1st Time In History: Meet India’s Queer MP!

For the first time in India’s political history, something pretty significant has happened with regard to the gender equation. The Rajya Sabha welcomed a queer MP today and this is an unprecedented development. 

Incidentally, senior advocate Renuka Guruswamy created history by becoming the first openly queer person to take oath in the Rajya Sabha. She is one of the many members of the Rajya Sabha to take the oath today but is the first homosexual member of the house. 

Till now, the sexuality and related discussions have been external affairs in the Rajya Sabha. And for the first time, this will be a matter of internal scrutiny and conscience as Renuka is the first queer MP in the house. 

For those wondering about the definition of the term Queer, this is a definitive term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or not cisgender. It covers a broad spectrum of identities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and asexual, often used by people who feel that traditional, rigid labels do not accurately represent their birth gender. 

It must be noted that Renuka had earlier argued in favor of homosexuality in a court of law, and she has now become the first official lawmaker to enter the Rajya Sabha.