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2020 has been a difficult
year for the world, with the pandemic taking over. With several gatherings and
events being cancelled all around, Pride Month is seeing parades moving to a
virtual setting than on the streets. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Pride
Month.
Even after years of struggle and wave of spreading awareness people are
still not open to the whole idea of non binary gender. The whole aim is to
promote the idea of non binary gender, along with eliminating trans-phobia,
homophobia and bi-phobia.
The group sees the idea of gender identity as a regressive principle
based on gender stereotypes. They try to make people understand that gender is
not limited to your body parts and that sexual attraction is much more complex
and varied than what is dictated by your genitalia.
Historical
Presence
LGBTQIA people are not a modern phenomena
.From Plato who spoke of a third sex as a natural part of human nature to same
sex relations in Mayan culture to songs that were written about hwarang.
Korean warriors known to have same sex
relationships to communities in Angola who openly accepted same sex
relationships to the ancient Egyptian royal servant’s niankhkhum and
kmunumhotep are believed to be among first recorded same sex couples in
history.
As reflected by the drawings in the tombs
from 24th century BCE to the citing from the chapter of
“Purushayita” in the Kama Sutra , a 2nd century ancient Indian Hindu
text ,we have a world history of diverse gender presence.
Positive Response in the Recent Times
The chain of changes in 2020 started with same sex marriage legislation
fully into effect in Northern Ireland, leading to Costa Rica legalizing same
sex marriage in first for Central America.
Presently, the president of Gabon signed a law decriminalising same sex
activities in the country. The acceptance of these communities legally is
increasing at an unprecedented rate.
The US Supreme Court has ruled this year that employers who fire workers
for being gay or transgender are breaking civil rights law It is a major win
for the community workers in US and their allies.
The gradual acceptance and
inclusiveness of this community has
shown by mainstream to this community over the years has lead to some historical moments this year
like when Valentina Sampaio
become the first transgender model to get featured which has given not
only acknowledgement but also boast to the community’s self confidence .
In Indian Home Ministry has asked
and encouraged paramilitary forces to submit a report on the inclusion of the
transgender people in an upcoming recruitment's.
Opportunities like this is uplifting
the LGBTQIA communities and countries who are showing openness to this are
paving their path to be a progressive and modern society. This has encouraged
the community to come forward and be a part of mainstream.
Yet to Be Overcome
The people of LGBTQIA
community are still fighting for equal rights and acceptance. The problem
remains the same, the discrimination they face, their sexual identity and
preferences are quoted as mental illness that can be diagnosed.
There remain a lot of
myths related to transgender in every corner of the world and they still remain
the black sheep of the LGBTQIA community. There are 44 countries that
criminalises same sex marriage like Sudan, Afghanistan, etc. till date.
Many countries
require transgender people to be sterilized in order to have gender legally
recognize. They are subjected to social stigmatization, legal
restriction, and violence.
Although adult consensual sexual activity is considered a
basic human right across the world, homosexuality is outlawed in about 80
countries.
Poland is the worst
country in EU for LGBTQIA rights with people of the community choosing to leave
the country in fear of persecution.
Polish President
Andrzej Duda accused the LGBTQIA rights movement for promoting a viewpoint more
harmful than communism and said he agreed with another conservative politician
who stated that “LGBT is not people, it's an ideology.”
Recently, the author
of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling’s series of tweet about mensuration is
labelled by critics as “trans-phobic”. She shared a link to an
article titled: “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people
who menstruate.”
Followed by her comment “’People who menstruate’. I’m
sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out.”
Essence
The LGBTQIA people are more
likely to experience issues such as depression, anxiety, loneliness. Since the beginning of the lockdown suicides
rate and thoughts have been higher than ever before in the community. They are
struggling with funds, stigma and mental illness.
This community is already
vulnerable due to old biasness and now this pandemic had made their livelihood
very difficult. They are not provided either proper medication and hence they
tend to be left in isolation. They
are inclined to feel like they are not living their lives to the full.
We are gradually trying to embrace this community as a society but with
that we need to understand that we need to accept them for who they are by
respecting and viewing them as equals to binary genders.
Rights and protection should be
implemented among the individuals of LGBTQIA for the fact that there is still
discrimination among the third sex community.
The only solution for the series of discrimination in regard to LGBTQIA people is spreading awareness among
common people. According to Conor Franta “Race, gender, religion, sexuality, we are
all people and that’s it. We’re all people. We’re all equal.”
A progressive society or an individual
must always have accepting nature and open mind and is ready to welcome the
changes in the society.
Written by – Shalaka Pathak
Edited by – Adrija Saha
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