LGBTQ Full Form and Helplines in India

“Pyaar to pyaar hota hai, phir chahe ladki se ho ya ladke se.” 

LGBTQ is still considered as a disease in many parts of the world. While on the other hand people are accepting the fact that ‘love is love.’ Some may think what is the use of bringing up new gender rules, norms and what is the need to improvise social affairs; whatever is existing is cool. Let’s make it all clear together.

LGBTQ  Abbreviation:

L- Lesbian ( a girl interested in another girl)

G- Gay ( a boy interested in another boy)
B- Bisexual ( a girl/boy interested in both girl and boy)
T- Transgender ( people whose gender identity is different from the gender they were thought to be at birth)
Q- Questioning or queer ( people who are figuring out their sexuality )

People other than heterosexuals also exist in this planet and it is very important for each of us to respect their choices. If someone’s choices doesn’t hurt you or your community we should let them have it. 

People need an identity because your identity makes you complete. Just imagine being suffocated in a dark box just because the people outside the box do not approve your existence. 

Do you really feel yourself ? Won’t you be afraid? People who don’t recognise themselves as straight but some other sexuality have right to live too. So, why are they being killed for their identity?

Many countries like Argentina, Iceland, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Scotland, United States, Finland, Greenland, Costa Rica, Taiwan have legalized LGBTQ identity and marriages as well. Still their are countries which don't allow a person to discover and publicly accept it’s identity. 

Where Is The Problem?

It’s in the cultures, the beliefs, and stereotypes set by the society that is no good to the modern world in many cases. The feeling of abandonment is bad, sad, depressing, something should be done to help people from LGBTQ community come out of the closet and live freely.

• Sex education is a must 

• Awareness among people about LGBTQ should be provided properly so that this taboo gets over as soon as possible

• Proper laws to be made in each country for this

• Everyone should normalise gender identity and acceptance for it

• Sex education should be introduced as a subject in every school after 6^th grade. 

If a person is part of the LGBTQ community, it doesn’t make them a terrorist and it really doesn’t make their identity as a disease. People say that this is all new trend or modern generation problem but is it really a modern concept? 

Kamasutra portrayed homosexual experience as natural and joyful, it affirms and recognizes same-sex relations. Besides there are several monuments in India which have carvings that depicts both men and  women engaging in homosexual acts. 

Homosexuality isn’t a modern concept it just started to grow now because people are tired of being silent and dominated. As an individual you have the responsibility to educate your family about this concept, fight till the very extend, aware future generation so that they won’t create a society like the one we are living in. 

LGBTQ is now LGBTQAI+; where A stands for asexual and I stands for Intersex and the + sign is no more a maths symbol this ‘+’ includes rest other who are yet to be identified or discover. Let everyone have their own space. Start today and the results will be soon admirable. 

Did you know that across the world there are more than 46 sexualities? There are many organisations to support people who lack an identity as a LGBTQ, some o the groups are :

• The Trevor Project: they have phone service available24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, confidential counsellor available 24/7/365 by texting START to 678678. This organisation is available for LGBTQ young people ages 13-24 at trevorspace.org

• Q chat space is a bully free online community for LGBTQ teens, they can chat with other members of the organisations and trained staff from across LGBTQ centre's in the country - www.qchatspace.org

• Trans Lifeline Hotline is a peer support service run by trans people located all over the US for trans and questioning callers. Reach them at 877-565-8860

• LGBTQAI+ YOUTH INDIA visit them on their website and get help as you wish.

• Nazariya: A queer feminist resource group based in Delhi NCR. They provide all kind of support for lesbians, bisexual women and transgender people assigned female at birth. Visit them at nazariyaqfrg.wordpress.com.

People fight for LGBTQ rights because they understand the meaning of rights and freedom once they are supported, they will shine bright which is good for them as individual and for the country as well. 

In India, we have Joyita Mondal, Gauri Sawant, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and many more transgender people are ready to fight for the people but aren’t heard. Voice out today for desired and optimistic tomorrow.

Written by Nandakshi Suryawanshi

Edited by Jerusha Patel