BEING QUEER IN INDIA

NAME- SHUBHANGI DIXIT

CLASS AND SECTION- BBA HONOURS B
ROLL NO.- 2224267
SUBMITTED TO- PROFFESSOR JITHIN DEVASSY
“ I am what I am , so take me as I am.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The fundamental tenet of human rights is that all people are created equally and every human
being should be treated with dignity. Anything that lessens that dignity , results in
discrimination. Gay Pride Parades held in Delhi , Kolkata and Bangalore show that while
more Indian youths are accepting of LGBT and Queer identities , acceptance of their
sexuality and their gender choices within the boundary of their home and school still remain a
constant struggle. Homosexuality means sexual desire towards a person of the same gender.
Homosexuality is not a new concept , it has been prevalent in India from a very long time.
Historical examples of same sex relationships include the description of homosexual
practices in the Kamasutra , harems of young boys held by Muslim Nawabs and Hindu
Aristocrats , etc. Amara Das Wilhelms research of Sanskrit texts from medieval and ancient
India proved that homosexuals and the “third gender” were existing and widely accepted
back then. However these experiences started losing their significance with the coming of
Vedic Brahmanism and British Colonialism. In 2018 , Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
leader Mr. Arun Kumar used the phase “ unnatural “ in his remarks regarding the historic
ruling “ Navtej Singh Johar Vs Union Of India ” by the Hon’ble Supreme Court against
section 377. He stated:
“ Gay marriages and relationships are not compatible with nature and are not natural , so
we do not support this kind of relationship. Traditionally , India’s society also does not
recognise such relations.”
Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860. The law declared some people inferior solely based
on who they chose to love , invaded their privacy and degraded their dignity. Then something
momentous happened on the 6th of September , 2018 that blew some fresh air of
constitutionality in the dead members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Supreme Court of
India delivered a historical verdict of decriminalising homosexuality by partially striking
down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The significance of the entire judgement can be
summarised in the statement made by Justice Indu Malhotra while reading her verdict that
“ History owes an apology to the members of this community and their families , for the
delay in providing redressal for the ignominy and ostracism that they have suffered
through the centuries.”
This landmark should be taken as a beginning of a new era towards the fight for LGBTQ
rights. Although urban LGBT voices that are heard through a variety of online and offline
channels play a significant role in LGBT advocacy, they only reveal a small portion of the
many difficulties the community faces. Families in rural India deal with LGBT people in their
own unique ways, far from gay pride parades, meet-ups, and tense Twitter debates. In some
regions, covert honour killings are arranged in such a way that a young gay man's sole option
for survival is to sneak away to a different city during the night while being left without any
resources or social support. According to a recent study, parental attitudes regarding
homosexuality are one of the main causes of the stigmatisation of LGBT people. The study
goes on to say that most LGBT people can only be accepted by families if they agree to act in
a heterosexual manner. The Lakshya Trust, which works to combat HIV/Aids in the LGBT
community, is one of the organisations that Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil now leads. His
narrative of coming out has been extensively covered in the media over the past few years.
He advises LGBT individuals to temper their reactions to what they see in the media. Lack of
family support can be a serious blow to the mental and physical health of LGBT persons in a
country where rigorous social and cultural norms govern the conditions of education,
employment, and marriage. Depression, suicidal thoughts, and psychosomatic illnesses are
frequently brought on by isolation and pressure to fit in. Online communities and social media
have provided accessible alternatives to create a community outside the family in the lack of family
support. Gaysi, Gaylaxy, and publishers like Queer Ink have all contributed to creating spaces where
LGBT people may communicate, exchange, and work together. Parents are becoming more aware of
LGBT issues thanks to programmes like Satyamev Jayate and The Tara Sharma Show. TV and movies
could prove to be the most effective tools in redefining the roles and attitudes of families given that
they are accessible to even rural populations where social media has not yet permeated. Even
schools and colleges have begun to take up LGBT activism. Although the majority of educated
persons theoretically support various sexual orientations and gender identities, there is an urgent
need to change the reality on the ground. In order to close the gap between theoretical knowledge
and real-world experience, prejudices must be challenged. Consider the widespread use of
homophobic humour. People need to pause and consider what makes such an oppressive viewpoint
amusing. We need our allies to point out that engaging in such behaviour costs us our freedom and
dignity. Future generations will stand a better chance of upholding the values of equality once
educational institutions across the nation become our allies. What better way to promote LGBT
rights than through educating our nation's future leaders? We go closer to creating a society that is
truly inclusive with each institution or university that decides to take part in LGBT activism. It’s a long
road of constant struggles and fights to make India a safe place for the Queer community , a place
where they can breathe the air of acceptance and love , and where they can be their true self. Lastly
I would like to quote a line of James Brandon , the author of Stardust and Me

“ I’m not crazy for feeling this way. They’re crazy for trying to stop me. And if it’s the last time I
ever get to feel joy again , I won’t let them have it. ”