We have seen time and time again that more conservative countries, such as Qatar and Turkey, have laws that refuse to recognize the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Despite this, people in these countries continue to bravely fight against such laws and government oppression.

We can see this in many instances, such as the Taksim Square incident in Turkey, where participants of a pride parade were beaten and arrested simply because homosexuality is not recognized in the country. The refusal to acknowledge the LGBTQIA+ community’s rights has almost become a disturbing trend among nations.

For example, Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill not only criminalizes identifying as gay but also imposes other severe restrictions, such as life imprisonment for same-sex relations and even the death penalty in cases classified as “aggravated homosexuality.” The law also mandates that individuals must report anyone they suspect of being LGBTQIA+, fostering a culture of fear and state-sanctioned persecution.

Ironically, many people still believe that sexuality or gender identity is a choice, which is absolutely incorrect. Society assigns a “normal” gender and sexuality to individuals, reinforcing the misconception that anything outside of this norm is a conscious decision rather than an inherent trait. This belief highlights a significant lack of awareness in society regarding these issues.

Opponents of LGBTQIA+ rights often argue that protestors are in the wrong, not only because they are engaging in illegal activities but also because they should respect the sentiments of the majority. However, both of these arguments are deeply flawed.

To counter the first argument, let’s take the example of India. Numerous freedom fighters who fought for the country’s independence did so valiantly but, at the time, illegally under British rule. The entire purpose of democracy is to ensure that the people have a say in shaping their society. If we accept everything without questioning or challenging it, then democracy loses its meaning.

As for the second argument about respecting sentiments. There are 195 countries in the world, out of which same-sex marriage is illegal in 161. Meanwhile, there are exactly zero countries where heterosexuality is criminalized. Something as fundamental as the freedom to love is denied to people in most nations simply because of their gender or the gender of their partner.

The idea that heterosexuality is “normal” while anything else is not is a construct of society. So yes, we make noise about these injustices. We do so because if we don’t, people will continue to treat LGBTQIA+ individuals as second-class citizens in their own countries, simply because of who they love. And that goes against not just the very essence of democracy, but the very essence of humanity itself

• -Mehar
• TIS VV