Latest news with #LGBTQIA
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Now I can help': Newcastle councillor welcomes Lifeblood changes to donation rules
GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors. As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help. "Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said. "Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair." As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations. The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives. For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months. Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward. "I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said. "They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute." Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply. In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week. Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship. Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community. "I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said. "Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important." The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year. The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period. Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors. "The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said. "Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too. "Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give." Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma. Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply. "While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said. Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year. Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients. Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said. "We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year." To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit or download the Donate Blood App. GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors. As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help. "Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said. "Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair." As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations. The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives. For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months. Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward. "I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said. "They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute." Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply. In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week. Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship. Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community. "I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said. "Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important." The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year. The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period. Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors. "The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said. "Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too. "Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give." Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma. Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply. "While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said. Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year. Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients. Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said. "We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year." To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit or download the Donate Blood App. GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors. As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help. "Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said. "Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair." As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations. The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives. For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months. Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward. "I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said. "They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute." Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply. In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week. Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship. Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community. "I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said. "Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important." The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year. The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period. Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors. "The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said. "Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too. "Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give." Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma. Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply. "While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said. Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year. Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients. Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said. "We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year." To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit or download the Donate Blood App. GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors. As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help. "Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said. "Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair." As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations. The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives. For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months. Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward. "I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said. "They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute." Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply. In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week. Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship. Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community. "I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said. "Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important." The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year. The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period. Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors. "The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said. "Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too. "Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give." Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma. Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply. "While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said. Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules. The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year. Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood. Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients. Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available. "There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said. "We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year." To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit or download the Donate Blood App.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
How queer travellers find safe and inclusive holidays
After travelling to places that value LGBTQIA+ tourism and treat queer travellers with respect and safety, Divesh Tolani and his partner realised just how important inclusivity is when it comes to travel. 'When we visited Thailand for our five-year anniversary, seeing areas and clinics that support LGBTQIA+ health made us feel seen and safe,' says Divesh, adding, 'Why support a country's economy if we're not treated as equals while we're there?' For queer travellers, going on holiday isn't always just about sightseeing and unwinding; it's also about safety, identity, and finding inclusive spaces. Queer travel influencers share their stories and advice on what it means to travel the world while staying proud of who they are. SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE Plan with safety and inclusivity in mind When it comes to planning a trip, many queer travellers prioritise safety and inclusivity over the destination itself. 'Our primary focus is on safety. We need to feel secure when travelling as a couple, which is why we avoid countries where homosexuality is banned,' says Delhi-based queer travel influencer Manish Bhowmick. He adds, 'Next, we look for inclusivity. The hotels and staff should be professional and must not make us feel as though we're something different. ' Packing with caution For queer travellers, packing goes beyond style, it's often about safety. 'Depending on local LGBTQ+ laws, we avoid clothes and accessories that aren't conventionally masculine,' says Nitesh Rawat. Similarly, Mumbai-based Atulan Purohit shares, 'We skip rainbow-themed outfits when visiting places where they can be risky. Instead, we pack clothes that help us blend in and avoid trouble.' Supporting the community Supporting queer-owned businesses, guides, and stays is a conscious decision. Amlanjyoti Bora shares, 'We always check how LGBTQIA+ friendly a place is, whether same-sex couples are accepted, how comfortable we'd feel with public displays of affection, and whether there are queer-friendly cafés or stays. Google Maps helps a lot, many queer-friendly spots mention it in their profile, and we try to choose those whenever possible. ' Manish adds, 'We always try to support the community by booking through queer-owned agencies, hotels, and transport services whenever possible.' IS THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY QUEER ENOUGH YET? Visibility doesn't always mean inclusivity, say queer travellers. 'Travel companies still assume heteronormativity – from 'Mr & Mrs' bookings to couple offers,' says Divesh Tolani. He believes the industry must do more to make queer travellers feel seen. Amrit Bajwa adds, 'Hotels and platforms should train staff, show real diversity in their marketing, and ensure safety all year round — not just during Pride Month. ' Queer travellers want genuine change, not token gestures. SAFETY TIPS FROM QUEER GLOBETROTTERS Research local laws and culture: Always look into a country's laws and cultural attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people before visiting Choose LGBTQ+ friendly accommodation: Deep-dive into hotel reviews or do your research to find queer-friendly stays. This ensures a more comfortable environment Be mindful of PDA: Avoid overt displays of queerness or affection, especially in unfamiliar or conservative areas, regardless of legality Have a safety contact: Always have a backup person, someone local or trusted, whom you can reach out to in case of trouble Connect with experienced queer travellers: Reach out to queer friends or community members who've visited the place. Their experiences offer practical, first-hand insights Be cautious when sharing personal details: While meeting new people is exciting, avoid revealing too much too soon, especially in unfamiliar or potentially unsafe spaces Know your rights: Understanding your legal rights, both locally and internationally, can be crucial in case of discrimination or conflict Travelling as a queer person often means taking extra precautions to stay safe. Being in a new country is challenging enough, but ensuring acceptance in every situation adds another layer of stress that others might not have to consider Mumbai-based Divesh Tolani There have been times when people stared or treated my partner differently because of how he dressed. To avoid unwanted attention, we often keep a low profile and prioritise queer-friendly stays where we feel safe, respected, and truly welcome Delhi-based Amrit Bajwa We use Reddit to find out which apps locals use to connect in each country. For safe, comfortable stays, we rely on Misterb&b — it helps us find queer-friendly accommodation and connect with locals to better understand queer life there Mumbai-based Atulan Purohit
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Life-saving plasma donations to expand under national rule changes
Sexual activity rules that have prohibited thousands of Australians from donating blood have been lifted, smashing long-held stigmas and increasing much-needed plasma supplies. Ever since the AIDS crisis exploded into the public consciousness in the early 1980s, the Australian Red Cross has prevented gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers and people taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) from donating blood. Decades later, the Red Cross Lifeblood Service reports 'some 625,000 Australians' will become eligible to donate plasma after the lifting of these rules. Lifeblood chief executive Stephen Cornelissen AM said the service was 'looking forward' to welcoming new donors into the fold. 'Importantly, today's (Monday's) change will allow those on PREP to become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period,' he said. 'Over the next 12 months, we estimate an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma, but we know people have been eagerly awaiting these changes and hope to far exceed these numbers.' Professor Cornelissen also took time to acknowledge the stigma that has accompanied blood donor ineligibility. 'While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their lifesaving plasma,' he said. Throughout the '80s and '90s, AIDS became highly stigmatised, and high-profile media campaigns such as the infamous 'Grim Reaper' AIDS campaign had detrimental impacts on the already marginalised LGBTQIA+ community – a residual trauma that many still vividly recall. On Monday, several gay men donated their plasma at the Lifeblood clinic in Sydney – some for the first time and others for the first time since they became ineligible in their youth. For Kane Wheatley, 44, a schoolteacher from Sydney's inner west, donating plasma always seemed just out of reach. 'I spent my whole life thinking that I couldn't get married – and then I was able to get married … and so donating blood or plasma … I thought it was never going to be an option – we were just never going to get there,' Mr Wheatley said. 'Today it just feels really great to be able to get across the line. To be one of the first people to do this and help normalise it and show people that we can do this … it's really flattering. 'I feel really honoured and really special to be able to do it.' Matt Higgs, 31, said he was a regular donor in his youth, but his sexuality eventually rendered him 'ineligible' – an experience that he called 'pretty common'. 'My partner is the same, he has a scar on his arm because he used to donate so regularly,' Mr Higgs said. 'I was healthy, but because I was in a relationship with a man, I couldn't donate.' Mr Higgs acknowledged the history of his ineligibility but said change was well overdue. '(Preventing gay men from donating blood) was a response that was maybe warranted at the time, but we've moved so far beyond the time of where that decision was made and so it's huge (for destigmatisation) for sure,' he said. 'It's a great feeling to be able to come back and give back … I know plenty of people that have needed blood products in their life and to be able to contribute to that is really cool.' Plasma is an essential component of more than a dozen medical treatments for illnesses like chickenpox, brain disorders, tetanus, measles, liver disease and haemophilia.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Judiciary must perform role of catalyst for LGBTQIA+ rights: Former SC judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul
Former Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the judiciary must perform the role of a catalyst for the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons. He was speaking on Saturday (July 13, 2025) at the launch event of a policy document on recommendations for queer inclusion in India's legal and social landscape, organised by Keshav Suri Foundation and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. 'The judiciary must perform the role of a catalyst. India's legislative landscape for LGBTQIA+ recognition has evolved, but significant gaps persist. The term queer is not defined in Indian law, and asexual individuals are invisible in policy frameworks,' Justice (retd) Kaul said. During his keynote address, the former apex court judge also referred to the tennis player Radhika Yadav's murder case. 'The challenge that we face in our country, and actually across the world, I think, (about discrimination). See a thing as simple as a man-woman relationship, where a woman chooses on her own – forget the cities, look at how it dealt with at different levels, inter-caste marriages; people let loose the process which destroy the lives of their children – the recent episode two days ago where a father shoots her own daughter – when we talk of problems; please look at the society all around; this also has to change,' Justice (retd) Kaul said. He said that in February this year, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment introduced certain administrative measures for queer couples, including access to ration cards, joint bank accounts, and the right to claim a partner's body in case of death (if no next of kin existed). 'These measures, prompted by the Supreme Court's (earlier) judgment, are a step forward but remain limited, as they are not enshrined in statute and do not address comprehensive rights,' he said. Justice (retd) Kaul said that anti-discrimination law was more crucial in today's age, where access to capital was the requisite for access to capital. 'Starting a business, buying a house or even otherwise bridging personal needs is wholly dependent on factors such as ease of availing loans or finances, opening bank accounts. Undoubtedly, there are barriers to access for LGBTQIA+ persons to even something as routine as opening a bank account, which requires one to carry a document which conforms to gender identity,' he said. 'An almost existential difficulty faced by LGBTQIA persons is access to goods, financial services and access to public infrastructure,' the ex-top court judge added. He said the future of queer rights required action in the realm of the legislature and the executive, with a coordinated effort across various ministries and departments. 'There is also, a degree of legislative inertia on the rights and entitlements of queer persons, which risks prolonging the legal limbo for same-sex couples seeking marriage, adoption, or inheritance rights. A conservative attitude still persists across a large populace of the country, which hinders acceptance,' said Justice (retd) Kaul. He said that the country was on a path of progressive recognition of the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons and that urban areas and younger generations showed greater openness, even while the rural and conservative communities remained hostile. 'I truly believe that the future is more promising than what is behind us, and in the words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, 'Hope will never be silent,' said Justice (retd) Kaul.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Judiciary must perform role of catalyst for LGBTQIA rights: Former SC judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul
New Delhi, Former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the judiciary must perform the role of a catalyst for the rights of LGBTQIA persons. Judiciary must perform role of catalyst for LGBTQIA rights: Former SC judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul He was speaking on Saturday at the launch event of a policy document on recommendations for queer inclusion in India's legal and social landscape, organised by Keshav Suri Foundation and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. "The judiciary must perform the role of a catalyst. India's legislative landscape for LGBTQIA recognition has evolved, but significant gaps persist. The term queer is not defined in Indian law, and asexual individuals are invisible in policy frameworks," Justice Kaul said. During his keynote address, the former apex court judge also referred to the tennis player Radhika Yadav's murder case. "The challenge that we face in our country, and actually across the world, I think, . See a thing as simple as a man-woman relationship, where a woman chooses on her own forget the cities, look at how it dealt with at different levels, inter-caste marriages; people let loose the process which destroy the lives of their children the recent episode two days ago where a father shoots her own daughter when we talk of problems; please look at the society all around; this also has to change," Justice Kaul said. He said that in February this year, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment introduced certain administrative measures for queer couples, including access to ration cards, joint bank accounts, and the right to claim a partner's body in case of death . "These measures, prompted by the Supreme Court's judgment, are a step forward but remain limited, as they are not enshrined in statute and do not address comprehensive rights," he said. Justice Kaul said that anti-discrimination law was more crucial in today's age, where access to capital was the requisite for access to capital. "Starting a business, buying a house or even otherwise bridging personal needs is wholly dependent on factors such as ease of availing loans or finances, opening bank accounts. Undoubtedly, there are barriers to access for LGBTQIA persons to even something as routine as opening a bank account, which requires one to carry a document which conforms to gender identity," he said. "An almost existential difficulty faced by LGBTQIA persons is access to goods, financial services and access to public infrastructure," the ex-top court judge added. He said the future of queer rights required action in the realm of the legislature and the executive, with a coordinated effort across various ministries and departments. "There is also, a degree of legislative inertia on the rights and entitlements of queer persons, which risks prolonging the legal limbo for same-sex couples seeking marriage, adoption, or inheritance rights. A conservative attitude still persists across a large populace of the country, which hinders acceptance," said Justice Kaul. He said that the country was on a path of progressive recognition of the rights of LGBTQIA persons and that urban areas and younger generations showed greater openness, even while the rural and conservative communities remained hostile. "I truly believe that the future is more promising than what is behind us, and in the words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, 'Hope will never be silent," said Justice Kaul. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
