In news : Recently, the European Parliament has declared the entire 27-member bloc as an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone”
European Parliament’s resolution
The EU Parliament resolution to declare the bloc as an ‘‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone’’ was passed by 492 votes in favour, 141 against and 46 abstentions.The EU Parliament’s move comes as a response against member state Poland’s controversial move to create more than 100 “LGBTIQ ideology-free zones” around the country since 2019, and more generally against the backsliding of LGBTIQ rights in some EU countries, particularly in Poland and Hungary
What does the resolution say?
The resolution declares that “LGBTIQ persons everywhere in the EU should enjoy the freedom to live and publicly show their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution”.
It adds that “authorities at all levels of governance across the EU should protect and promote equality and the fundamental rights of all, including LGBTIQ persons”.
Status of other countries: A majority of countries in the EU (23/27) recognise same-sex unions, with 16 legally recognising same-sex marriage.
Rights of LGBTQ in Poland
- It baned same-sex couples from adopting children together, although many such couples get around this rule by applying to adopt as single parents.
- As per its recently proposed law, those found to be applying as a single parent while being in a same-sex relationship will be criminally liable
- Around 100 regions, counties and municipalities in Poland have adopted resolutions declaring themselves to be free from LGBTIQ “ideology” since 2019
- As per these resolutions, the local governments have to refrain from encouraging tolerance towards LGBTIQ people and withdraw financial assistance from organisations promoting non-discrimination and equality.
Rights of LGBTQ in Hungary
- Hungary has also been pushing forward a conservative Catholic social agenda.
- In November 2020, the town of Nagykáta adopted a resolution banning the ‘‘dissemination and promotion of LGBTIQ propaganda’’
- Its parliament has also adopted a constitutional amendment to further restrict the community’s rights.
LGBTIQ
The acronym refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the term is an adaptation of the initialism LGB, which began to replace the term gay in reference to the broader LGBT community.
LGBT rights in India
- In 2018, in the landmark decision of Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised consensual homosexual intercourse by reading down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and excluding consensual homosexual sex between adults from its ambit
- Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), dating back to 1861, makes sexual activities “against the order of nature” punishable by law and carries a life sentence.
- Transgender people in India are allowed to change their legal gender post-sex reassignment surgery under legislation passed in 2019, and have a constitutional right to register themselves under a third gender.
