During my time with the Global Health Study Abroad Program in Mysuru, I am interested in gaining greater knowledge on how the 2018 decriminalization of same sex relations in India has impacted attitudes towards sexual minority individuals among Indian youth. According to the Human Rights Watch website, a minimum of 67 countries have outlawed homosexuality. Negative social and legal ramifications for being open about one’s sexual orientation negatively impact how sexual minority youth view themselves and interact with their community. Due to this, I specifically want to focus on how this decriminalization impacts their views on their identity and community relationships. In a conservative nation such as India, has this recent decriminalization had a significant impact on how sexual minorities are viewed?
The relationship between pro sexual minority legislation and public attitudes towards sexual minorities lacks substantial research in the United States.In “Effects of Same-Sex Legislation on Attitudes toward Homosexuality” Redman postulates that this is likely due to the recency of these types of legislation, as well as homosexuality recently being removed by WHO as a mental illness (2018). He describes how most of the existing research focuses on European countries, as they were the first to introduce such legislation. This research also focuses moreso on legal recognition of relationships — such as civil unions and marriage – and less on decriminalization of sexual acts. Based on research in the United States though, there appears to be an increase in public support for sexual minorities following legislation that grants them increased rights, although researchers are unsure of the causal relationship (Redman).
Delhi decriminalized same sex relations in 2009, nearly a decade before the rest of India (Jain 2013). This allowed researchers to investigate how this impacted views towards sexual minorities. Jain conducted a longitudinal study focused on face-to-face interviews which investigated the relationship to both the community and law enforcement as a result of this ruling. Sexual minority individuals that were interviewed reported a marked increase in acceptance from themselves, family, and society, as well as a decrease in harassment from law enforcement. Before this decriminalization, the discovery of one’s minority sexual orientation could easily lead to extortion and blackmailing from law enforcement, as the threat of life imprisonment if convicted loomed.
During my time in India, I intend to speak to individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 of all sexual orientations to gauge their current attitudes toward sexual minorities. I would gather qualitative information that pertains to their feelings toward sexual minorities and their willingness to accept sexual minority individuals in different social settings. Additionally, I would ask them to reflect on their initial feelings regarding the decriminalization ruling and whether or not this ruling affected their view of sexual minority relationships as valid or acceptable. I would also query about their willingness to be around openly sexual minority individuals as classmates, coworkers, friends, and family members to identify any underlying social biases. In regards to sexual minority respondents, I would like to know how this ruling impacted their levels of self-esteem, their impressions of how their families and communities view them, their willingness to openly speak about their sexuality or be seen as dating, and their relationships to law enforcement.
Understanding the impacts of decriminalization in a conservative country such as India can help sexual minority advocacy efforts in other conservative countries. I myself am a sexual minority from a conservative country wherein relations are illegal, and sexual minority individuals face stigma, violence, and community ostracization. Engaging in this research will allow me to lay the foundation for my educational and professional future as someone who advocates for increased freedom for sexual minorities.
My post-graduation plans include studying Counseling at a graduate level and using this knowledge to create public programs in Nigeria geared towards decreasing the stigma sexual minority individuals face. Understanding the causal relationship between decriminalization and increased social acceptance is a major key to achieve success in this regard. In the short-term, though, conducting this type of research will aid me in garnering more experience in the research field under the supervision of various mentors. This will greatly benefit me as I apply for and traverse through the rigors of graduate school. It will not also prepare me for higher education but would also allow me to do so in a country that is more similar to the one I intend to one day conduct research in.
Exploring the impacts of decriminalizing same sex relations in India may lead to push back due to the country’s conservative nature. Although it may now be legal, that does not mean that it is generally acceptable, or that sexual minority individuals who would previously have been secretive about their identity would be more open. Legality is not the only regulator of behavior, especially in a collectivist country such as India wherein one’s reputation in the community is important.
Sources
#OUTLAWED: “The love that dare not speak its name.” Maps of anti-LGBT Laws Country by Country | Human Rights Watch. (n.d.). https://internap.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/
Jain, D. (2017, February 7). Impact of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Delhi: An empirical study - the Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service - Ua Little Rock. The Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service. https://ualr.edu/socialchange/2013/01/13/impact-of-the-decriminalization-of-homosexuality-in-delhi-an-empirical-study/
Redman , S. M. (2018, January 19). Effects of same-sex legislation on attitudes toward homosexuality. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1065912917753077
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