LGBTIQ Freedom zone

17 Mar LGBTIQ Freedom zone

 (GS Paper- 1, Salient features of Indian Society

   Source-The Hindu)

 Context

In a resolution adopted the European parliament symbolically declared European Union the entire 27 member block as an LGBT IQ freedom zone

LGBTIQ  it stands for lesbian gay bi sexual transgender intersex and Queer

 what is the EU resolution-

• It provide LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or prosecution
• Further urged the authorities to protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all  Including LGBTIQ persons

 Background

 the  move come at a response-

• against member state Poland’s  controversial  move to create more than hundred LGBTIQ ideology free zones around the country
•  Generally against the back sliding of LGBTQ in some EU countries particularly in Poland and Hungary
•  Majority of countries in the EU recognise same sex  unions with 16 legally recognising same sex marriage
•  Poland is a part of the small minority that does not acknowledge Such relationship
•  like Poland Hungary has been pushing forward a conservative Catholic social agenda
•  Hungarian and Poland authorities have described LGBTIQ principle of governance as foreign ideology

 Global scenario of LGBT community

 Ireland

•  It legalized same sex marriage
•  It decriminalised sexuality in 1993
•  It became the first country to allow same sex marriage at a national level by popular vote

 USA

 US Supreme Court in 2015  ruled that same-sex marriage was legal

 Nepal

 It legalised homosexualityin 2007 and the new constitution of the country give any rights to the LGBTQ community

Scenario in India

• Naz Foundation vs government of NCT of Delhi 2009: Delhi High Court struck off Section 377 legalizing consensual sexual activities between adults
•  Suresh Kumar Koushal Case 2013-  Argued that plight of sexual minorities Could not be used as an argument for deciding  constitutionality of law
• Justice KS Puttaswamy vs Union of India 2017-  SC ruled that right to privacy is intrinsic to life and liberty and thus come under article 21 of the Indian Constitution.SC held that sexual orientation is an essential attribute off the privacy
•  February 2021 the central government opposed same sex marriage in Delhi High Court stating that a marriage in India can be recognised only if it is between a biological man and a biological women capable of producing children

-Khyati Khare