'LGBTQ+ People Are Part Of Society, But...': Mohan Bhagwat On Same-Sex Marriage

Published 6 August 2026 · india

News india 'LGBTQ+ People Are Part Of Society, But...': Mohan Bhagwat On Same-Sex Marriage 'LGBTQ+ People Are Part Of Society, But...': Mohan Bhagwat On Same-Sex

News india 'LGBTQ+ People Are Part Of Society, But...': Mohan Bhagwat On Same-Sex Marriage 'LGBTQ+ People Are Part Of Society, But...': Mohan Bhagwat On Same-Sex Marriage Published By, Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 19:29 IST RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said LGBTQ+ people are part of society, but legalising same-sex marriage is not the right approach. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (Image Credits: PTI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that while members of the LGBTQ+ community are an integral part of society, legalising same-sex marriage is not the right approach. Instead, he suggested creating a separate legal framework that allows same-sex couples to live together with legal recognition. Speaking at an event, Bhagwat said people from the LGBTQ+ community “are all part of the society which we belong to" and stressed that society must first be prepared before any legal changes are introduced.

He argued that marriage, in the Indian tradition, is not merely an arrangement for two people to live together but an institution centred around family and raising future generations. “Marriage in our tradition is not a convenience created for two people to live together. It is an institution created by family. The next generation is trained within the family to become good citizens," Bhagwat said. The RSS chief cautioned against altering the existing institution of marriage without first creating an alternative social framework. “We have to have a system first. If we disturb the existing system without creating a new one, it will create conflicts," he said. Bhagwat added that society shapes laws and not the other way around. “We have to educate society first. Society dictates laws," he said, adding that tampering with the existing vivah (marriage) system could create further complications.

Instead of recognising same-sex marriage, Bhagwat suggested that lawmakers should consider a separate legal arrangement. “Not same-sex marriage, but how they can stay together—companionship—make a law for that. Society will accept that. That will ensure the smooth running of society in the future also," he said. Earlier Remarks On LGBTQ+ Community Bhagwat’s latest comments come days after he said LGBTQ+ people have always been a part of Indian society and deserve dignity and acceptance. Speaking at an event in Hyderabad, he said Indian traditions have historically recognised such communities and made space for them within society. “Our tradition acknowledges their existence. They are human beings too and have a right to live. They are not ostracised from society; there is a place for them within the vast tapestry of social life," he had said. He had also noted that Indian society had traditionally adopted a humane approach towards LGBTQ+ people rather than excluding them, adding that such communities have long had a recognised place in the country’s social and religious traditions.