‘Acceptance level for LGBTs has risen’

Unlike in the past, more and more parents are visiting counsellors and psychiatrists to get their doubts cleared regarding their children’s alternative sexuality.

Bindumadhav Khire of city-based Samapathik Trust that is

working with issues related to the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the city for 10 years told DNA that many middle class and lower middle class parents are approaching him.

“The number of visits of parents who either accepted their children’s sexuality or wanted to know more about it was almost zero 10 years ago. But these days, around 1-2 parents meet us per month, seeking guidance,” he said. Khire said that the numbers have increased significantly since the judgement of the Delhi high coudecriminalising homosexuality in 2009.

The parents who visit Khire and others like him carry a lot of misconceptions and doubts. “They are scared that their children would go on the wrong path or fall prey to anti-social activities.

They seek in us a peer counsellor for guidance,” he said.

In the past 10 years, Samapathik Trust has been actively involved in advocacy, health and other related issues of the LGBT community. It was also a part of the group that had field the public interest litigation (PIL) in the Delhi high court, which lead to the re-reading of the Article 377.