India swears in first openly queer MP

Senior Supreme Court advocate Menaka Guruswamy officially became India’s first openly queer Member of Parliament on Monday, April 6, taking the oath for the Rajya Sabha. Nominated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the 51-year-old’s election represents a historic advancement for LGBTQ+ representation in national politics.

Born in Hyderabad in 1974, Guruswamy has built a formidable reputation in the legal field. She proudly identifies as queer, and her nomination by the TMC also increases the party's female representation, joining four other women among the party's 13 Rajya Sabha MPs. Upon her election, Guruswamy affirmed her commitment to advocating for equality, fraternity, and non-discrimination, as reported by Firstpost.

LGBTQ+ rights advocates view her election as a transformative step for personal liberty and systemic inclusion. Activist Vishwa Schoolwallah described the development as highly symbolic, stating that while LGBTQ+ individuals in India are frequently discussed in rights debates, they rarely hold seats where policy decisions are finalized. Schoolwallah expects this representation could drive stronger anti-discrimination protections and elevate the dignity of LGBTQ+ families.

Similarly, activist Preeti Sharma observed that having an openly queer parliamentarian will help normalize conversations regarding LGBTQ+ rights and shift political attitudes. Gay rights activist Sharif Rangnekar welcomed the increased visibility but advised against expecting one individual to represent the entirety of a highly diverse community. Rangnekar noted that activists will closely monitor her legislative tenure to see if her presence yields substantive policy advocacy alongside her party responsibilities.

While India has seen openly queer politicians at regional levels—such as Shabnam Mausi, who was elected to the Madhya Pradesh State Legislative Assembly as the country's first transgender public official in 1998—Guruswamy is the first to serve in the national parliament.

Long before entering politics, Guruswamy was a prominent figure in the fight for civil liberties. She played a critical role in the 2018 Supreme Court case that successfully overturned Section 377, the colonial-era law that criminalized homosexuality. During those hearings, her compelling arguments regarding the fundamental rights of citizens to love freely left a profound impact on the courtroom.

Her legal advocacy extends to other significant constitutional matters. She successfully defended the Right to Education Act, ensuring private schools reserve 25 percent of their seats for disadvantaged children to receive free education. Furthermore, Guruswamy argued against the state-sponsored Salwa Judum militia in Chhattisgarh and served as amicus curiae in a Supreme Court investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings by armed forces in Manipur.