Hello everyone! This week we will be taking a look at the LGBTQ+ history and modern community in India.
In 1860, when India was still part of the British empire, homosexuality was made a criminal offense after being ruled unnatural. After India won its independence from Britain in 1947, homosexuality still remained illegal throughout the country (India Times).
One gay man, Arun Kumar, describes his experience growing up gay as lonely and confusing. When he as young, he tried to talk to one of his friends about his feelings, but the friend told him it was disgusting and quickly ended their friendship. With no one to talk to without receiving judgement, he secluded himself
and spent time alone in the forests and fields. Here, he said, he didn’t feel any judgment. When he was in college, he told a trusted teacher about his sexuality, hoping for someone to confide in. The teacher called his parents, who later brought him home to try to “cure” him. His father, who was furious, locked him in his room for a week (BBC). Prejudice was, and continues to be, very prominent throughout India.
India wrote its own constitution two years after it gained independence. The constitution guaranteed citizens equality and forbade discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or place of birth. However, the new constitution said nothing about discrimination based upon sexual orientation. Thus, homosexuality remained illegal with a sentence of up to 10 years in jail ((India Times).
It wasn’t until 2009, 600 years after India had achieved independence, before homosexuality was decriminalized by the Delhi High Court. However, in 2013, the supreme court overturned the ruling, stating that the legalization of homosexuality should be taken up by parliament ((India Times).
For years, the path to legalizing homosexuality was winding, with the issue being traded back and forth between different courts, all reluctant to give a final ruling. Finally, in September of 2018, homosexuality was legalized throughout the country. It is estimated that 100 million people in India are part of the LGBTQ+ community, so many celebrations were held throughout the country following the ruling ((India Times).
Now that it is legal to be homosexual, leaders of the community strive to increase public acceptance. Acceptance is much better in the cities, where the population is more liberal, but there is still a lot of prejudice in the rural villages.
Rahul Singh, a 32 year old gay man in rural India, shared the story of his life. He realized he was gay when he turned 16. Fearing rejection and violence, he couldn’t tell anyone about his sexuality. He married a woman 2 years later, and now has two sons with her. Living as a gay person in India, he describes, is “suffocating”. His wife now knows he is gay, but continues to live with him for the sake of their children. He continues to live in fear of being discovered and the physical violence that would inevitably come with that discovery (BBC).
However, some cities, like Mumbai, are more accepting of gay people. Mumbai is informally known as the gay capital of India, particularly because of the activism that takes place there. It is known for its diversity, cultural inclusion, and vivid nightlife. Goa is another gay-friendly area, mainly because the influence of western tourists has made its people more accepting. There are gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses for couple to stay in together (LGBT India Tour). For more gay-friendly travel destinations in India, check out this site.
Transgender individuals, or hijra as they are called in India, appear in Hindu mythology. The story goes that Lord Rama was exiled from his community and its members began to follow him into the forest as he left. He turned to them and said, “Men and women, please wipe your tears and go away”. Most left, but a group remained. These were the hijra, those who were not men or women. According to the myth, they
waited in the woods for Rama to return for 14 years, for which they earned their spot in mythology (New York Times). If you are curious about more LGBTQ+ appearances in Indian literature, you should check out this site.
While homosexuality remained illegal, transgender people were legally granted the status of “third gender” in 2014. While they have obtained legal status, they still face many difficulties in finding jobs. Some businesses have become more inclusive, but many still believe there need to be stricter laws preventing discrimination in the workplace (BBC). Organizations have been set up, such as Transgender India, which aims to help transgender individuals with transitioning and all of the legal, medical, and social difficulties that come along with it.
Gay and transgender rights in India are slowly improving, but while these people have legal recognition, social acceptance still remains an obstacle for the community.
See you all next week!