Between Legal Recognition and Moral Policing: Mapping the Queer Subject in India

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 416 - 425
• Main Author: Singh, Pawan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 03.03.2016; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Access; Attitudes; Bioethics; Civil Rights - legislation & jurisprudence; Clinical outcomes; Decriminalization; Demonstrations & protests; Ethics; Gays & lesbians; Health care; Health problems; Health services; Health services utilization; history of India; Homosexuality; homosexuality in India; Humans; India; Law; Legalization; LGBT rights in Asia; Mapping; Morality; Morals; Police community relations; Policing; Religion; Religious attitudes; Self esteem; Sexuality; sexuality and law; Social attitudes; Surveillance; Transgender persons; India; homosexuality; homosexuality in India; sexuality and law; Bioethics; LGBT rights in Asia; transgender; India; history of India
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1124700
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602

With the decriminalization of homosexuality in India in 2009, Indian queer subjects have become visible in various ways. Where Indian queer identities have asserted their public presence through Pride marches and protests, incidents of moral policing and surveillance, especially after decriminalization, have highlighted the broader social and religious attitudes that continue to pathologize homosexuality with grave outcomes. This article argues that debates around access to health care of Indian queer subjects must be framed against the social and religious pathologization of homosexuality in various contexts, which remains a primary bioethical dilemma, particularly in relation to legal change.