Freedom is a word with many connotations. But does freedom truly mean complete autonomy to do what you please or live the way you wish? Here we are, celebrating 70 years of independence from colonial rule. Nonetheless, to some in our country the term freedom or independence still comes attached with certain conditions. Women who are still isolated during menstruation do not have the freedom to do what they please those four days. Certain sections of the society, especially the the schedule castes and the schedule tribes still face certain restrictions in some parts of the country. Another marginalised community in our country is the LGBTQ or the lesbian gay bi-sexual transgender and queer community.
The archaic section 377 in the penal code—which was part of the British system—is something that is still relevant in our country. This section criminalises anal sex between men and other homosexual acts. “Freedom to our community means the freedom to live openly with our identity. The LGBTQ community has been struggling for this freedom for over years now. I know of people who are under house arrest for coming out about their sexual orientation. They are literally tortured by their own family members. Sometimes, they are even taken for prayers and to religious leaders assuming that it a condition which can be treated. Even psychologists and doctors are consulted. But they need to understand that this is not a disease. It is just how a person is and that you need to accept them the way they are. Even recently when we approached the police in Kochi to conduct a gay pride march, they asked us, 'what is the need for this?' We were met with a similar attitude from the deputy mayor of Trivandrum too. I have faced bias to extent at the educational institute where I was a teacher. But as and how I would talk to them, they would display sympathy, then empathy. But that is not what we need. We need acceptance,” says Prijith P.K, secretary and founder of Queerythm in Trivandrum.
Neethu, a cinematographer based in Mumbai, says, “It took my family eight years to accept that I am a lesbian and that I am in relationship with a woman. It was really hard to convince them of my way of life. They have finally accepted my partner and the way we live. The section 377 needs to be amended so that people have the freedom to choose their own life partner and are free to love whoever they choose. The stigma against same sex couples needs to end. I have even faced a bias while trying to get a place to live on rent. A friend of mine is a transgender who changed from a female to male. He has faced ridicule from people around him asking- 'are you a man or a woman' etc. This has to change.”
Bangalore-based Ayaan Syed says, “Freedom is a much cherished word. The liberation, self-satisfaction which Freedom brings to you in unending. Being a victim of paedophilic torment, freedom to me is eradication of this physiological disorder and making this place healthy for a child to bloom. Being non binary or non-conforming to the set rules is your personal expression of yourself. Freedom to us is to let us be who you are, rather than be what people around would want us to be. I am gay and choose to be with my same sex partner. Its indeed personal what takes place in my bedroom. Freedom to me is no wanted gazes and solicitation in my personal life. Homosexuality or non-conforming gender identity is as natural as the societal acceptance of heterosexuality. Oh, the martyrs of social transformation. We promise you that we were there in the verses of history, we are here in the tunes of present and we would be proud to be there in the music of a brighter dawn. And that’s what is freedom to me.”
As of now, India has come a long way in accepting the LGBTQ community, but a lot of still need to take place. Transgenders have been getting employment opportunities and the people in the metros have become largely accepting of those in same sex relationships. Even then, “there's a long way to go, says Sridhar Rangayan, film maker, gay rights activist and festival director of Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. But, he also feels, that “it is also up to the people of the LGBTQ community who have to be more confident about who they want to be. We should be comfortable being who we are and not hide in the sidelines.” But as Sridhar says this, he also adds, “it is sad to see that people still get beaten up for being different or appearing to be transgender. And I know of some of them who still avoid cinema theatres and malls for the fear of being targeted. But in Mumbai, thankfully, attitude of the police has improved quite a bit as we have been conducting workshops with them, making them aware.”
