Representation of the LGBTQIA+ community and their concerns are often brought up during the election season and in media during the pride month.
While Pride Month and media coverage shed light on these issues and political promises are made, there is criticism that these efforts often lack substance and fail to address more profound systemic challenges or foster genuine societal empathy and awareness toward queer rights.
LGBTQIA+ Political Representation and Engagement
According to Pinklist India, an organization focused on intersectional feminism, politics, queerness, and the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in the political sphere reported that out of the 543 newly elected members of the Indian Parliament in the 2024 elections, only 108 have raised their voice about LGBTQ+ issues.
Pinklist India, created during the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, also noticed that the number of MPs vocal about these issues has dropped from 161 since the last Assembly elections. Tokenistic representation in vote bank politics has expanded beyond caste and religion to LGBTQ+, permeating all aspects of society.
In their election manifestos, several parties from the INDIA bloc, including Congress, CPI(M), and NCP(SP), pledged to implement anti-discrimination laws and recognize same-sex civil unions. CPI(M) and NCP(SP) also promised healthcare access for gender-affirmative surgeries. The BJP committed to expanding the ‘Garima Graha’ shelter project for transgender persons and including them in the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Although 48,000 transgender voters were registered, only 20 percent of eligible transgender voters participated in the last voting phase, according to the Election Commission of India. PTI reported that all three transgender candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections lost their security deposits due to not securing one-sixth of the total valid votes.
Despite some political commitments to LGBTQ+ rights, actual representation and impact in the political sphere are still lacking. The drop in MPs discussing LGBTQ+ issues, low voter turnout among transgender individuals, and the electoral failures of transgender candidates underscore significant challenges in achieving genuine political inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQIA+ Representation and Rights in Indian Media and Society
Transgender representation in the Indian media has evolved in the last year. Still, it is observed that trans actors, regardless of their mainstream status, receive few casting calls, especially for leading roles. Even when opportunities arise, they are rarely mainstream or for ‘diversity hire, making it tokenistic. Trans actor Trinetra Haldar addresses that her getting a role in the popular series Made in Heaven does not reflect the typical experience of a trans actor in the entertainment industry.
On the other hand, the portrayal of queer and trans individuals tends to stereotype and exploit their identities for plot twists or shock value. Urban bias and limited authenticity further restrict diverse representations in advertisements.
While queer representation in media gives visibility to the experiences of those who are part of the community, society’s inflexible views on gender and sexuality make it challenging to meet their necessities, such as housing. Members of the Lucknow queer community state that openly identifying as queer makes it extremely difficult to secure housing.
LGBTQIA+ individuals encounter discrimination from landlords, who often cite “family values” to deny housing. Section 377’s removal from the constitution does not ensure legal protection against such discrimination. Queer individuals, especially in urban areas, struggle to find suitable housing, leading to shared accommodations or limited resources, and this invisibility hinders access to support. Inclusive policies, community initiatives like G.H.A.R., and education are crucial to addressing these challenges and promoting societal acceptance.
