The sexual minorities feel that enough is enough and that if they don't speak up now, they will never be heard.
With key issues related to them finding no mention in heated election debates, transgenders and gay rights activists on Friday asked political parties to put their demands in the agenda and make their stands clear on issues like decriminalisation of homosexuality.
At a 'People's Panchayat' in the capital on resisting stigma and homophobia, the activists said political parties, which have mindsets dating back to years, need to wake up to the existence of sexual minorities or face electoral boycott from the estimated four crore population.
"In Mumbai, our groups are actually meeting political parties with major demands, including decriminalisation of homosexuality and a law against discrimination," said Mumbai-based gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi.
"Every reaction from the parties is conveyed through our wide networks to the members of the community throughout the country," Kavi said.
He said it is high time the members of the community get together on a larger scale to strike a political bargain.
The meeting that saw a number of transgenders and homosexual people come together to relate their experiences in fighting the stigma, was the last in a series of such 'panchayats' held in five major cities of the country.
"We feel that the agenda of political parties across the spectrum should include their stand on sexual minorities," said a statement released by the activists and experts after the 'panchayat'.
The activists also lashed out at the 'no to sex education in schools' stand taken recently by a Parliamentary committee, saying this will hamper the fight against sexually transmitted diseases besides creating roadblocks in efforts to sensitise children to the existence of sexual minorities.
"Studies done by various organisations have found 8-9 years as the age of first sexual encounter for boys. It is therefore very important that sex education is provided at school level for the healthy growth of impressionable minds," said an activist working with NGO Humsafar.
The activists also demanded the speedy formulation of a legislation against discrimination the community face in workplaces and other public places.
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