Lucknow: Nearly 17% of people may belong to LGBTQIA+ or gender-diverse communities, yet many rarely interact openly with society as themselves, experts say. Stigma, insensitive behaviour, and lack of inclusive spaces in society, hospitals, workplaces, and public areas force many to hide their identity, affecting mental and physical health.
EQUICON-2026 Highlights Discrimination
The issue was raised at EQUICON-2026 at King George's Medical University (KGMU) on Sunday, organized alongside Suramya Life Foundation, SAATHII, the Indian Psychiatric Society LGBTQIA+ Taskforce, and the Indian Association of Clinical Psychiatry. The event coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.
Prof Pawan Kumar Gupta, organizing secretary and faculty member in the psychiatry department at KGMU, stated, "Many LGBTQIA+ persons spend their lives hiding who they are because they fear rejection at home, classrooms, hospitals, and workplaces." He noted that global surveys suggest nearly 17% of people in India may belong to LGBTQIA+ or gender-diverse communities. However, official records in Uttar Pradesh showed only 1.3 lakh transgender persons in the 2011 Census, while advocacy groups estimate the number to be nearly 80 lakh.
Mental Health Risks and Root Causes
Prof Gupta emphasized that LGBTQIA+ individuals are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviour, unemployment-linked stress, and trauma caused by discrimination in healthcare, education, and housing. "These mental health problems are not because someone is LGBTQIA+, but because of rejection, harassment, and lack of acceptance. Supportive families, inclusive schools, and queer-friendly mental healthcare can greatly improve outcomes," he added.
Dr Shekhar Seshadri, Dr Venkatesan Chakrapani, and Dr Swapnjeet Sahu discussed healthcare inequities, discrimination, and mental health struggles faced by LGBTQIA+ persons. Experts pointed out that fear of humiliation keeps many away from hospitals even when they need medical help, citing a lack of gender-neutral wards, insensitive behaviour, and limited access to gender-affirming healthcare outside metro cities.
Workplace and Legal Challenges
The conference also highlighted discrimination during hiring, pressure to hide identity at workplaces, housing bias against queer couples, and difficulties in changing names and gender in official documents. "Many continue to suffer silently because society still treats their identity as something to hide," speakers said.
Experts suggested small behavioural changes to make spaces safer and more inclusive, such as using respectful language, politely asking preferred pronouns, and avoiding jokes about sexuality or gender identity. Prof Soniya Nityanand, vice-chancellor of KGMU, said, "We should work to make hospitals inclusive for everyone."
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About the Author: Vivek Singh Chauhan, hailing from poet Shivmangal Singh Suman's land, is a medical and civic reporter with a penchant for Urdu poetry and ghazals. A "Sapiens" advocate, he equates sugar to alcohol for its metabolic mayhem. Times scribe winner, non-fiction lover, cricket player, and podcast enthusiast.
