HOMOSEXUALITY(LGBT)

1. HOMOSEXUALITY(MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEM IN INDIA)

2. Topics to be included : • What is homosexuality ? • Homosexuality in ancient India • Causes of homosexuality • Laws in India and homosexuality • Problems faced by them • Solutions to the problems faced by them • conclusion

3. WHAT IS HOMOSEXUALITY?

4. It is natural tendency that persons of one gender are sexually or emotionally attracted towards persons with opposite gender i. e. males are attracted towards females and vice versa. But sometimes and in some cases this sexual or emotional attraction is not towards opposite sex rather it is towards the same sex persons. • Same sex attraction or orientation is known as Homosexuality and persons with such orientation are called as Homosexuals. • Homosexuals can be persons of both the sexes i.e. Gays (male-male) and Lesbians (female-female).

5. HOMOSEXUALITY IN ANCIENT INDIA

6. Though India is a deeply religious country but at the same time it is also a country which has accepted non- religious communities as well. • In ancient India there was a place for all kinds of diverse cultures, arts and literatures; the society was very assimilative. At one place we have purely and strictly religious painting and sculptors like at Konark or at Jagganath Puri temples and at another place we have monuments like Khajuraho which is famous world over for its erotic arts and sculptors; this also includes sculptors with homosexual activities. • This shows that not only all types of sexual orientations were there in ancient past but people were so tolerant and broad minded that paintings and sculptors depicting the same sex love-making were being freely created and displayed.

7. Thus unlike ancient India, people with different sexual choices i. e. homosexuals are not treated equally in today’s society and their basic human rights are violated frequently. • Like food, shelter and water, sexual need is also one of the basic human needs without which life cannot be fully realized or enjoyed. Sexual orientations may differ from person to person. Though persons with non- regular sexual behavior are in minority but they are a reality. Non-regular sexual behavior may be understood as sexual preference and attraction not with opposite sex but with same sex persons.

8. CAUSES OF HOMOSEXUALITY

9. Biological Reasons • Several scientists have concluded that one is born with a particular kind of sexual orientation and it is in the genes. Thus it is a natural phenomenon. But no conclusive proof is there that homosexual behavior is simply a biological thing. • There may be a factor of genetics in determining one’s sexual choice but other factors might also be there.

10. Social and Psychological Factors • It is a fact that socio-cultural environment affects the development of a child in significant ways. One’s family, friends, society, and experiences decides how one views life, how one feels and how he or she acts. Thus psychological factors are also very important in determining one’s sexual preferences.

11. LAWS IN INDIA AND HOMOSEXUALITY

12. The Constitution treats everyone equally without any discrimination. It is the duty of the State to ensure that no one should be discriminated against. • LGBT community persons are in minority and they too have equal constitutional rights. But their right to equality and right to get equal treatment in the society are violated on regular basis. • Not only society as whole but State machinery also treat them differently, especially police. They are regular victim of rights violations. They are deprived of their basic human right and right to life which includes right to enjoy life properly.

13. Section 377 of the IPC says • “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

14. Problems faced by homosexuals

15. Marginalization and Social Exclusion

16. Marginalization is at the core of exclusion from fulfilling and full social lives at individual, interpersonal and societal levels. • Their opportunities to make social contributions may be limited and they may develop low self-confidence and self esteem and may become isolated , education and health services, housing, income, leisure activities and work.

17. Homelessness

18. The problems facing LGBT people who are homeless include a lack of housing and services that meet their specific needs. • Abuse and harassment of LGBT homeless people is rampant in the shelter system. Most domestic violence shelters do not accept gay men or transgender people. • Homeless LGBT youth miss out on education and social support during critical formative years—more than half of homeless LGBT youth report experiencing discrimination from peers .

19. Problems of Homophobia:

20. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are more likely to experience intolerance, discrimination, harassment, and the threat of violence due to their sexual orientation, than those that identify themselves as heterosexual. This is due to homophobia. • Living in a homophobic environment forces many LGBT people to conceal their sexuality, for fear of the negative reactions and consequences of coming out .

21. Barriers to Care

22. People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) face particular obstacles, barriers, and challenges that frequently make it difficult for them to find and receive competent and affirming healthcare. • Heterosexist assumptions can adversely affect the quality of treatment, and fear of a negative experience keeps many LGBTs from seeking help. Organizations and individual therapists are not always LGBT friendly, and some therapists may not even recognize their own heterosexism. • Staff can be judgmental toward LGBT sexuality, or be misinformed/uninformed about LGBT resources.

23. What can you do about the discrimination and disrespect transgender and gender non-conforming people face?

24. Support Friends/Family • Provide emotional support for the transgender and gender non-conforming people you know, especially when they are struggling because of rejection from family members and friends, or struggling because of discrimination out in the world • Provide a place to stay/sleep if folks don’t have a good and safe place to live • Speak up if other friends or family members are treating transgender people poorly and not respecting the gender they live as, or not respecting anyone’s gender expression • Support transgender and gender non-conforming people who bring complaints of discrimination to the authorities, and, if you are transgender and discriminated against, bring a complaint and speak out if you feel it is safe to do so

25. Create Opportunities • Create programs, working with local or state governments or non-profits (potentially LGBT community centers) to support transgender people who have lost their jobs, housing, or educational opportunities and provide needed assistance with getting more education, job training, housing and other services so that they can support and house themselves • If you are part of an LGBT organization, civil rights organization, or progressive organization, help make the organization truly transgender-inclusive and help it to prioritize transgender-related work, using the guide Opening The Door to Transgender Inclusion

26. Create Fair Workplaces • Make sure your workplace has a written policy against discrimination based on gender identity or expression • Speak up when you hear anti-transgender jokes and demeaning jokes about masculinity and femininity • If you have a transgender coworker, do all in your power to ensure they are being treated fairly by supervisors and coworkers • When there are job openings, reach out to transgender people who are unemployed or under-employed to fill positions • Make sure that transgender customers or clients are being treated fairly too!

27. Improve Schools • Make sure your school and school district has a written policy against discrimination based on gender identity or expression • Make sure that there is a strong anti-harassment and bullying policy that includes gender identity or expression that students know about it and staff enforce it • If there is a Gay-Straight Alliance, make sure that transgender issues are covered, even if there aren’t any out transgender students • If there is a transgender student who is being ostracized, be their friend • Speak up in the face of anti-transgender jokes and demeaning jokes about masculinity and femininity, even when there are no transgender or gender non-conforming people around

28. Pass and Enforce Laws and Policies • Work to pass laws in your city or state, and on the federal level, that outlaw discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and education based on gender identity/expression . • If there is a non-discrimination law, make sure it is being implemented by the government agency in charge of enforcement through compliance guidelines and easy-to-understand brochures that say what entities have to do to follow the law • Work to pass safe schools laws that include gender identity or expression • Work to ensure that transgender people can change the gender on their driver’s license or state ID, and their birth certificate, to match they gender they live as, without having to show that they have had some type of surgery

29. Fix Health and Social Service Systems • Change the curriculum of medical, health, crisis response and social work programs to include information about transgender people and how to treat transgender and gender non-conforming people with respect and professionalism • Change the curriculum and continuing education programs for health, crisis response and social service providers to include information about the rejection, discrimination and violence that transgender people face and how to provide services and support to transgender clients given those realities • Work with suicide prevention, HIV prevention and treatment, alcohol and drug abuse treatment, and anti-smoking programs to ensure that their work is trans-inclusive and their staff is knowledgeable about transgender issues • Work to develop and enforce non-discrimination policies for medical, health, or social service providers, programs, and institutions • Work to fix health systems and health insurance systems to end discriminatory exclusions for transition-related health care

30. Train Police and Fix Jails/Prisons • Work with police departments to have written and fair policies with regard to interacting with transgender members of the public, regardless if they are seeking assistance or being arrested, and make sure all police officers are trained on the policy and how to treat transgender and gender non-conforming people with respect • Work with jail and prison systems to ensure the respectful and safe treatment of transgender prisoners, starting with implementing the recommendations of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission

31. Educate Court Systems • Ensure that judges, guardians ad litem, and Court-Appointed Special Advocates receive training on transgender people and how to treat them respectfully and fairly • Ensure that family courts and staff are aware of research showing that children should not be separated from transgender parents.

32. THANK YOU !