THE INTERSECTION OF CASTE, CLASS, AND LGBTQ SUICIDES IN INDIA

Author Name: 1. Dr. Parul Pareek

Volume/Issue: 05/10

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2025-88185241/UIJIR

Affiliation: 

1. Associate Advocate; Independent Researcher; Former Assistant Professor, School of Law, Mody University of Science &Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan, India.

ABSTRACT

The phenomenon of suicides among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in India constitutes an under-documented public health crisis, intensified by intersecting socio-economic disparities and caste-based exclusion. Although the decriminalization of homosexuality in 2018 via Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India marked a significant legal advancement, entrenched structural inequalities continue to disproportionately burden LGBTQ individuals from marginalized caste and class backgrounds. This paper investigates the confluence of caste and class as determinants of heightened vulnerability to mental health crises and suicide among these populations. Drawing on data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), case studies, and intersectional sociological frameworks, it critiques the inadequacies of current suicide reporting mechanisms, examines the role of economic precarity, and elucidates how social stigma exacerbates psychological distress. The analysis advocates for inclusive policy reforms, enhanced mental health infrastructure, and an intersectional paradigm in suicide prevention strategies tailored to India’s socio-cultural context.

Key words: LGBTQ suicides, caste, class, India, NCRB data, social stigma, mental health, intersectionality.