LGBTQ Awareness - Yeh Dil Maange More

Inclusivity, equal opportunities, and diversity are the new mantras India is waking up to. By the year 2020, the youth of the country (15-24 years) is expected to make up over a third of the population. For our country to move on towards a new age of liberal ideas and progressiveness, it is very important that we educate the people about senseless discrimination faced by members of the LGBT community. In over seven decades of independence we have taken major strides in sensitising the youth and creating awareness about social evils such as the caste system and practices such as untouchability. It is high time we move on towards including the LGBT community members who still live in the fringes of our social structure. As the popular saying goes, “Yeh Dil Maange More”.

In January 2018, the Supreme Court of India (in Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India) ruled that Section 377 which criminalises consensual sex between adults of the same sex. This, however, has not changed the conservative outlook of many. From finding LGBT friendly accommodation to finding work opportunities, life still remains a major struggle for many. Bullying in educational institutions and at the work place is still a common experience for many members of the LGBT community. Given the anonymity that Social Media offers, the challenges faced by cyber bullied members are only compounded.

One of the greatest challenges faced by the LGBTQ community is a dearth of employees giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills. Very few Indian companies such as The LaLiT have stepped up to offer employment and skills development opportunities to gay, lesbian, and transgender people. The LaLiT operates 12 LGBT friendly hotels in India and one in London making travel safe for members of the community. Other India Inc. companies joining the foray include the Godrej Group, the Tata Group and Mahindra and Mahindra. If you are an LGBTQ supportive employer here are a few things you can do at your workplace –

1.     Conduct periodic cultural and gender sensitivity and inclusion workshops. This will help create awareness, change the perception and dialogue around LGBTQ issues.

2.     Recognise same-sex partners and children adopted by them or born through surrogate parents as family and extend all healthcare benefits to them.

3.     Create an inclusive culture by creating facilities such as restrooms and changing area to be used by members of the LGBTQ community.

4.     Create a strong anti-discrimination framework and whistle blower policy to help action being taken against any form of bias.

5.     Make LGBTQ employees feel valued by being openly supportive, providing opportunities to include them in your corporate culture.  

6.     Come up with a flexible or inclusive dress code at work.

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Created on Sep 11th 2019 01:43. Viewed 219 times.

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