Back in the Victorian era, Oscar Wilde was accused of ‘gross indecency’ with men because of his love affair with Lord Alfred Douglas. Though he was a gifted and popular writer, Wilde was sentenced to hard labour for two years and he died a destitute at the age of 46. Two centuries later when many nations including England (which had persecuted countless people because homosexuality was sodomy for them) have accepted the legality of homosexuality, Indian law still clinches to Section 377, a colonial law in Indian penal code which criminalised homosexuality and the law was ratified and reinstated in 2013 despite the criticism from international organisations like UNO. Homosexuals and gender minorities have been viewed as an unnatural perversion and though many countries have made it legal, homophobia is deeply rooted in the minds of people. But it is unfortunate that our country officially and legally does not recognise homosexuality and sexual minorities.
Is Homosexuality Issue Voiced Enough in India?
In metro cities in India, there is a comparatively liberal attitude when it comes to gender minorities. At least they have the freedom to be organised under a roof, where they can clearly speak about their sexuality. But what is happening in the villages and small towns where majority of our population reside? Even the word ‘gay’ might be equivalent to an insult.
The term ‘namard’, ‘shikhandi’ is used as a slang openly in Indian media. Though our country is hesitant to provide sex education, most educational institutions make it clear that to be a homosexual/bisexual/transgender is a sin. There are mothers who get worried when their daughters say they feel attracted to girls and might as well take them to gynaecologists thinking it is a disease. There are boys who are taunted for reading a fashion magazine or learning classical dance because that would make them womanish.
Movies that show transgender/bisexuals as an unnatural comical characters are no less even today. Baba Ramdev was laughed upon by the whole country when he said he can ‘’cure’’ homosexuality with Yoga. But there are countless religious institutions and medical practitioners who might be doing the same. Not to mention religious institutions who do more than enough damage. The cases related to violence against homosexuals are not registered. This does not mean that homosexuals and transgender citizens are safe in those states, it means that they are subjugated to torture by the people and police even without filing an FIR. Though ‘hijras’ have been a part of Indian culture since ages, there are moralists who thinks it is a western idea that has corrupted Indian culture.
Not Just Legality Would Do, We Need a Change in Social Attitude.
When our honourable Supreme Court is rethinking on Section 377, sexual minorities of India are given a ray of hope. But merely a legal statement will not be adequate. We need to uproot homophobia from the minds of people. Sexual minorities should not be considered as an unnatural perversion. It will not be adequate if the society feels pity on them. They should be treated as normal as heterosexuals. Violence against sexual minorities should be treated as a human rights issue. Since 2010, there has been considerable dialogue on the issue and more people are becoming aware of the issue compared to the last two decades. From an audience who laughed on homosexuals in Dostana, at least some of the people have progressed. Let us hope that there will be a day when homosexuals would be treated as equals like our constitution guarantees.
