On Monday (June 7) , the LGBTQIA+ community had a reason to rejoice, as the Madras Hight Court issued a ban on ‘conversion therapy’ or medical attempts to cure sexual orientation in order to classify them into the binary two genders of male and female.
“Any attempts to medically “cure” or change the sexual orientation of LGBTIQA+ people to heterosexual or the gender identity of transgender people to cisgender should be prohibited,” the Justice N Anand Venkatesh said.
The Madras High Court also suggested measures to sensitize society and various branches of the State including police and judiciary to remove prejudices and misconceptions about LGBTQIA+ community and to ensure that they are brought into the mainstream of the society.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh passed the verdict in response to a plea filed by a lesbian couple who were seeking protection from their relatives.
“I have no hesitation in accepting that I too belong to the majority of commoners who are yet to comprehend homosexuality completely. Ignorance is no justification for normalising any form of discrimination,” he said while delivering the judgement.
The verdict also contained instructions for schools to include content into the curriculum that educated about the LGBTQIA+ community.
The verdict contained the following directions, according to Bar and Bench:
– Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meetings should be used to sensitize parents on issues of LGBTQIA+ community and gender nonconforming students so as to ensure supportive families.
– Further, necessary amendment should be made to policies and resources to include students belonging to LGBTQIA+ community in all spheres of school and college life. In this regard, the following suggestions were issued:
1.Ensure availability of gender-neutral restrooms for the gender-nonconforming student.
2.Change of name and gender on academic records for transgender persons.
3. Inclusion of ‘transgender’ in addition to M and F gender columns in application forms for admission, competitive entrance exams, etc.
4. Appointment of counselors who are LGBTQIA+ inclusive, for the staffs and students to address grievances, if any, and to provide effective solutions for the same.
The High Court also suggested measures that is to be undertaken by the police, judiciary and mental health professionals in order to sensitize themselves about the LGBTQIA+ community.
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