Press Council of India Issues Guidelines for LGBTIQ Reporting in the Media
In September 2023, the Press Council of India issued media guidelines for covering news on the LGBTIQ community. With the express intention of enhancing understanding of, and raising awareness around the LGBTIQ issues, the guidelines include a detailed glossary of SOGIESC-related terms, indicating that the correct use of terms is the first step towards the sensitive portrayal of the LGBTIQ community in the media.
Activists have often pointed out that media reporting around LGBTIQ issues in India can be irresponsible, ignorant or lacking in perspective in its representation of people of diverse SOGIESC. News outlets often misgender trans persons in their reportage and display a lack of understanding of LGBTIQ issues. Some news outlets have been known to portray same-sex attraction or activity as socially undesirable and some have even revealed sensitive personal information about them. This has a profound impact on the way the LGBTIQ community is perceived in society, encourages discrimination and impedes the advocacy efforts of LGBTIQ rights organizations.
The guidelines, therefore, are a welcome step towards fostering awareness and inclusion in society. The guidelines urge journalists to address trans persons with their correct pronouns, avoid deadnaming, and avoid referring to gender-affirming care/surgery as ‘sex-change surgery’. They also instruct journalists to refrain from the use of pejorative terms such as “gay lifestyles’’ or portray them as victims. Overall, the guidelines make a number of progressive recommendations on reporting on the LGBTIQ community. Notably, they call for the exercise of caution when disclosing the names, details, identities or photographs of LGBTIQ persons for the safety and privacy of the individuals involved.
These guidelines join the Glossary of LGBTQIA+ Terms issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu, India, in 2022. The glossary is a comprehensive and accurate explanation of terms that were issued at the direction of the Madras High Court to ensure that members of the LGBTIQ community are treated with dignity and respect. The order requires all government forums and press media to adhere to the definitions provided in the glossary when addressing members of the LGBTIQ community.
“The landmark judgment in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India 2018, that struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, had also noted that the media must play an important role in raising awareness about LGBTIQ issues in a sensitive and respectful manner,” said Ajita Banerjie, Senior Research and Policy Officer, ILGA Asia. “Appropriate language and accurate understanding of terms associated with sexuality, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics are foundational to promoting awareness and fostering inclusion. Misinformation and prejudiced depictions of LGBTIQ identities in the media can create harmful perceptions of the community in the public eye and foster hostility towards LGBTIQ individuals. It is imperative for the media to be aware of how stereotypical portrayals of LGBTIQ persons could impact the LGBTIQ community and shape public narratives on these issues.”
ILGA Asia welcomes the guidelines issued by the Indian Press Council and urges media coverage to respect the lived experiences of LGBTIQ folks when telling their stories. ILGA Asia emphasizes the importance of dignified and diverse representation for LGBTIQ individuals in the media and welcomes progressive policies that champion equality and inclusion.
For further queries, please contact
Nadine Hassan, Senior Communications Officer (nadine@ilgaasia.org)
Ajita Banerjie, Senior Research and Policy Officer (ajita@ilgaasia.org)
