Madras HC: Queerphobia Rampant in Medical Education needs Revamp

Madras HC Queerphobia - law insider

Greeva Garg – 

Published on: September 2, 2021, at 17:05 IST

The Madras High Court highlighted the need to revamp medical education among rampant Queerphobia among medical professionals due to lack of knowledge and sensitivity about LGBTQA+ community.

The High Court issued notice to the National Medical Commission and the Indian Psychiatric Society and asked them to submit reports indicating all the measures to prevent the conversion therapies employed by medical professionals to purportedly cure non-normative gender and sexual identities of persons belonging to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community.

The Bench headed by Justice N Anand Venkatesh referred to a report filed by Dr Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, a transwoman, and stated, “Queerphobia – prejudicial and abusive attitudes and behaviours directed at the LGBT community was rampant in medical education.”

The Judge then stated, “This lack of knowledge on the part of the psychiatrist was directly attributable to the course that was undergone by him and which was yet to be revamped and brought up to date.”

The High Court has also given the directions to the State Police to protect Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working with LGBTQ persons.

Justice Venkatesh made the above observations while hearing the plea by a same-sex couple seeking protection from harassment by the police and their families.

Before passing any orders on June 7 into the KGBT issues, the Judge sought for counseling of the same-sex couple.

The matter will further be heard on October 4.

Click here to read/download the Order

Also Read: LGBTQ Rights in India and Acknowledgment

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