DSNLU: Queer Alliance Gains Official Recognition Amidst Controversy

• The DSNLU Queer Alliance (DSQA) at Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University received official recognition.
• This recognition followed derogatory remarks made by Assistant Professor Dr A Nageshwara Rao about queer relationships on September 29.
• The remarks were made while discussing the Supreme Court's *Supriyo Chakraborty v. Union of India* judgment.
• Vice-Chancellor Prof D Surya Prakasa Rao accepted DSQA's demands, including mandatory staff sensitisation workshops, on October 8.
• A committee has been formed to investigate the incident, which included the VC initially defending the professor's comments.

The DSNLU Queer Alliance's successful push for official recognition and mandatory sensitisation workshops sets a precedent for other universities to proactively address discrimination and promote India university LGBTQIA sensitisation, moving beyond mere tolerance to active inclusion.

The Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) in Visakhapatnam has formally recognized its student body, the DSNLU Queer Alliance (DSQA). This significant development for LGBTQIA+ students at the institution occurred just days after a faculty member from the Constitutional Law department made offensive remarks regarding queer relationships. The DSQA announced this recognition via an Instagram statement, confirming that Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof D Surya Prakasa Rao agreed to all their demands during a meeting held on October 8.

The controversy began on September 29 when Assistant Professor Dr A Nageshwara Rao allegedly made dehumanizing and derogatory comments in two separate classes. These remarks were reportedly made during discussions surrounding the Supreme Court's judgment in *Supriyo Chakraborty v. Union of India*, a case where the court declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage. In one instance, Dr. Rao is said to have commented, "After 20 years man will ask for marriage with dogs, elephants and horses too.”

Students in another class reported that the professor stated, "The next thing they will ask for is people want to marry their pet dogs and pet cats." The DSNLU Queer Alliance characterized these statements as "an incredibly distasteful kick at same-sex relationships." Further exacerbating the situation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof D Surya Prakasa Rao, visited a classroom on October 1 and appeared to defend the professor's comments, asserting that educators have a right to express diverse opinions.

The incident at Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ communities within Indian educational institutions, particularly in the wake of the *Supriyo Chakraborty v. Union of India* ruling. While the Supreme Court did not legalize same-sex marriage, its observations underscored the need for greater protection and recognition of queer relationships, placing an onus on institutions to foster inclusive environments. The DSNLU faculty anti-LGBTQIA remarks, and the subsequent student activism, underscore a growing demand for accountability and sensitisation within academic settings.

This episode serves as a critical reminder for educational institutions across India regarding their responsibility to ensure safe spaces for all students, including those from the LGBTQIA+ community. The DSNLU Queer Alliance's successful push for official recognition and mandatory sensitisation workshops sets a precedent for other universities to proactively address discrimination and promote India university LGBTQIA sensitisation, moving beyond mere tolerance to active inclusion.

Lawyers advising educational institutions or corporate entities in India should note the increasing pressure for formal recognition and support of LGBTQIA+ communities, and the need for robust internal policies and sensitisation training to address discriminatory remarks, even those framed as 'different opinions,' especially in the wake of the Supreme Court's stance on same-sex marriage.

Source: Original reporting via Bar and Bench