Tamil Nadu leading the way with its LGBTQ policy despite its conservative image: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court Monday lauded the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts to create a safe space for the transgender and the LGBTQIA+ community through its Gender and Sexual Minority Policy. .Justice Anand Venkatesh allowed the State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah’s request for three more months to finalise such policy.While granting such time, the judge said that it was laudable that the State of Tamil Nadu, which is considered as a relatively conservative state by the rest of the country, was showing the way through the policy.“This Court is confident that the State will finalise and notify the policy within three months. If this is done, it will set a precedent for the entire country and give a day of hope for the LGBTQIA+ community. It is amazing that it has come from Tamil Nadu, which the rest of the country considers to be a relatively conservative State,” Justice Venkatesh said..The Court also noted that though the National Medical Commission had notified in September 2002 that conversion therapy will constitute a professional misconduct under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, such change was not reflected in the curriculum for students of Forensic Sciences and Psychiatry. It, therefore, directed the Commission to ensure the curriculum was revised to reflect such change within three months..The Court was hearing a plea filed in 2022 by a homosexual couple seeking police protection. That same year, Justice Venkatesh had extended the scope of the above plea, and since then, he has issued several directions to the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre to introduce inclusive policy changes.