Acceptance and Solidarity: The roles of student societies/unions/guilds in supporting

LGBTIQ+ Students In India

Soumya Rampal

Shiv Nadar University

so778@snu.edu.in

Abstract:

Homosexuality and queer identities continue to be accepted more and more

amongst the Indian youth even as there is a strong support against Section 377
of the Indian Penal Code that criminalizes homosexuality. But within the so-
called safe spaces of home, schools or colleges the freedom to express oneself
without fear remains a constant struggle.

This paper explores the impact of initiatives founded in various educational institutions in India
for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) students. This article
also elucidates with examples the ongoing discourse that this enterprise for social justice avails
to address student issues like privilege, power inequity, discrimination, access to resources as
well as the lack of awareness in the community. Through both quantitative and qualitative
research, I shall attempt to illustrate the result that an actively present LGBTQI+ society has
on the participation of students in the endeavours of social justice, presence/absence in class.
Interviews with students identifying with the LGBTIQI+ community, union leaders and
founders, as well as professors and allies are conducted and perused for the same. The
introduction of online societies, events, chats, and meet ups to support and make aware the
student community and as a safe space for the LGBTQI+ students is also delved into. This
paper also throws light on the relation between the presence of supportive/ally
guilds/unions/societies on campus and the mental health of the students and the positive action
taken to improve the same.
Bio:
Soumya Rampal is a fierce believer of equal rights for everyone and proudly calls herself a
bisexual feminist in the presence of her conservative family. Soumya is a student of English at
Shiv Nadar University and is also pursuing a minor in sociology. Having changed her major
from Electrical Engineering to English after an ill-timed (Two years too late) epiphany, she
hopes to excel and continue her studies in the field. Soumya hopes to exploit the intersection
between policy making and gender studies to continue her research while also focussing on the
role of gender and sexuality in Indian epic literature.