Open Legal Gates to Marriage Equality, Say Parents of LGBTQIA+ Persons in Open Letter to CJI

New Delhi: A group of more than 400 people whose children are members of the LGBTQIA+ communities have written an open letter to the Chief Justice of India, asking the court to give a favourable verdict with respect to marriage equality.

The letter comes amidst opposition from various quarters – conservative religious groups, the Bar Council of India, right-wing groups and others – to legalising same-sex marriage. The top court is currently hearing a batch of petitions on the matter. The Union government has also opposed the petition, saying the issue should be debated in parliament.

The group, called Swabhimaan: Rainbow Parents, said that for many of them, the process to accept their childrens' lives has been a long and winding one. "We empathise with those who are opposing Marriage Equality, because some of us were there too. It took us education, debate and patience with our LGBTQIA+ children to realise that their lives, their feelings and their desires are valid. Similarly, we hope that those who oppose Marriage Equality will come around too," they said.

"We desire to see our children and our children-in-law find legal acceptance for their relationship under the Special Marriages Act in our country. We are certain that a nation as big as ours, which respects its diversity and stands for the value of inclusion, will open its legal gates of Marriage Equality to our children too," the open letter says.

Read the full letter below.

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We are parents of Indian LGBTQIA+ children from a group called Sweekar - The RainbowParents. This is a support group for parents of LGBTQIA+ by parents of LGBTQIA+ to help navigate our journey towards acceptance. We are more than 400+ parents from the length and breadth of the nation. We are appealing to you to consider the plea for Marriage Equality.

From knowing about gender and sexuality, to understanding the lives of our children, to finally accepting their sexuality and their loved one – we have gone through the whole gamut of emotions. We empathise with those who are opposing Marriage Equality, because some of us were there too. It took us education, debate and patience with our LGBTQIA+ children to realise that their lives, their feelings and their desires are valid. Similarly, we hope that those who oppose Marriage Equality will come around too. We have faith in the people of India, the constitution and the democracy of our nation.

On 06 September 2018, the honourable Supreme Court of India read down section 377 to decriminalise consensual sexual relationships, and in doing so, with its statements, ascertained that our children should be treated with dignity and acceptance. As we write this message, in April 2023, it is almost 5 years to the Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India judgement. Gender and Sexuality made it to election manifestos and corporate India has also begun opening up gradually to the idea of queer lives. Society is a changing and evolving phenomenon. Just as a rising tide lifts all boats, the judgement by the honourable Supreme Court created a ripple effect on society and has helped move the needle from hate
to tolerance to acceptance.

We desire to see our children and our children-in-law find legal acceptance for their relationship under the Special Marriages Act in our country. We are certain that a nation as big as ours, which respects its diversity and stands for the value of inclusion, will open its legal gates of Marriage Equality to our children too.

We are growing old. Some of us will touch 80 soon. We hope that we get to see the legal stamp on the rainbow marriages of our children in our lifetime.

In hope of acceptance of our plea,
We remain

Sincerely,
Sweekar - The Rainbow Parents

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