The Madras High Court on Monday banned surgical attempts to cure sexual orientation, and also suggested changes in the school curricula to create awareness among students on LGBTQ. The Court ordered that strict action would be taken against those found to be engaging in any attempt to change or cure sexual orientations, reported Bar and Bench.

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The judgment was made by Justice N Anand Venkatesh following a plea made by a homosexual couple asking for protection from their relatives.

Here are some of the directions by the Madras High Court:

Parent Teachers Association (PTA) must be used to normalise the issues of gender and LGBTQIA community among parents. 

Necessary amendments must be made to the policies to include the LGBTQIA community in schools and colleges.

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Here are some of the following suggestions made in order to ensure sensitivity towards the LGBTQIA community in schools and colleges:

  • Make gender-neutral restrooms for gender-nonconforming students.
  • Change of gender for transgender people on records.
  • Inclusion of transgender in gender columns in application forms.
  • Counselors must be appointed for students and staffs to address grievances.

The government will be implementing necessary steps in association with the transgender community as specified by Chapter VI of the Protection of Rights Act 2019 and Rule 10 of the Protection of Rights 2020, reported Bar and Bench.