Ban on 'cure therapy' to issuing guidelines for police training: Madras HC reaches out to LGBTQIA

In its order, the Madras High Court said any attempt to medically "cure" or change the sexual orientation, famously known as "conversion therapy" of the LGBTIQA+ community, shall be prohibited.

The Madras High Court on Monday issued guidelines to be followed by the Central and state governments for recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual persons by society, in a ruling that went far beyond the narrow terms of a case brought by a lesbian couple who alleged they had been harassed by police. In its order, the Madras High Court said any attempt to medically "cure" or change the sexual orientation, famously known as "conversion therapy" of the LGBTIQA+ community, shall be prohibited. The court ruled that changes in curricula of schools and universities to educate students on LGBTQIA shall be made. The term transgender in addition to male and female gender columns in application forms for various purposes shall be included, the court said.