Bhim Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament, filed a complaint that sparked controversy after he called the three-letter code for Gaya International Airport, 'GAY,' 'socially and culturally offensive.' LGBTQ+ activists have harshly criticised BJP MP Bhim Singh's comments, which he made in a written question to Parliament, claiming that they reinforce discrimination against the community.
Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Bihar, questioned why the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for the airport remains in use, claiming that people find it 'uncomfortable.' He asked whether the government would consider changing the code to one that is 'more respectful and culturally appropriate' and sought a timeline for the process.
In a response, the Ministry of Civil Aviation acknowledged that it has received similar requests in the past. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, explained that three-letter codes are assigned by the IATA to uniquely identify airports. He added that the codes, which typically use the first three letters of a location's name, are considered 'permanent' under IATA Resolution 763 and are only changed in 'exceptional circumstances, usually involving air safety concerns.' Mohol also revealed that Air India had previously approached IATA for a change, but the request was denied. The response did not specify when this request was made or who the other entities were.
LGBTQ+ activists have widely condemned Singh's characterisation of the code. Arvind Narrain, an LGBTQ+ activist, pointed to the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that decriminalised same-sex relationships and recognised the right to dignity for LGBTQ+ individuals. "The member's description of us as immoral strips the community of dignity," Narrain stated. "They need to educate themselves that as per the Supreme Court, what governs is not personal morality but constitutional morality. He should apologise to the community."
Rajesh Srinivas, another LGBTQ+ activist, dismissed the need for any change, asserting that "the airport code does not require a change as there is nothing culturally inappropriate about it." He concluded that "the discomfort with the term stems from deeply ingrained prejudice."
Shanmathi Senthil Kumar, a counselling psychologist and diversity advocate, expressed deep concern over the MP's framing of the issue. She argued that labeling the term 'GAY' as offensive or inappropriate 'reflects how deeply rooted the stigma against LGBTQIA+ people still is.'
Such discourse, Kumar cautioned, 'reinforces harmful stereotypes and makes society even more difficult and exclusionary for queer individuals.' In order to stop prejudice-based narratives from becoming the norm, she advocated for giving LGBTQIA+ voices more prominence in public discourse.
While there is a lack of knowledge about the queer community in India, psychotherapist Vidya Dinakaran pointed out that merely avoiding the term is not the answer. The better course of action, she said, is to face and deal with the problem. Dinakaran went on to say that it would be 'all the more meaningful' if a public figure, such as an MP, could support inclusion rather than avoidance.
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