RSS Chief Says LGBTQ+ Community Deserves Respect, Not Scorn

In a surprising departure from hardline rhetoric, Mohan Bhagwat, head of India's powerful RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), publicly stated that LGBTQ+ individuals should not be viewed with contempt and are part of society. Speaking in Hyderabad on Sunday, he acknowledged some orientations are biological and irreversible, urging social inclusion instead of ostracism. Coming from the ideological parent of India's ruling BJP, the remarks have sparked both praise and skepticism about the Sangh's evolving stance on queer rights.

Mohan Bhagwat, the Sarsanghchalak (supreme leader) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, delivered a measured yet notable statement on LGBTQ+ rights during a Sunday event in Hyderabad. Speaking from the stage, Bhagwat said the community should not be viewed with a 'sense of inferiority' and emphasized that LGBTQ+ individuals are an integral part of society. He distinguished between conditions that can be 'treated' and those that are inherent, stating, 'Some are born that way by nature. We cannot do anything about it, they cannot do anything about it. They are also human beings. They have the right to live.' The RSS, a Hindu nationalist organization founded in 1925, has historically aligned with conservative social positions and serves as the ideological backbone of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has governed India since 2014. Bhagwat's comments represent a nuanced shift from typical Sangh discourse, which has often been silent or hostile on LGBTQ+ issues. He referenced Hindu tradition, claiming, 'In our society, there is a system for them. They have their deities, temples, even Mahamandaleswar [religious leaders].' This invocation of cultural precedent is a classic RSS tactic, framing progressive positions as rooted in ancient Hindu practice rather than Western liberalism. Yet Bhagwat stopped short of endorsing same-sex marriage or full legal equality. His language was careful, avoiding explicit support for decriminalization efforts or the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which had criminalized homosexual acts. Instead, he argued for a 'holistic, integrated perspective' that quietly accommodates LGBTQ+ individuals without 'hue and cry' or public spectacle. This reveals the RSS playbook: social acceptance without political agitation. The timing matters. India's LGBTQ+ community has been in the spotlight since the Supreme Court in 2023 refused to legalize same-sex marriage, deferring to Parliament. The Modi government, backed by the RSS, has remained non-committal, neither championing queer rights nor actively rolling them back. Bhagwat's remarks may signal the Sangh testing public sentiment ahead of future legislative battles, or they may simply be rhetorical window-dressing designed to soften the RSS's image amid global scrutiny. Activists remain divided. Some see Bhagwat's words as progress, a rare acknowledgment from a conservative powerhouse. Others dismiss them as hollow tokenism, pointing out that the RSS has never lobbied for anti-discrimination laws or publicly opposed violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. The statement also comes amid broader political maneuvering, as the BJP faces criticism over educational reforms, unemployment, and ethnic violence. A softer line on social issues could be a calculated bid to broaden the Sangh's appeal beyond its hardcore base. Bhagwat's invocation of 'nature' and biology is also fraught. By framing queerness as something innate and 'incurable,' he may inadvertently reinforce the notion that heterosexuality is the default and LGBTQ+ identity is an aberration to be tolerated rather than celebrated. Still, in a country where Pride parades have been attacked and queer individuals face daily discrimination, even conditional acceptance from the RSS carries weight. Whether this translates into policy change, or remains confined to Sunday speeches, will define its real impact.

My Take

Bhagwat's statement is classic RSS: progressive enough to make headlines, vague enough to avoid commitment. The Sangh loves to position itself as the keeper of 'true' Hindu values, reinterpreting scripture to fit modern politics. By claiming that ancient India already had space for LGBTQ+ people, Bhagwat sidesteps the inconvenient fact that the RSS has never fought for their rights in the present. This is tactical repositioning, not moral evolution. The RSS knows it cannot afford to be seen as regressive on the global stage, especially as India courts Western investment and diplomatic clout. But words are cheap. Until the Sangh actively supports anti-discrimination legislation, opposes hate crimes, and lobbies the BJP to grant full marriage equality, this is just performative tolerance. The LGBTQ+ community deserves more than platitudes from a man who heads an organization that has historically championed rigid gender roles and heteronormativity. What's telling is what Bhagwat didn't say. He didn't condemn the violence at Berlin's Pride parade, where 29 were injured in an apparent hate attack. He didn't call for hate crime laws in India, where queer individuals are routinely harassed. He didn't endorse marriage equality or adoption rights. He simply said, 'Let them live quietly.' That's not progress. That's invisibility dressed up as inclusion.

What Happens Next

The real test is whether the BJP, which draws its ideological marching orders from the RSS, translates Bhagwat's words into legislative action. The next Parliament session could see renewed debate over anti-discrimination protections, especially if opposition parties seize on this statement to demand concrete bills. Activists will watch closely to see if Sangh affiliates echo Bhagwat's rhetoric or quietly ignore it. Internationally, the remarks may provide diplomatic cover for the Modi government, which has faced Western criticism over human rights. Expect Indian diplomats to cite Bhagwat's statement at UN forums and bilateral talks as proof of the country's 'inclusive' ethos. But domestically, the real battleground is state-level legislation. Will BJP-ruled states introduce anti-discrimination ordinances? Will Sangh-affiliated schools update curricula to teach LGBTQ+ acceptance? Don't hold your breath. The LGBTQ+ community, meanwhile, is in a holding pattern. Bhagwat's words may embolden some queer individuals in conservative households to come out, but they won't stop discrimination at workplaces, hospitals, or housing markets. Until the RSS backs legal reform with the same zeal it brings to cow protection or temple construction, this is just noise. The next six months will reveal whether Bhagwat's statement was a genuine pivot or a one-off sound bite designed to defuse criticism.

What History Tells Us

India's relationship with LGBTQ+ rights has been a rollercoaster. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a colonial-era law criminalizing 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature,' was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018 after decades of activism. Yet the same court, in 2023, refused to legalize same-sex marriage, calling it a matter for Parliament. The RSS, despite its claims of ancient Hindu tolerance, remained largely silent during the decriminalization fight and has never publicly supported marriage equality. Historically, Hindu texts and temple carvings do depict same-sex intimacy and gender fluidity. The Kamasutra acknowledges queer desire, and hijra communities have existed for centuries. But the RSS's version of Hinduism is a sanitized, Victorian-era construct that borrows more from British prudishness than Vedic openness. Bhagwat's invocation of tradition is selective at best, weaponized at worst. The Sangh has no problem citing ancient texts when it suits them, but conveniently ignores those same texts when they contradict contemporary political goals.