Decriminalizing Identity: Navigating the Legal Milestones in India's Journey for LGBT Rights

Abstract

This research paper scrutinizes the transformative socio-legal journey of LGBT rights in India, cantering around the pivotal Supreme Court of India's landmark judgment in Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India. It explores the historical, cultural, and legal underpinnings that led to the decriminalization of Section 377of Indian Penal Code 1860,a law left over from colonial times. The paper examines the key moments and how activists, the courts, and the government have worked together to change laws and attitudes. It takes a close look at what the Navtej Singh Johar case means, not just as a victory over an old law but as a hopeful sign for the future. The goal is to clearly explain how the fight for respect, equal rights, and recognition of LGBT rights in India has changed, showing a big move from being ignored to slowly being accepted in legal and social settings.The author aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the ongoing struggle for dignity, equality, and the recognition of LGBT rights in India, reflecting a significant shift from marginalization to a gradual embrace of inclusivity in the legal and social spheres.