Homophobia and Indian society

Today, May 17, for many people it’s a regular day but let me tell you one thing straight, okay? Not straight, but May 17th is celebrated for “International day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.” The day is celebrated to create an awareness for sexual diversities and gender equalities and against the violence and discrimination faced by every LGBTQ+ person in his entire life.

Almost 2 years ago, on September 6th 2018, India strikes down Section 377 of IPC which decriminalized the Homosexuality in India and gave freedom to celebrate their love because it’s not a crime anymore but do you think that’s all? Have we achieved what we were fighting for? Then the answer is “NO". This is only half battle won. Only the law has changed, not the society and its mindset.

Yes, I agree that there are many positive changes that happened. Many people came out to their family and friends, they expressed their love. But do you really think that we have received the acceptance we were fighting for? There are many people, many children out there, who are afraid to come out of their closet because their families and friends are not supportive or in short they are homophobic. Even though the law has gone but its roots have gone deep down in a society which has created very negative impact on society and the mindset of people due to which many people are still not ready to accept that the gender diversities do exist and because of this behaviour, we are still fighting for our basic rights. There are many parents who refused to accept their child because he/she is homosexual or transgender or just not straight like they are. Many people have given death threats to their own child due to which they are afraid to accept themselves. We also encounter some discriminative situations in our day to day life, that’s why some choose to remain in a closet because the society will not accpet them if they come out. Forget about homosexuals, people are still not ready to accept transgenders, they are still fighting for their basic needs and human rights. People needs to understand that it’s neither a disease nor a choice, we are born like this.

The other day, I was surfing on my social media account and I came across one video in which a man was claiming that the app owner should create a different app for the LGBTQ+ people (in his terms “Meeththe log") and should not allow them to this app because; whenever he opens the app, he see posts and videos related to homosexuality and he don’t like that and he has questioned as why these “Meeththe log" even exist in the society. After watching that video I felt like the verdict did not change anything. Legally we are not criminal but we are still viewed as criminal by people. Sucide rates are high in our community because the acceptance rate is low.

To the society, all the straight people out there, one thing I would like to tell you that ‘Homophobia is chosen' you can think about it and try to accept the people. We too are human like you all are, we also feel sad, we too want to cry, we also need support. Not accepting us will not change anything but your acceptance can surely bring some positive changes in the society.

Some people are okay with the rainbow child unless and until it’s their own child. You need to accept that just because his sexual orientation is different than yours that does not change him as a person. It’s the same child you carried in your womb for 9 months, it’s the same child call you Maa, he/she still loves you the same as he/she was earlier. I am not saying that the change will come overnight but atleast you can try. There are children whose families abandoned them because of their gender identity and orientation. They also need your love, support and acceptance. I will not take your much time but I hope on next year today, there will be less people suffering from homophobia.

Thank You!!!