Kerala HC against forced conversion of LGBTIQ members

One-liner: Stringent action should be taken against any forced conversion of sexual orientation and expression of persons of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) community, the Kerala HC has said.

Frame guidelines: It also directed the state to frame guidelines for such procedures even as Justice P V Kunhikrishnan listed the matter for further hearing on May 18, 2022.

• The court was hearing a plea by Queerala, an Organisation for Malayali LGBTIQ Community and a transman who claims to be a victim of forced conversion therapy
• The petitioners have alleged that there is forced conversion at the instance of the medical practitioners and that it creates several physical problems to members of the community as there were no guidelines on such conversions

What the state says: The state govt conceded that there were no guidelines, but said that it has not received any complaints that there were forced conversions as alleged in the writ petition.

• The court further said that before finalising the guidelines, a representative of Queerala, as well as other stakeholders, should also be heard by the govt

Mental health guidelines sought: The plea has also sought a direction to the state to formulate a mental health guideline making it illegal to practise any form of conversion therapy by medical practitioners or mental health institutions

Source: PTI