Written by: Isha Shrestha - 25064, Grade XI
Posted on: 25 August, 2023
The acronym LGBTQ collectively stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. All of the terms that's not related to gender characterization, instead they are related to their true identity. Studying the term LGBTQ helps people to know about themselves more. LGBTQ defines a person on how they actually are, not only on the basis of their gender roles but also their nature, character, their behavior, their preference and many more.
LGBTQ contains terms like androgynous (presenting person neither as masculine nor feminine), bisexual (person who is attracted to both gender), gay (a person who is attracted to their own gender), lesbian (female who is attracted to female), transgender (born as a male/female and changed their reproductive organ and now identified as a female/male) and many more. LGBTQ is not only about these terms but it also supports same gender love, gender expression, gender expansion, gender transition, gender identity and gender fluid as well.
LGBTQ generally refers to gay also known as ‘Chhakka’ (derogatively in Nepali) which has created bad images about LGBTQ in peoples’ mind. Misconception about the term LGBTQ does not help in letting people open up. Societal problems such as bullying, back biting, over pressurizing the same person for years and years regarding their true identity doesn’t let people open up to their family and prone people to either be in depression or self-restriction in doing any other outer things. Societal pressurizing leads a person to take their life.
The only thing we can do to normalize such concept is to normalize seeing each and every other in equal manner, normalize the concept that love happens between two different souls not two different genders, normalize right to express own feelings, normalize participation of girls in sporty activities, normalize the perception that only males are masculine, females are feminine, and many more. The easiest, simplest and thing which we all can do to support them is to normalize our misconception about LGBTQ. We can support their community by not characterizing them in an unequal manner and love the true them.
It is a good news that Nepal has approved same sex marriage recently. There are very few countries in the world that have approved such marriage, and Nepal is one of them. Nepal government has already recognized equal identity of such community and given privilege to them. Now it is the time for the public to recognize their true identity with the perception of equality. Making people aware about the misconception will also play a great role in normalizing LGBTQ community in society. Let’s support LGBTQ community as much as we can. Ideal society cannot be created without offering equal identity, personal dignity, and value for the coexistence in the society.
