Hare Krishna.
What is the Bhagavad Gita’s perspective on the LGBTQ+ pride parade?

In this talk, I’ll focus on the “T”—transgender—as a thread of thought to explore the interface between the LGBTQ+ discourse and the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. This focus is due to the increasing prominence of transgender issues in today’s world, especially in the West, where concepts like puberty blockers, cross-gender hormones, and surgeries are being promoted—even among children.

The Bhagavad Gita offers a worldview through which we can see things in a fresh light, even if they are not mentioned directly in the text. The Gita is not just a collection of verses—it’s a revelation of spiritual wisdom expressed through a philosophical worldview.

To explore how the Gita’s perspective can relate to LGBTQ+ issues, I’ll use the acronym APT—Acceptance, Prominence, and Transcendence.

A – Acceptance

Historically, those with non-standard sexual orientations were often stigmatized and persecuted. Only in recent decades has society begun moving toward acceptance.

From the Gita’s perspective, every living being, by virtue of being a soul, deserves acceptance and respect. The soul is spiritual, indestructible, and innately valuable—regardless of how it is situated at the bodily level.

Indian society traditionally had space for such individuals. For example, those of non-standard gender identity were referred to as Napumsaka or Tritiya-prakriti, and they had their place in society. In contrast, many Western religious traditions held that “God didn’t make people this way,” and thus LGBTQ+ identities were seen as wrong or sinful.

However, the Gita offers a broader view. It explains that our current body is a result not just of divine design but also of our own past actions. We are souls transmigrating through various bodies across lifetimes. Normally, we forget our previous bodies, but in exceptional cases—such as untimely or violent deaths—some impressions from the past life may carry over. This can cause a phenomenon I call “transmigration lag.”

Just like jet lag, where your body is in one country but your internal clock is still in another, transmigration lag means the soul is in a new body but still feels aligned with the gender or identity of a previous body. This can manifest as discomfort with the current body, and may explain phenomena like transgender experiences or non-standard sexual orientation.

Rather than demonizing such individuals, the Gita helps us understand that they are not evil or wrong—they are simply navigating life with a unique karmic hand. All of us are, in a sense, doing the same. Thus, philosophical acceptance and devotional affirmation of the soul’s worth are both central to the Gita’s message.

P – Prominence

While the past was marked by demonization, the present often swings toward glamorization. Pride parades and media representation sometimes push transgender identity to the forefront in ways that may not serve everyone equally—especially children.

If LGBTQ+ individuals simply say, “We’re just like everyone else—please don’t demonize us,” that is completely reasonable. But sometimes the messaging goes further: “We are different, and society must restructure itself entirely around our differences.” That’s more complex and potentially problematic.

Consider transgender children: Many experience bodily discomfort during puberty, which is common to all adolescents. However, if transitioning is promoted as the primary or only solution to such discomfort, they may make life-altering decisions prematurely.

The Gita teaches tolerance—titikṣā. Everyone feels discomfort with their body: “I’m too short,” “too fat,” “too dark.” But instead of changing the body, we’re encouraged to cultivate spiritual strength and resilience.

Promoting irreversible changes like surgery or hormone therapy to minors—who can’t even drive or vote—is concerning. As per a review of 61 studies in the British Medical Journal, there’s significant uncertainty about the long-term effects of such interventions.

Books like Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier document how many young girls are pushed toward transitioning due to social influence, only to later regret it bitterly. When a movement gains too much prominence without nuance, it risks harming those it claims to protect.

The key message here is: acceptance, yes; glamorization and irreversible life decisions for children, no.

T – Transcendence

Ultimately, the Gita teaches that we are not our bodies. Our soul’s identity transcends gender, race, and all bodily designations.

Everyone feels some degree of incompatibility with their body. Those in the LGBTQ+ spectrum may experience it more acutely—but it’s a difference of degree, not of kind.

Material life is like being in an ocean—there will always be waves. For some, the ocean is mildly wavy; for others, it is stormy. If someone is caught in turbulence, it’s natural to want calmer waters. But the ultimate goal is not just to move from one part of the ocean to another—it’s to get out of the ocean entirely, to transcend bodily consciousness and realize the soul’s spiritual nature.

Whether someone is cisgender, transgender, heterosexual, or homosexual—their bodily identity is not their ultimate identity. The real “coming out” that brings lasting fulfillment is coming out of bodily illusions and awakening to one’s eternal identity as a servant of Krishna.

So, rather than campaigning against or for transgender identity, the Gita’s message is: strive to go beyond it. Transgender or cisgender, our gender is part of our temporary bodily designation. Transcending gender is the Gita’s invitation—rising from the bodily platform to the spiritual.

Conclusion

To summarize, the Bhagavad Gita provides an APT lens for viewing the LGBTQ+ issue:

  • Acceptance of everyone as a soul worthy of dignity.

  • Caution against excessive Prominence that can lead to harm, especially for youth.

  • A call for Transcendence—to go beyond bodily identities and find real peace in spiritual realization.

This is not a message of hate or fear—but of hope, understanding, and liberation.

Hare Krishna.