Can’t handle the intolerance? This is how the LGBTQ community feels about being in India

It’s difficult to be rainbow in India. Indian society in itself is so intolerant that even after section 377 has been decriminalized, it hasn’t been destigmatized. We may have the right to be gay but we aren’t free to do it because “log kya kahenge?”, and that’s just not it. The LGBTQ community garners more hate than support. The society’s attitude needs to change regarding the community. Homosexuality is looked down upon in urban areas and rural India is in a much worse state. It is practically impossible for someone from rural India to come out of the closet. 

Darshil says, “I am pretty flamboyant and Indian’s aren’t very tolerant. After moving out of India, I have realized that I can be myself without people shoving their opinions in my face. I can wear what I want and be who I want. Being loud and flamboyant doesn’t turn heads here. Nobody cares even if you work in a burger joint wear nothing but mesh outfit with your genitals visible. Forget gay, Indian society is the kind of society where single women and Muslims can’t live without people shoving their opinions in their faces. The extremists force their opinions on others and interfere with their lives and rights.” 

Shweta says, “Queer people have to restrict their self-expression because you never know when someone might think you are dressing too flamboyantly and teach you a ‘lesson’. It’s nearly impossible to get a job or a house on rent if you show some queerness. If you still manage, landlords and bosses make restrictive rules and spy on you to ensure that you don’t spread your ‘disease’. People from our community have to hide their queerness in order to survive in this nation and maintain the image of belonging to a decent and respectable family. We have to hide our love. Queer people from small towns have it worse. They have to move to cities to find acceptance and medical facilities and to escape familial harassment. Moreover, Bollywood and the tv industry have made the queer people comic content. Their attempts to being themselves and finding love are either hilarious or just plain disgusting and shameful.”

Manish says, “Even though it has been s.377 decriminalized, the government doesn’t recognize us as a community because we are a minority and we don’t make much difference to their vote banks. We need to change this attitude. More and more people need to come out not only as queer but also as allies in support of the change. But coming out in itself is a problem. It is a personal choice and the environment needs to be safer for people to feel comfortable in doing so".