By Glenn C. Kharkongor
In 2019, I attended a conference on Gender, Religion, and Human Sexuality, conducted by the National Council of Churches in India (NCC). A woman colleague, from the Centre for Gender at MLCU attended the conference along with me. We both learned much, especially from the sessions on multiple genders. Each of these sessions was conducted by representatives from diverse gender communities.
Also in attendance were a few LGBTQIA+ individuals from the Northeast. They told us that they were not supported by tribal society, and could not express their chosen lifestyles. Their experiences were in sharp contrast to LGBTQIA+ persons in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, who had social support systems and enlightened government schemes.
In Karnataka, transgenders can avail government financial assistance for sex reassignment surgery. In 2021, Karnataka became the first state in India to reserve jobs in public employment for transgender persons, and provides them with free counselling and legal aid. In Tamil Nadu, transgender people can access free housing, various citizenship documents, admission in government colleges with a full scholarship for higher studies, and to income-generation programs.
Prejudice and apathy in Meghalaya
In our state, LGBTQIA+ persons live under the radar, afraid of societal condemnation. Every now and then, social media is abuzz with vilification of some apparent wrongdoing by a gay or lesbian person. Some of the gifted gay and lesbian musicians in the Khasi community express themselves through their music. They have small informal groups of like-lifestyle persons, all the while taking care not to be visible.
There are signs that government neglect of this community may change. In late 2024, a protection cell for transgender individuals was set up in West Khasi Hills. The Youth Policy, 2021, has a mere mention of transgenders in the section on inclusion. Clearly much more needs to be done in our state.
Homosexuality and the church
Much of the prejudice against the LGBTQIA+ comes from some conservative churches, who at best may preach about loving the sinner but hating the sin. In an article titled, Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin, Caravan magazine reported the response of a mainline church in the Northeast to the striking down of Article 377 by the Delhi High Court, thus affirming LGBT rights.
While there was considerable celebration among human-rights activists and the gender minorities, the church wrote to the Central Government saying, “Homosexuality is against all religious ethics and the culture of Indian society. We feel that the Indian society is safeguarded by the IPC section 377 from unnatural and anti-social behaviour.” The synod argued that homosexuality threatened the very basis of the family structure and that it is “against the natural order”. The same church broke up with its counterpart church in the USA, over the ordination of gay ministers.
There are many churches that support the LGBT community. The Church of South India (CSI), United Methodist Church, USA, Church of England, and the Church of Scotland, are among those that ordain LGBT persons. Many churches support civil marriages among their members. In 2023, the Vatican approved a landmark ruling to allow Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples.
National Council of Churches in India (NCCI)
From time to time the NCCI has conducted conclaves and workshops on the issue of LGBTs, and has periodically issued statements. The NCCI has taken the view that homosexuality is “a natural or genetical reality”, and has stated that the rest of the Christian world needed to “rethink” the stated position that homosexuality is a sin against God.
According to Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, the secretary of the Justice, Peace and Creation Commission of the NCCI, it is the duty of the church to inform the common people that homosexuality is a natural process. “Blind opposition to homosexuality amounts to human rights violation,” he said, adding that a rethink is needed in Christian theology to embrace homosexuals into its fold.
In 2010, after a two-year study project, engaging with churches and friends from the LGBT community, the NCCI issued “An Ecumenical Document of Human Sexuality”. The preamble says, “Churches in general have not addresses the issue of sexuality. We need to teach the subject of sexuality with more positive and affirming messages. Since all human beings are created in the image of God, we need to discern this image in all…go beyond our traditional faith perspective to evolve a mature understanding of the issues related to sex, and to help us embrace neglected and discriminated persons.”
Clause 3 of the document avers that “Sexuality is essentially relational and has pluriform expressions”, and that “sexuality is an indispensable dimension of all human development and life and is as complex and diverse as the human population. Sexuality is pluriform, ambiguous, and fluid.” Clause 4 states that “Sexuality can be distorted. This distorted concept of sexuality is underpinned by culture, theology, and the judgemental moralizing of the church.” The NCCI has also issued a document urging its member churches to “accompany the People with Different Sexual Orientation (PDSO) in their journey” and to protect the human rights and dignity of such people. The forum proposed “re-reading and re-interpreting scriptures from the PDSO perspective”.
Multiple genders are natural
Of the global population, 10-11% identify themselves under LGBTQIA+ categories. This would mean that they would be more than 3-4 lakh such persons in our society. Among Generation Z, 19.7% say they are LGBT. Among the Native Americans, many tribes regard LGBT persons as having “two spirits”, and at least 40 tribes accept same-sex marriages. They are granted special status in the community as ceremonial leaders and healers.
Multiple genders are the norm in plants. The avocado tree flowers twice in a season, firstly female, and secondly male. The Khasi pine tree has both male and female cones. The male cones are on the lower and female cones are on the upper branches. This is to prevent the pollen from falling on the female cones of the same tree. This promotes fertilisation with other pine trees, which enhances genetic variation. LGBTQIA+ is normal in animals. According to World Wildlife, over 1,500 animal species engage in same-sex sexual behaviour, which can help maintain the health of a species population. In fact, same-sex behaviours are more common than heterosexual practices. Some animals can change sexes or be a combination of various sexes.
Compassion
Psalms 139:13 says, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Matt 19: 12 explains some of the forms of gender, “For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” More than science, and apart from theology, all individuals, irrespective of their sexuality, deserve tolerance, respect and compassion. LGBT individuals invariably experience stigma, abandonment by families, bullying, rape and often murder. They have high rates of mental illness and suicide. Within our own community, they live in secrecy and fear. Somehow, many of us are not able to embrace them with love. A few years ago, the principal of a theological seminary spoke at MLCU on World Peace Day. He spoke inclusively and compassionately about the multiple genders in our community. We need more such voices.