June is celebrated as International Pride Month — a time meant to honour the rights of LGBTQI+ communities and chip away at the stigma that surrounds them. But between the parades, several heavy questions and persistent myths keep showing up, year after year.
So let's unpack some of them — with facts and compassion.
Myth 1: "LGBTQ+ hona ek bimari hai"
Sexual orientation and gender identity exist on a spectrum. The fact that an identity doesn't fit age-old definitions of gender or sexuality does not make it an illness. The Indian Psychiatric Society stated in 2014 that homosexuality is not a mental illness and does not need "treatment".
The identity isn't the problem — the fear and stigma surrounding it is.
What does affect mental health is stigma, family rejection, and discrimination. The chronic stress that comes from navigating these pressures is called minority stress — and that is what needs attention, not the identity itself.
Myth 2: "Counselling se ya dawa se ye theek kiya ja sakta hai"
Since a different sexual or gender orientation is not an illness, ethical therapy does not try to change it. The concept of "conversion therapy" is outdated, harmful, and has been widely condemned by psychiatric bodies worldwide.
Therapy and medications are offered to LGBTQI+ individuals to help them cope with family pressure, workplace bias, and any co-existing mental health conditions — not to alter who they are.
Myth 3: "Ye bas ek phase hai, shaadi ke baad theek ho jayega"
For some people, self-understanding does evolve over time — that's deeply human. But dismissing someone's identity as a "phase" denies them the acceptance they need for their mental wellbeing. And marriage is not a solution. It often creates harm — for the individual, and for the person they marry.
Myth 4: "Bacche ko accept karunga toh family izzat chali jayegi"
Many parents struggle to accept children who don't fit societal norms of gender or sexuality. This often comes from genuine worry about their child's future — but sometimes from the belief that it brings dishonour to the family.
What research across Indian families consistently shows is striking: having even one accepting parent or relative cuts the suicide risk for queer youth by almost half. You can hold your own values and choose not to let your child face this alone. Those two things are not in conflict.
One accepting adult in a queer young person's life can be the difference between despair and survival.
This Pride Month — June 2026 — Section 377 is gone, but social stigma is still struggling to catch up. Let us remind ourselves to talk openly, accept freely, and remember that good mental health means keeping this conversation going all 12 months of the year.
If you or someone you know is navigating questions of identity alongside mental health challenges, you don't have to do it alone. Reach out to a psychiatrist or a trusted healthcare professional. A safe, non-judgmental space to talk can make all the difference.
- Dr Kinjal Andrade Patil