Indian Psychiatric Society bats for legalising same-sex marriage

Ahead of the highly-anticipated Supreme Court’s verdict on the validity of same-sex marriage in India, the Indian Psychiatric Society on Sunday said that homosexuality is not an ‘illness’ and backed legalisation of same-sex marriage.

The IPS – an umbrella body of over 7,000 psychiatrists in India backed the rights of individuals who claim to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LSGTQA) for same-sex marriage.

The society demanded that the individuals be treated like all citizens of the country who enjoy all civil rights like education, employment, housing, income, government or military service, access to health care, property rights, marriage, adoption and survivorship benefits.

“There is no evidence to indicate that individuals on the LGBTQA spectrum cannot partake in any of the above. On contrary, discrimination which prevents the above, may lead to mental health issues,” IPS statement read.

Earlier, in 2018, IPS supported the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the LGBTQA spectrum from Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

The IPS further underlined the demand to provide a gender-neutral and unbiased environment for the adopted children of same-sex couples.

“It is imperative that, once legalised, such parents of the LGBTQA spectrum brings up the children in a gender neutral, unbiased environment,” the statement added.

The psychiatrist society also urged that utmost importance should be given by the family, community, school and society in general to protect and development of such a child, and prevent stigma and discrimination at any cost.