In 2023, a deeply personal experience changed everything for me. A close friend, only 15 years old, bravely came out as bisexual at her school. Instead of receiving support or empathy, she was met with ridicule, bullying, and silence. Her courage was answered with cruelty.

She is not alone.

Across India, LGBTQIA+ students face a system that ignores their very existence. Schools that are ideally meant to be safe havens, often become places of shame, isolation, and trauma. According to a UNESCO report, 85% of LGBTQIA+ students globally experience bullying, and 45% report suicidal thoughts due to persistent discrimination and invisibility in education.

Our own Indian Constitution promises equality (Article 14), protection from discrimination (Article 15), and dignity under the Right to Life (Article 21). Yet the CBSE and NCERT curricula remain silent on LGBTQIA+ identities. This silence is not neutral; it is harmful. It perpetuates ignorance, fuels stigma, and endangers lives.

We believe this must change.

Therefore, we founded Astitva Teens, a youth-led movement dedicated to educating teenagers about their identities, fostering understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community, and creating safe, inclusive spaces within schools.

This petition isn’t just a document — it’s a declaration of courage, a milestone in our journey, and a blueprint for change.

What We’re Demanding:

• The inclusion of age-appropriate LGBTQIA+ content in subjects like Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Biology, and Literature.
  Teacher training on gender and sexuality sensitivity.
• Value education modules that promote respect, inclusion, and anti-bullying for all identities.

How Signing This Petition Will Create Real Change:
Astitva Teens will:

• Submit this petition to the Ministry of Education, NCERT, and CBSE with legal backing.
• File a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court to compel curricular reform under Articles 14, 15, and 21.
• Mobilize youth, educators, and civil society for nationwide awareness campaigns on inclusive education.
• Push for policy updates in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes equity and inclusion.

No child should feel invisible in their own classroom. No student should fear being who they are. By signing this petition, you’re standing up for the dignity, mental health, and rights of millions of LGBTQIA+ students across India.

Knowledge creates empathy. Empathy creates safety. Safety creates futures.

🖊️ Please sign, share, and speak up.

Let’s build schools where everyone belongs.
Let’s rewrite the curriculum and the future together.