After the decriminalization of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code on September 6, 2018, many Indians thought, the fight was over!
The Pride movement was full of struggles and continues to be full of miseries, suicides, forced marriages, and conversions. The people from the LGBTQIA+ community have drained themselves to retain some respect and rights. Alas! They are still disappointed by both—the society and the government.
Even after two years of legalization of consensual sex between people of the same gender, society never fails to make them feel uncomfortable. If one still walks hand-in-hand with their partner, one can easily notice the eye rolls and taunts. It’s not easy for someone to still live under the same distress.
Even the workplaces are homophobic and transphobic; all they do is politely decline job applications. They’d be discriminatory and make jokes about identities. The toxic work culture and gossip culture involves harassing their teammates or colleagues if they’re visually ‘too gay’ or ‘too lesbian’.
The educational system is yet again lacking as it fails to familiarize the students with same-sex relationships. Even ‘the sex talk’ is, more often than not, skipped over. Moreover, struggles of finding accommodations with your partner are tough. Many of them have to introduce their partners as friends, sisters, and relatives.
Due to all this, ‘coming out’ has been a difficult and challenging decision. They’re afraid of the reactions and outcomes, and many unable to take the trauma of going through it. Undoubtedly, we lack safe spaces for them.
The government has just given the right to perform sexual activities in ‘personal’ spaces. Having said that, it restricts the acts of marriage, adoption, recognition of couples, etc. They all need acceptance and support more than anything.
Imagine having to seek permission from the government to love someone and get married to them. Strange, right? Well, that’s what’s the issue with Queer people! They can fearlessly fall in love, but still, have trouble to have the relationship legally recognized and build a family.
The seed of the problem lies in the belief that queerness is learnt, when it is actually something people are born with. Some explore it during their childhood or teenage.
Religious extremists or people who believe in; ‘Log Kya Kahenge‘ make their lives miserable. Also, if one thinks that homophobia exists just amongst conservative people and in rural areas, then you’re wrong! Elite classes also face the same issues of sidelining and ignorance.
Not only society but the ‘woke’ liberals who speak about everything, sometimes, also do not consider their pain important enough. The content creators in the recent past have also degraded the Queer community!
LGBTQIA+ support groups, activists, organizations, and collectives are still railing against the injustices. Let’s hope for a better tomorrow for the community, where they’ve socio-political rights and the ability to use basic human rights with financial stability as well.