Is sex conversion therapy a CRIME?
-Ishika Khurana
As far living in India, “we” as a society has analyzed, that many people were not okay when Section 377 was implemented. Almost of the Indian population was against this section. On 6th September 2018, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Section 377 to consensual homosexual sex between adults was unconstitutional. There were many discussions and debates regarding the same. More than half a population was supporting the fact that Section 377 has demolished but the people who were actually in the LGBTQIA+ community suffered a lot because of demolishment.
Now, why sex conversion therapy is a crime and needs to be called out? Sex conversion is basically the process of forcibly changing someone’s sexuality by using spiritual or psychological measures such as shock therapy, institutionalisation, in an attempt to convert them into a heterosexual. The major reason that this is still a thing is because of lack of awareness and lots of misinformation about the LGBTQIA+ community.
A recent example that of this therapy, On 12th May 2020, Anjana Hareesh, a 21 year old student from Kerela committed suicide after she was forced by her family into this therapy when she came out to them. Many people out there have no knowledge regarding it and they end up doing these therapies. For years, we as a society has oppressed members of the LGBTQIA+ members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The members of LGBTQIA+ community are still scared to come out to their parents. All they need is love, empathy and acceptance from the society and not shamming or judgement. Indian society is all about surroundings of judgements due to lack of knowledge and facts.
This shall be no illegal thing. This is their own personal choice. Not understanding that is one thing, but forcing someone to change their identity is completely morally incorrect. We shall accept others the way we accept ourselves. Sex conversion therapy has no place the world we live in. LOVE IS LOVE.
