Category Article

Imagine this: textbooks pile up on your desk, deadlines loom like thunderclouds, and notifications from social media ping incessantly. The pressure to excel, to be connected, to “adult” in this fast-paced, hyper-connected world is relentless. And beneath the surface, a tide of anxiety and exhaustion threatens to pull you under. This, for many, is the reality of life in the modern landscape.

“Love has no gender – compassion has no religion – character has no race.” – Abhijit Naskar
On October 17, 2023, a Constitutional Bench made up of five Supreme Court judges rejected the idea of legalizing same-sex marriage, sending the issue back to Parliament for further study. The matter described here is whether this demographic has the basic rights while every citizen of the country is entitled to exercise their rights without being discriminated against. Hon’ble Justice Indu Malhotra once said that history owes an apology to these people and their families. Homosexuality is a valid part of the human sexual spectrum. They have the right to dignity and should be free of discrimination. Due to some traditional credence, people have negative perspectives about the community. Traditions and cultures take place where the human mind stands for faith, and this faith also brings out the differences in individual perspectives for the community.
In our times, people have their own justifications for whether to support or oppose an affair that is very ordinary in society. Those justifications also include hatred for the community, which is evident on social media. Sexual orientation forms a core aspect of a person’s identity, the expression of which is a human right. No one should be treated in a biased manner based on their primary identity. Primary identities are those that have the most consistent and enduring impact on our lives, such as race, gender, or nationality. Sexual orientation is the identity of a person, which is a basic human right and a legal identity. The Constitution of India states, in Article 15(1) that the state shall forbid discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, gender, or place of birth. The supreme law of the country restricts discrimination against any citizen from being treated in a differential manner, but society still treats the community as inferior. It is well evident that in some places, the people of the LGBTQIA+ community face negative remarks, and as a result, their problems are never questioned or their emotions are never considered.
Advocates argue that denying same-sex couples the right to marry infringes upon their fundamental rights, and legalizing same-sex marriage is a natural extension of constitutional principles. The Special Marriage Act provides a secular framework for marriage that applies to all citizens, irrespective of their religion. However, the Act does not explicitly recognize same-sex marriages, leaving the LGBTQIA+community in legal limbo. A circumstance has arisen in which lawmakers should now consider each sexual orientation while making a law. The National Opinion Research Center (NORC), an American research group at the University of Chicago, conducted a survey from June 9–30, 2020, in which it stated that more than 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ Americans faced discrimination of some kind in the past year, including more than 3 in 5 transgender Americans. This study discerns that a substantial number of individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community persistently encounter discriminatory practices within their personal lives, at workplaces, and in public domains, as well as impediments in obtaining essential healthcare services. The resultant impact of such discriminatory experiences manifests in adverse consequences for their financial, mental, and physical welfare. LGBTQIA+ Americans have experienced numerous mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns regarding the coronavirus compound existing anxieties within this community, particularly impacting those respondents who are most exposed, either due to their health vulnerabilities or frontline employment status.
People are concerned about their personal lives and well-being. Rather, no one is engrossed to be a part of major problems or to support individuals who are in real pain. Even people from the LGBTQ community are mistreated and disowned by their own families. As a community, they are more likely to experience human rights violations, including violence, torture, criminalization, involuntary medical procedures, and discrimination. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment serves as the primary authority for the well-being of transgender individuals. It introduced the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019, with its provisions taking effect on January 10, 2020. Additionally, the ministry has formulated “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020” to facilitate the effective implementation of the Act. These rules were officially published in the Gazette of India on September 29, 2020. With the Transgender Persons Act, the 2019 government was meant to support the community as well as to prohibit any form of discrimination, inequality, or mistreatment faced by transgender persons. Thus, many changes occurred in India, and much assistance encouraged the LGBTQ community in their personal growth and upliftment.

Millions of people flee from their home countries every year, seeking safety from persecution, war, or any natural calamities. Yet, instead of finding a home in another country, they end up facing a lot of challenges. The term “refugee” has always had a negative connotation because of the various issues a nation faces due to refugees. But the actual victims here are the refugees themselves. They are the people in a new country, wondering about their rights and facing an existential crisis. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), “Refugees are people who have fled their countries to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought safety in another country.”

Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everybody has the right to participate in the governance of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Suffrage is a civil right which provides the right to vote in elections.
In India according to the National Criminal Record Bureau, out of the total population, 5,73,220 prisoners were in prisons on 31st December 2022. In addition to this, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulates that each subject should have rights and opportunities, and must not be concerned under Article 2, i.e. race, color, sex, language, religion, politics, or alternative opinions, national or social origin, property status, birth, or other conditions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),in Article 21(3), states that “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government,” emphasizing the importance of the right to participate in governance.

Addicts are unable to regulate their behaviour. They will do anything to obtain drugs, alcohol, or other substances, including jeopardizing their friendships, families, or careers. Why does addiction cause people to act in such a harmful manner? And why is it so difficult to stop?

We keep protesting for our rights, and they keep getting rid of us.

Prashant Bhushan on Trial by media.