it?' Kerala trans groups anxious after botched-up sex surgeries, suicides". The Print.
- ^ "Kerala forms panel to study issues faced by transgender persons". The Hindu.
- ^ "Kerala initiates steps for free sex reassignment surgeries at medical college hospitals". The Hindu.
- ^ "Trans man's suicide in Kerala, concern over spread of queerphobic groups". The News Minute.
- ^ "Trans man Praveen's suicide in Kerala puts the spotlight on transphobia in media". The News Minute.
- ^ "Kerala Minister blames 'blatant cyber-bullying', 'rotten journalism' for transgender bodybuilder's suicide". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Kerala's LGBT community shows first signs of coming out; but people largely hostile". The Economic Times. 5 August 2014.
- ^ "Unscientific and illegal, yet conversion therapy rampant". New Indian Express.
- ^ "Affirming their right, they march with pride". The Hindu. 2017-08-13. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ "A helpline for LGBT community". The Hindu. 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Government, society have responsibility to bring queer community to mainstream, says Kerala minister". The Hindu.
- ^ "Kerala to host its first gay parade". The Times of India. 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Kochi hosts 10th queer pride march". The Times of India. 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Rainbow on the streets of Kochi". The Hindu. 2017-08-04. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- ^ "Late transgender activist Anannyah's father to flag off Kerala Queer Pride". Malayala Manorama.
- ^ Aswin V.N. (2017-07-21). "A matter of pride". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "സ്വവര്ഗ്ഗ വിവാഹം നിയമപരമാക്കണമെന്ന് കേരളത്തിലെ യുവജനങ്ങള്". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 26 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
External links edit
- Full decision on Article 377