School kids take a stand
Sex education in schools is a controversial subject in India and talking about sexual orientation even more so, which makes the approach of the Tagore International School in Delhi path-breaking.
It is in school that people from the LGBT community experience prejudice early on, either through taunts, and sometimes even sexual abuse. Hence sensitization needs to start early. It is with this intention that Tagore International School introduced workshops on LGBT issues last year, says school principal Madhulika Sen. Shivanee Sen, who was the programme coordinator, says the workshops were held in an open atmosphere so students were free to speak up.
Moved by what they have learned, the students have become active voices in the campaign against Section 377. In December last year, they participated in the protests at Jantar Mantar against the Supreme Court order that re-criminalized homosexuality.