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September 06, 2018, will mark an important day for the LGBT community in India. The Supreme Court of India abolished Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).  This law came into effect in the year 1982. It stated that the carnal intercourse against the order of nature with man, woman or animal was punishable with imprisonment of a lifetime or at least 10 years of jail, with or without fine.

Today’s judgment symbolizes the beginning of unbiased treatment for the LGBTQ community in our country. For a very long time, the community has been harassed and struggled. They had been treated as the discarded sections, always. But the decision of abolishing Section 377 is a huge initiation in terms of equality.

Chief justice Dipak Misra and Justices DY Chandrachud, AM Khanwilkar, Indu Malhotra, and Rohinton Fali Nariman decreed that LGBTQ community will now have the same sexual rights just like everyone else.

The Journey

In 2009, Delhi High court had declared that any consensual sexual act between homosexuals in private is not illegal. But later, Justice G S Singhvi did not validate the decision and said that it is on the members of Parliament to make any decision on the topic.

However, in April 2014, the Supreme Court suggested the government to declare transgender as the third sex and should be able to practice all the rights under the law and also asked the community in the OBC category. Naz Foundation in April 2016 filed a petition and the Chief Justice, TS Thakur decided to review the same along with a constitutional bench of 5 other members.

The Verdict

Finally, following the small steps over the time, here is the decision, taken for the welfare of the LGBTQ community. From the common man to the United Nations, everyone is praising the decision. There is a wave of happiness all over the country.

The Psychological Benefits of the verdict

The verdict is the right step in the direction of equality as there will be no victimization or labelling of any alternate sexuality. This might not end discrimination totally, but this will open the doors of acceptance for people of the LGBT community. The harassment and blackmailing of the gay people will stop, which had actually been one of the major reasons in the past for them to remain in the closet. The homosexuals who married the opposite sex due to the stigma can come out now, ending their unhappy marriages.

Accepting others for who they are is the biggest support one can give each other. Sexuality is not an acquired trait, its very much natural.

All the protests and demonstrations finally end in a fruitful result. From here on, there will be hearts full of love and heads held up high with pride.

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We can’t always send out positive e-mails. Sometimes, we send negative e-mails also it is necessary to be harsh, to send out feedbacks. It may be an email to an employee or an investor. Where you want to lay off someone or disagree with someone. Hence, it becomes a necessity.

We all know that even simple words over a phone conversation can be misinterpreted. Thus, sending out a negative email can cause immense anxiety to the person who is receiving the mail. A person who is already suffering from a mental health issue might lose days of sleep.

Hence below is the “how to” guide on sending a negative e-mail:

Something Friendly:

Once you are done with the salutation, it’s always good to start with something friendly. It will create a conservative tone and intrigue a conversation. It can be; “How are you?”, “How was your weekend?” etc.

Thanking:

Even if you are laying off someone, you should thank them for their work. A simple “Thank You” can ease up the mind make the person feel appreciated for the work they have done. Directly dwelling on what is wrong in their work can make any person feel anxious.

Something Positive:

It might feel like going around in circles, but it is important. The person must have done something positive throughout their tenure. Hence, it is important that you point out their strengths and boost up their positive sentiment. It then eases up the conversation and keeps them calm while reading the rest of the e-mail.

The Body:

In the body of the e-mail, you can present your criticism, or feedback, or laying off. But, along with it, you should mention the reason, and how the person can correct these for future purposes. Simply writing that you are “fired” or “I disagree”, will make the person feel unappreciated. Thus, it is important that along with the feedback, you should present your thinking.

Avoid making direct comments, instead, try to elaborate on things. It’s better to limit yourself to things which can point out the detailed instructions. If the person is being laid off for various reasons, it’s better to give in bullet points, and along with it give the reason. If you do this, then the person will feel appreciated and feel valued.

Ending:

Always end with asking if you can clarify anything or any doubts. It sends out a positive message that you care about the person. It brings a closure to the email and also it sends out the message to the person that you are willing to listen to them. If you just end with the criticism, it will leave a negative impact on the person.

Then end the email with a nice sign-off. Which can be, “Best Regards”, “All the Best for Your Future”, etc.

Sending:

There is a right time for sending out any kind of email. If you start sending out emails in the middle of the night, then it can cause anxiety and panic. It’s better to send the email in the morning when the person has woken up. It gives a message of consideration and makes it easier for the person to process.

Following the above simple method, can make it easier to send out negative emails. Thus, making it better for the person to process and accept the feedback.

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If you need Psychologist counselling click here

To Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli.