MIDDLE SCHOOL FINALIST - Arhaan Iyer

Mental Health Awareness in India’s LGBTQ+ Community

Arhaan Iyer, Grade 5
Dallas, Texas

As someone who is raised to respect people for who they are, I didn’t really get why people made discriminatory comments about LGBTQ+ people. I couldn’t relate to the issue and didn’t even really understand it until about a year ago. There are many pressing issues facing India. One of these is the discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. As an ally to the community, I wanted to educate myself more on the matter. I knew that life was harder for those in the LGBTQ+ community, but as I learned more, I realized that the problems are worse than I could have imagined. Learning about the hardships they go through broke my heart. I also learned that things are a lot worse for them in India. I really care about this issue, being of Indian origin. Out of the many problems facing the community, one of them is the increased risk of suicide.

Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people lead to mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, resulting in suicide. India has a huge population of 1.3 billion people, 2.5 million of whom are gay, and there are even more who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s upsetting that so many people do not feel safe in their own country. They are still not accepted socially or politically. In India it is still illegal for them to marry the people they love. There is a lack of job protection, people can still get fired for their gender or sexual identity. The constant bullying and legal oppression can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, which are a cause of suicide. The suicide risk is especially high in LGBTQ+ youth. In India family issues are also an enormous cause of suicide, and that includes families not accepting their children. LGBTQ+ youth are 3 times more likely to commit suicide than others. It is atrocious that there are repercussions for identity expression. It is very sad that people are bullied into taking their own life. Therefore, I believe India is not doing enough to address LGBTQ+ hate.

An example of this oppression is the story of 19-year-old Avinshu Patel, who committed suicide in Chennai. Avinshu texted his friend Ishaan Mastry saying he was going to the mall. Only 2 hours later he had called Ishaan saying he was going to end his life. At 10 P.M. he posted about the harassment he endured. The next morning, he was found dead. Cops said that Avinshu was not facing problems at his job. He worked at the Salon for only 3 months before death and was on track to become a nail artist. The harassment he faced stole his opportunity to excel in something he loved.

To better tackle the issue at hand, it is not just enough to repeal section 377, which recognized same-sex relationships. Societal pressure, be it in the workplace or in schools and colleges, still makes it very difficult for the LGBTQ+ person to be recognized for their gender or sexual identity. India needs to recognize people’s identity. Indian Police also need to do a better job investigating suicide cases and finding the exact cause and reporting them with the right classification. This will help the courts and judiciary to see the statistics more clearly and help enact more laws protecting LGBTQ+ rights. Another big thing to prioritize is mental health awareness. In the US we can help by donating to charities to help the cause. Individuals here can also further educate themselves on these issues and further education others.

Works Cited

"The Lack of LGBTQ+ Employment Protections in India." JURIST. https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2020/06/gupta-gupta-lgbtiq-protections-india/.

"Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Youth and Suicide." Western Michigan University. https://wmich.edu/suicideprevention/lgbt.

"Not my fault I was born gay: 19-year-old commits suicide over homophobia." India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gay-man-suicide-homophobia-lgbt-helplines- 1565041-2019-07-09.

"Suicides in India: What Data Shows." Mint. https://www.livemint.com/Politics/YCw8vC0qZUzAYkWSEVXS9N/Suicides-in-India- What-data-shows.html.

"This Indian Same-Sex Couple Is Fighting for the Right to Marry. But Is Their Country Ready?" Time. https://time.com/5926324/india-lgbtq-marriage-case/.

"Vying for Equality: LGBTQ rights in India, a timeline." The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/specials/2021/jan/09/vying-for-equality-lgbtq- rights-in-india-a-timeline-2247692.html.