The world is becoming a better place for the queer.
Queer, it’s a strange word for LGBTQIA+ but we’ve learned to embrace it with pride.
Its not easy being different from the ‘Normal’ and it has its own challenges. The world still has a long way to go until they can make us feel completely at home but irrespective of all the discrimination, things are getting better for us, all over the world.
Let’s dig deep into it.
1. Finland’s prime minister was brought up by a same sex couple:
The world’s youngest prime minister Sanna Marin (Finland) is also the first prime minister to be brought up by two mothers in a rainbow family and she herself is a working parent with one child.
Sanna Marin is a great example for the world to know:
- That same sex couples are as equally capable of parenting as are the ‘normal couples’.
- Females with a child can manage work well enough.
- A family lead by women can function well.
2. SC Bank is setting an example for all government and private companies:
The standard chartered bank has been taking numerous steps to ensure a LGBT+ safe community and workplace. Here are some of the changes they have made recently:
LGBT partners of all its employees in India will be eligible under the bank’s medical reimbursement policy. They will also be covered under the domestic relocation policy.
It has also launched an employee resource group called GLAD for the queer community.
It has also curated a toolkit for all its employees to raise awareness on LGBT+ issues and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
3. Protection for a lesbian woman:
A woman who identifies as a lesbian was protected by the Delhi court and the police when she reached out to them with the help of an NGO. She was married to a man against her will, her parents also threatened her with conversion therapy and surgical and ritual ceremonies to ‘correct’ her sexual orientation. She escaped, fearing torture and was later granted protection by the court.
4. Equal legal rights:
The queer community is slowly getting more equal legal rights to live with pride in their own countries. This process of change has definitely been very long and tiresome but it gives us hope for a better future.
Thailand: In July 2020, the Thai cabinet approved the draft Civil Partnership Bill. The country will now recognize same-sex unions and allow adoption, joint property between same sex couples.
Botswana: In June 2019 it became the 32nd of 64 countries to decriminalize homosexuality.
Bhutan: One of the latest Asian countries which is halfway there in decriminalizing homosexuality.
5. Conversion therapy:
Worldwide there are only 3 countries- Brazil, Ecuador, Malt which consider conversion procedures and therapies to be illegal. Conversion therapy has effectively ruined many lives and it continues to do so on a large scale in this decade too. But thankfully the survivors of these therapy sessions are slowly coming out with their testimonies on how it has affected them and continues to affect the lives of others just like them. And so, NINE more countries including US, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Germany are set to join the first three countries in banning these heartless conversion procedures.
6. India’s First Transman pilot:
In 2017 Adam harry became India’s first transman pilot but since this news broke out widely his parents disowned him leaving him with little to no support.
In 2019 the Kerala government offered him 25 lacs to continue his education and become a commercial pilot to make his dream come true.
Adam said that he is happy to get such an opportunity in the first place and happier to have the liberty to live the truth of his true gender in the open.
7. LGBT in politics:
LGBT+ officials elected in the US office went up 25% from 2018 to 2019 and the numbers have gone up higher in 2020 by 21% with 840 LGBT+ officials being elected in 2020. The reports have mentioned that more than 880 officials will sit for the vote in 2021.
More representatives of the queer community in politics will bring out the right changes in laws to attain maximum equality.
8. Cutting ties with anti LGBT parts of the world:
Pulawy a city in Poland declared itself to be a gay-free zone and as a result its twin city Nieuwegein, located in the Dutch province of Utrecht has cut all its ties with pulawy.
The cities’ alderman Marieke Schouten said: “Everybody is welcome in our town. It doesn’t matter who you are, what colour skin you have, what you believe in or what your sexual orientation is”.
9. Diverse representation of the gay community in children’s TV:
From only 3% (ten years back) to more than 9% (now), the percentage of representation of queer characters on television has significantly improved. This improvement can also be seen in children’s television.
The introduction of non-binary persons as well as same sex couples have started to take place in the US television characters for children. Some examples of these shows are: “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”, “Steven Universe”, “Andi Mack,” The Bravest Knight My Little Pony and many more!
What's Important:
Little changes in the society is what brings about big changes. Today I wanted to celebrate these little changes and feel happy about such illuminating progresses in the world rather than be depressed about the bad news coming in from the Indian high court about same-sex marriage or Hungarian court about banning same sex couple’s right to adoption.
There is a lot of dehumanizing decisions being taken these days and it saddens me to think about them but today I really wanted to focus on the bright and righteous decisions taken by highest of the highest powers in the world to spread the message of Love and Equality.
Kudos for putting together all this in one post! 🍀🍀