Health for the LGBTQ community

‘Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start’-Jason Collins

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The LGBTQ are an ever-increasing community worldwide with India being no exception. The acronym LGBTQQIAAP is an umbrella term and stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Allies and Pansexual. As per the GOI in 2012, there are about 2.5 million gay people in India based on individuals who self-declared to the Ministry of Health. There have been several recent political movements in favour of LGBTQ rights with the Supreme Court of India decriminalising homosexuality by declaring Section 377 of the IPC unconstitutional. Yet, there remains a significant prejudice, discrimination and violence against the community. The repercussions of disclosure such as rejection and bullying at school, home and society, limited access to education, employment and social functions, loss of employment or discrimination, denial of rights and all-encompassing social stigma have a great impact on their quality of life. Homophobia exists in the fundamental cultural fabric of our country. Hence, many remain undisclosed and closeted. Homosexuality had been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association until 1973. However, in the later editions, it has been removed as a mental disorder.