"Prepare Society First": Mohan Bhagwat Explains Why RSS is Against Same-Sex Marriage

RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat stated that even though the LGBTQIA+ community is an integral part of society, legalizing same-sex marriage could alter the “institution of marriage”, which can have consequences. Speaking at an event on Thursday, August 6, 2026, Bhagwat said that Indian society has a long tradition of accommodation, and that specific legal frameworks should be formulated for same-sex companionship.

Mohan Bhagwant Explains Why RSS is against Same-Sex Marriage

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was addressing a gathering of over 2,000 Gen-Z and Gen Alpha attendees at India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) event in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Responding to a query about his views on legalizing same-sex marriage, he stated that laws do not dictate society; rather, society dictates the laws.

However, opposing the idea of same-sex marriage, the RSS chief said that society must be prepared first before any law regarding same-sex marriage is introduced in the country. Marriage, in the traditional sense, isn’t just an arrangement or a bond between two individuals, the RSS chief argued. Instead, it is a social institution that centers on family and the upbringing of future generations.

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"Our traditional marriage is not merely a convenience for two people to live together. It is an institution through which family is created, and family is the unit of society where the next generation is trained," Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat continued that if the traditional system of marriage that we know is altered by allowing same-sex couples to get married, it could lead to certain conflicts and unintended consequences. “If we disturb the existing system, it will create conflict. From this perspective, same-sex marriage should not be regarded as marriage,” he stated.

Instead of outright advocating for same-sex marriage, the RSS chief suggested that society must first be educated and a separate legal framework could be created to ensure that same-sex couples can live and exist together in companionship. Advocating for the creation of a newer “system”, Bhagwat further stated: "We have to have a system first. If we disturb the existing system without creating a new one, it will create conflicts. Secondly, we cannot mix these things. We have to prepare the society first, because laws don't dictate society; society dictates the laws. We have to educate the society first. That stage is not there. And at this stage, tampering with the marriage system will create other side effects.”

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RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Earlier Comments on LGBTQIA+ Community

The RSS chief has previously commented upon the LGBTQIA+ community, calling them a “part of the society” and remarking that they deserve dignity. Addressing an event organized by Vishwa Mangalya Sabha on the topic ‘Contemporary Motherhood’ on July 26, 2026, Mohan Bhagwat said "LGBTQIA+ and all these communities exist” and that Indian society has long made space for them.

The RSS chief continued that for some people, “these tendencies,” referring to queerness, are natural and innate, while for others they are acquired later due to mindset or physical inclinations.

In January 2023, while giving an interview to an RSS-linked magazine, Bhagwat said that LGBTQIA+ individuals and the community are human and deserve the right to have their private and social lives. The RSS chief also cited Hindu mythologies and scriptures, and stated that the Indian civilization had accommodated such communities rather than excluding them.

(Edited by Ritik Singh)

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