QUEER logic

 

 

Carrying banners proclaiming “Homos-heteros are brothers and proud to be gay”, the 1,000- odd people – men as well as women – had descended on Delhi’s Hyde Park, Jantar Mantar, wearing bright clothes, colourful masks and hats made of feather. But can the 2009 Annual Gay Pride March be taken at its face value? Do such marches mean that the ageless antagonism in traditionalist cultures such as ours is well and truly over? Let’s see… Though people like Gautam Bhan of the Delhi Queer Pride Committee claim that the idea behind organising the march was to bring homos and heteros under a single roof, the fact is that the generality of Indians are still far from accepting homosexuals as equals. Let one of their own family members announce that he/she is a gay, and you will see how fast this politically correct façade comes tumbling down.

Indeed only the naive see a softening of the government’s stand on this delicate issue. And those who cite the willingness of the home, health and law ministries to review the anti-gay legislations are very likely ignorant of Law Minister Veerappa Moily’s rider. For Moily says that any such review would need to include the concerns of all, including religious groups. People like Anjali Gopalan, director of the Naz Foundation which fights for gay rights, call such a stance appalling, on the ground that it is ridiculous in a secular set-up. But so far it has had no impact on the anti-gay lobby which is convinced that any change in Section 377 will lead to sexual anarchy. Says organisational secretary of Jamaat-e-islami Muztaba Farooq: “Acceptance of any such demands will only encourage unnatural sex.”

Ashok Row Kavi of Hamsafar, the oldest gay rights organisation in the country, has been saying for years that no gay has ever been punished under this section, and that it has merely served as a pretext for police to exploit homosexuals. Allowing gay marriages, he says, will only help bring stability in homosexual relationships, because once married they would not need to “run around in their search of partners” – a fact that he blames for the rising incidence of gay-related HIV infections. It is a notion shared by fellow gay rights activist, the erstwhile prince of Rajpipla, Manvendra Singh Gohil (see interview) which, in a capsule, gives the gay position. “We are just asking for certain essential amendments”

Gay rights activist, the erstwhile prince of Rajpipla, Manvendra Singh Gohil, outlines the gay position in this interview with Rajan Prakash

Do you think the hetero-homo divide in India is narrowing? I have been working for gay rights for the past 13 years and trying to raise awareness about HIV infections. The Gujarat government is supporting us. Most people oppose homosexuality because they are completely ignorant about its nature. This is why I decided to spread the message that we are not spreading AIDS. Earlier police used to harass our activists and stop them from distributing condoms and organising campaigns. But they came around finally and started supporting our cause. So I don’t think that our society is averse to accepting different forms of sexuality. But yes, there is need for greater awareness and to convince people that gays must enjoy the same rights as heterosexuals do. It is said that after you made your preference public you were boycotted by your family. What is the conflict gays face after they realise that they are different from what is considered normal?

After no one empathised with me I launched the Lakshya Trust in Gujarat to provide counseling to homosexuals. Now it has offices in every state. It is never easy for homosexuals to come to terms with their sexuality. It can be very emotionally draining. It needs tremendous courage to accept this dissimilarity. There are only two choices for gays: either they conceal the facts and get married, and in the process destroy the woman’s life. Or they can show courage and make the facts public. We provide counseling to help confused gays find their true sexual orientation.

Why do gays want Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to be scrapped? That is not our position. We are just asking for certain essential amendments. Since Section 377 also deals with child abuse and forced sex, we obviously cannot be for its revocation. But if two same sex adults have a consensual relationship, they should not be punished for that. Our Constitution provides for a free society. So as citizens of this free country, gays must be allowed their sexual freedom.