Seven Years On: Challenges Persist Despite Homosexuality’s Decriminalisation

Speedy Summary

• A conclave titled “From Criminals to citizens: What has changed in the lives of Gender adn Sexual Minorities (GSM) in the past seven years?” was held in Bengaluru on Saturday.
• Activists and members of the GSM community discussed challenges faced since parts of Section 377 were decriminalised by the Supreme Court seven years ago.
• Speakers highlighted that while there have been improvements for wealthy, educated individuals in urban areas, rural, poor, and tier-2 city communities continue to struggle with societal acceptance.
• Manohar Elavarthi from Sangama noted that government efforts toward awareness programs about Section 377 remain absent and called for initiatives enabling better social acceptance for GSM individuals.
• Legal issues such as police violence and workplace abuses persist for many GSM members despite legal changes.
• Challenges include workplace dignity issues, ongoing discriminatory practices by authorities, and limited public visibility in smaller cities or rural regions.

Indian Opinion Analysis
While the Supreme CourtS landmark judgment decriminalising homosexuality marked a critical step toward inclusivity in India’s legal framework, its implementation appears uneven across socioeconomic strata. Activist testimonies suggest gaps between formal legal recognition of GSM rights and tangible change at grassroots levels-especially among poorer populations and tier-2 cities where stigma persists heavily due to lack of awareness or cultural resistance.

The call for governmental action reflects pressing needs: widespread educational programs designed to reduce discriminatory attitudes would likely play a central role alongside policy measures ensuring workplace rights and safety against institutional abuse. Continued advocacy signals both substantive progress still required across societal spaces as well as a need for sustained engagement to bridge divides within urban-versus-rural marginalized communities.

Read more: Published – September 06, 2025