The Madras High Court has suggested that the media should follow a style sheet while reporting on the LGBTQIA+ community, to work towards a dignified identity for members of the community, Times of India reported.

According to the report, Justice N Anand Venkatesh requested Tamil media to consider the style sheet till the state government comes up with a standardised glossary. The court said the state government must issue a glossary to address the community and that such a move will have more force. “This court wants to make an earnest request to the media to take into consideration the words and expressions mentioned in the glossary, to be used while addressing persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community…This court reposes confidence in the media that they will seriously consider the request made by this court and start implementing the same henceforth,” he said.

The issue came up on December 23 during the hearing of a plea by a same-sex couple who were facing harassment from the police and their families. Advocate S Manuraj, who was representing the petitioners, reportedly circulated a note which had prescribed the appropriate words and expressions to be used by the press while addressing persons from the LGBTQIA+ community. The court passed the order after taking the note on record.

Justice Venkatesh felt a lack of understanding of the issues faced by the community, the report stated. The judge passed a series of orders pertaining to the need to sensitise medical practitioners, the police and the judiciary on the issue.