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# Court calls for LGBTQ+ rights reforms in India
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/court-calls-for-lgbtq-rights-reforms-in-india/
- Published: 2021-06-09T08:09:46.000Z
- Updated: 2021-06-09T08:09:46.000Z
- Description: The Madras High Court in India has called for authorities to draw up plans for a sweeping LGBTQ+ rights reform.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, India, LGBTQ, LGBTQ India, LGBTQ+ rights

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/lgbt-india-b-1-1.jpg)

**Judge Anand Venkatesh** of the **Madras High Court** in **India** has called for authorities to draw up plans for a sweeping LGBTQ+ rights reform after a lesbian couple brought forward a police harassment case. According to *[Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/india-lgbt-court/indian-court-calls-for-sweeping-reforms-to-respect-lgbt-rights-idUSL2N2NP1K3?ref=scenemag.co.uk),* the court ruled in favour of the couple who argued that police had subjected them to harassing questioning after their parents filed a missing persons report.

However, the judge also used the opportunity to highlight the nationwide discrimination against LGBTQ+ Indians, saying: *“Ignorance is no justification for normalizing any form of discrimination.”* In the official case ruling, Venkatesh encouraged schools to collaborate with families in order to *“sensitise parents on issues of LGBTQ+ community and gender non-conforming students,* \[and\] *ensure supportive families* \[for LGBTQ+ students\].”

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/lgbt-india-1.jpg)

Although the court ruling is largely symbolic, government departments must legally report back to the court, detailing the steps they plan to take to comply with the order. LGBTQ+ activists have praised the court ruling, with **L Ramakrishnan**, a representative of a national public health advocacy group, saying: *“This is the first major order that addresses most challenges concerning the whole LGBTQ+ community and issues specific directions”.*

They added: *“I am hopeful of change given the judge has indicated he would follow up on the directions on a regular basis.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/rainbow-flag-malaysia-1024x767-1.jpg)