LGBTQ

India’s first openly LGBTQ-themed film, Badnaam Basti (1971), is set to receive long-overdue recognition as it returns to the global spotlight at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). The rare and historically significant Hindi film, which boldly addressed same-sex relationships decades before it became part of public discourse, will be showcased as part of the festival’s tribute to cinematic milestones.

In a landmark ruling, the Madras High Court recognized the legitimacy of family formation by same-sex couples, despite the absence of legal recognition for same-sex marriages in India. The court granted relief to a woman seeking the release of her 25-year-old partner, who had been forcibly detained by her birth family due to their relationship. Emphasizing that marriage is not the exclusive foundation of family, the bench cited constitutional protections of personal autonomy and dignity.