When 16-year-old Dev told his classmates he liked boys, the teasing started with jokes and ended with him skipping school for weeks. In the school’s eyes, he was “overreacting.” In his classmates’ eyes, he was “different.”

In Dev’s eyes, he was just alone.

In India, where Section 377 may have been repealed, the classroom remains one of the most unsafe places for LGBTQ+ youth.

🏳️‍🌈 The Reality Behind the Uniform

While schools preach equality in assemblies and decorate bulletin boards with slogans, the reality is far harsher for queer students:

• Bullying and name-calling
  
• Exclusion from peer groups
  
• Lack of inclusive sex education
  
• Teachers ignoring or participating in discrimination
  
• No counselling support tailored to LGBTQ+ needs
  

For many students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or non-binary, school becomes a place to hide who they are, not express it.

The Emotional Cost of Silence

• LGBTQ+ teens are 5 times more likely to experience depression and suicidal ideation.
  
• Many drop out due to mental health concerns or fear of exposure.
  
• Trans students often face misgendering, uniform-based discrimination, and lack of gender-neutral bathrooms.
  

Education is supposed to empower. But for queer students, it often becomes a battle just to exist.

Why Inclusive Education Matters

Peer sensitization workshops can build empathy and reduce stigma.

Representation saves lives. Seeing themselves in curriculum and leadership tells queer youth: You belong here.

Anti-bullying policies must include gender identity and sexual orientation.

Teachers need sensitivity training to respond with empathy, not ignorance.

Counselling must be non-judgmental and affirming of LGBTQ+ identities.

Change Is Already Growing

Some progressive schools have started LGBTQ+ clubs, introduced gender-neutral pronouns in forms, and brought in queer educators for workshops.

In Chennai, a school recently welcomed a trans woman as a guest speaker on career day. In Mumbai, a student-led petition got gender-neutral toilets installed.

These are small wins — but they’re planting seeds for a more inclusive, compassionate educational culture.

Dev’s Voice, Finally Heard

Dev didn’t drop out. He found an ally — an English teacher who used his preferred pronouns and gave him space to talk. That validation helped him stay. Today, Dev runs a YouTube channel advocating for LGBTQ+ youth in India.

Because every child — regardless of who they love or how they identify — deserves to feel safe in school.