Other States looking at Tamil Nadu on creating safe space for LGBTQIA+ community: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu government and the Central government to ensure that at least one teacher in every school was sensitised on dealing with students who identify as belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community..Justice Anand Venkatesh also said that the Court expected the authorities to take the issue "seriously", given that the rest of the country was looking at the progress being made by Tamil Nadu in the realm of LGBTQIA+ rights."All other states are looking at Tamil Nadu on this issue...We are nudging... taking small steps, trying to bring a change bit by bit. The government must take this seriously," he orally observed..The High Court also directed the State government to notify within twelve weeks' time, its draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules and Transgender Policy..The Court was hearing a plea filed by a homosexual couple seeking police protection.Earlier this year, Justice Venkatesh had extended the scope of the above plea and has since issued several directions to the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre to introduce inclusive policy changes..Such attitude poses great danger to fabric of nation: Madras High Court on NCERT retraction of LGBTQIA+ sensitisation plan.On Friday, Justice Venkatesh reiterated that it was imperative that teachers be sensitised at the earliest so that minors who identify as belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community have "someone to talk to.""One reason I showed urgency here was so that the children who realise this about themselves, they have at least one teacher to go talk to. They can't discuss with peers or parents for they might not understand," Justice Venkatesh said..He also said that a psychiatrist's door must not be the first one that is shown to children who identify as non-cis gender."The first door need not be that of a psychiatrist. It is so preposterous. Imagine taking me to a psychiatrist and saying make him feel like a girl, or taking you and asking that make her feel like a boy...Once we imagine ourselves in these shoes, we will understand how ridiculous or terrible it is," the judge said..The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the National Medical Council, the Central government and the State's Department of Social Welfare all submitted their respective status reports saying that they were in the process of implementing the High Court's previous orders on the issue.The matter will be heard next on December 9..[Read Order]