The LGBTQIA+ community encompasses a diverse group of individuals who are identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, and other sexual orientations and gender identities. This community represents a significant portion of the global population, and historically, it has been subjected to various forms of stigma, marginalization, and discrimination.
Over the past few years, the LGBTQIA+ community across the globe has fought for legal protections, social acceptance, and civil rights. The community has also had to face an uphill battle in the Indian society and judicial court. Owing to the decade-long activism, the Indian LGBTQIA+ community has advanced significantly, and their visibility and inclusion have improved due to the advocacy efforts and activists’ ongoing campaigns.
In 2018, a giant stride was made in LGBTQIA+ rights in India as the application of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was ruled unconstitutional by India's Supreme Court, effectively decriminalizing homosexual activity. The Transgender Pearsons (Protection of Rights) Act was passed in 2019, granting transgender people legal protection and also acknowledging their rights in several contexts, including employment, education, healthcare, and also access to public spaces.
The aforementioned advancement has been a result of hard work put in by activists and by individuals speaking their truth. Let us celebrate six personalities from the LGBTQIA+ community who have aided in bringing their community and its issues into the mainstream conversation.
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Activist & Artist
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi is a well-known Indian actress, dancer, and transgender rights advocate. Born in Thane, Maharashtra, on December 10, 1979, Laxmi is a popular face in India for her significant advocacy work on behalf of the rights and welfare of transgender people. She has been a vocal supporter of the community's rights, recognition, and social inclusivity ever since she became actively involved in the transgender rights movement in her early years.
Laxmi is associated with numerous international forums, serving as a goodwill ambassador for UNAIDA and UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, and the Empowerment of Women, among other organizations.
Dutee Chand, Sports Person
Indian sprinter Dutee is well-known around the world for her abilities on the athletic track. She was born in Chaka Gopalpur, Odisha, India, on February 3, 1996, and is one of India's top athletes despite coming from a modest background and overcoming several obstacles. She has achieved notable accomplishments and turning points. She holds the national record for Women's 100 meters and 200 meters records. In the women's 100-meter event at the World University Games in Naples, Italy in the year 2019, Dutee Chand secured the gold medal and with this victory, she made exceptional progress internationally.
Dutee came out as Gay in the same year and it garnered national attention. By publicly announcing her same-sex relationship, she broke down barriers and promoted LGBTQI+ rights as the first athlete from India. She also represented India at the Olympic Games.
Lily Singh, Internet & Television personality
Lily Singh, also referred to as "Superwoman" is an Indian-Canadian talk show host, comedian, and YouTuber. On September 26, 1988, she was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Lily became a popular face on YouTube for her humorous and inspirational content videos that frequently highlight her experiences as an Indian-Canadian to tackle different social issues. Lily Singh first gained fame in 2010 when she began uploading videos to YouTube under the handle "||Superwoman||". Her distinctive brand of humor, relatable sketches, and encouraging messages connected with the viewers and quickly grew to have a massive following on social media platforms.
In the year 2019, Lily came out as bisexual publicly as she posted about her sexual orientation in a video on her YouTube channel. She discussed the importance of embracing one's true self and being open about one's identity.
Gauri Sawant, Activist
An Indian transgender activist named Gauri Sawant is a well-known face for her works promoting the rights and welfare of transgender people in India. She gained widespread acknowledgment after she appeared in a heart-touching ad campaign of Vicks India in 2014 that highlighted her inspirational story and the bond she shares with an adopted daughter. She adopted a young girl named Gayatri who lost her mother to HIV/AIDS. Gauri took the initiative to offer Gayatri a loving home with motherly acceptance and love. She fought for the rights of transgender people and even challenged the government's discriminatory policies regarding their rights.
Menaka Guruswamy, Advocate
Indian senior advocate at the Supreme Court and human rights activist Menaka Guruswamy is well known for her significant contributions to the legal community, particularly in promoting LGBTQI+ rights in India. Menaka played a pivotal role in the legal battle against the decriminalization of homosexuality in India. She was a key petitioner's advocate in the 2018 legal battle against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized consensual same-sex relations. Her efforts were instrumental in the Supreme Court of India's historic decision to invalidate Section 377 and decriminalize homosexuality. After the win, she opened up about her relationship with her partner Arundhati Katju who was also a prominent advocate who fought along with Menaka about the Section 377 issue.
Dr. Trinetra Haldar, Doctor, Actor & Activist
Karnataka's first Transwoman doctor, Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju is popular for her gender affirmation journey. She documented the whole journey and uploaded it on her social media platform. She is a well-known social media influencer who has been recognized on the Forbes Magazine, 30 Under 30, 2022 list. Trinetra is a doctor, an actor, a content creator, an activist, and much more. She acquired a strong social media presence where she decided to document each step of her journey which initially helped many individuals. She has also worked with famous social media influencers on a Netflix series named "Behensplaining". She is also a vocal activist for the disparities faced by the LGBTQI+ communities. She was at the forefront of analyzing the bill The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and also highlighted its numerous flaws and issues that would negatively impact the transgender community.
