Marriages are made in heaven. Aren't they? We have always held the belief that our soulmate has already been chosen by the Almighty before we even get to know them. Love finds its way. It does not discriminate on the basis of caste, colour, creed, or even gender. People have the absolute freedom to live their lives as they see fit, so why shouldn't they marry the person of their choice?
Same-sex marriage, also referred to as gay marriage, is not a recent or contemporary idea. It has existed for aeons. Even in the past, it was common for people of the same sex to coexist, yet they were never questioned since they belonged to same community. The only difference is that people are starting to openly talk about their rights and preferences in public.
UK Law
On the historic day of July 17, 2013, the UK Government passed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, turning it into an Act. The entirety of England and Wales was covered by the Act. In accordance with the BBC, "Peter McGraith and David Cabreza, John Coffey and Bernardo Marti, and Andrew Wale and Neil Allard were among the first gay couples to marry" on March 29, 2014.
India perspective
Facing the reality
It's been a long, difficult journey filled with pain, suffering, and struggles, but at the end of the day, what matters most is the result of all our efforts, isn't it? The outcome might has been favourable in some Countries to the LGBT community. But is this the end of the struggle, or are there other issues to be resolved?
Society
Although the law may have recognised them, society has not. The greatest barrier to LGBT people having inclusive lives that are safe continues to be a lack of social acceptance. People who are always afraid of rejection, bullying, violence, and degradation hide their identities in public and live in continual terror. It is challenging for the community to blend in and feel equal because of the subliminal homophobia/transphobia present in our language, a method of addressing these concerns, and a general lack of direction and education
Employment discrimination
Employment discrimination is one of the biggest issues the LGBT community has to deal with. The National Centre for Transgender Equality reports that 26% of transgender people who have previously held employment had encountered workplace discrimination, such as being fired, refused a raise, or harassed. The fact that many LGBT people reside in places without legislation preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity only serves to exacerbate this issue
As a result, individuals have no legal protection against being dismissed for being who they are. LGBT persons experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment than the general population in addition to prejudice. Making ends meet and achieving financial stability can be challenging for LGBT persons when employment discrimination and economic insecurity are combined.
Healthcare
Access to high-quality healthcare is among the biggest issues the LGBT community faces.
The fact that many healthcare professionals lack the necessary training to offer good treatment for LGBT patients makes this problem worse. Because of this, many LGBT people do not get the medical attention they require and deserve. Additionally, the LGBT community is more likely to get specific diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, and mental health issues. These factors make the LGBT community's access to high-quality healthcare crucial.
Darker side of it
Although the LGBT community has made significant progress recently, much work remains. The high rate of HIV/AIDS infection is one of the community's most urgent problems. LGBT people are two to three times more likely than heterosexual people to develop HIV, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. When one considers that the vast majority of new HIV infections are avoidable, this number becomes even more concerning.
Acceptance
Sad to realise that many individuals in this day and age still reject the LGBT community. Discrimination is frequently the result of this lack of acceptance, which may make life for community members very challenging. It's time to take a position and work to change things.