‘It’s a beginning’: India’s opposition parties come out in favour of same-sex civil unions ahead of election

The Congress Party, India’s oldest political party, and the Communist Party of India have both indicated that they include in their legislative agenda a law to recognise same-sex civil unions, if they win enough seats in the national elections held from April 19 to June 1.

Attitudes towards and representations of the LGBTQ community have shifted significantly in India in recent years. A 2019 survey from the Pew Research Center found 37 per cent of respondents in India believed that homosexuality should be accepted by society, compared with just 15 per cent in 2013.

In another Pew survey published in June last year, 53 per cent of adults in India said they favoured legalising same-sex marriage.

Activists and members of the LGBTQ community in India have cheered the news.

The political parties’ stance is a significant move towards fulfilling the rights of LGBTQ community, said Yash Sharma, 25, founder of the Official Humans of Queer community.

“It is very positive that at least they mentioned it, because Section 377 got decriminalised after the 2019 election,” he said.

LGBTQ individuals in India have long faced threats of violence and encountered challenges, especially in rural areas. They often struggle with a lack of support from their families, confront bullying both online and in person, and encounter barriers in accessing adequate healthcare. Acts of physical violence against them often go unreported for fear of social repercussions.

Chayanika Shah, an activist for queer and transpeople rights, said all rights and recognition the community had gained so far had occurred through the courts.

She pointed to the passing of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019, which subsequently failed to address key concerns