HYDERABAD: There is widespread outrage among the LGBT community in Hyderabad after television anchor Geeta had humiliated an LGBT couple on her show Bathuku Jataka Bandi.
In the two-part show which was aired on Zee Telugu on October 31 and November, the anchor insulted a young couple – a 20-year-old woman and a trans-man, labelling their love as “sin”.
Over the course of the episode, a copy of which is with the Hyderabad Express, Geeta berates the girl saying, “Do you have no shame?”, and even went on to threaten her by saying “I will thrash you, and hit you with slippers”.
While she started out questioning their love by terming it “sinful”, the humiliation got worse for the LGBT couple, when Geeta goes on to ask them, “which one of you will tie the mangalsutra to whom?” and “How do you even have sex?”.
The anchors insensitive remarks have sparked an unprecedented outrage among members of the LGBT community, who have come out in huge numbers to protest against the channel.
The community has filed an official complaint with the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and has demanded a public apology from the channel.
“The anchor not only violates the privacy of two individuals, she also goes on to publicly shame them and insults their love for each other. There’s no sensitivity on the anchor’s side. She has violated all norms and human rights on this show,” fumes Madhav, a member of the queer community.
In the show, Geeta is accompanied by a lawyer and a psychologist, who also take potshots at the LGBT couple.
“There were multiple times where the anchor has said ‘I will slap you’. They are trying to re-inforce the notion that a woman must be taken care of by a man and that she is not capable of taking care of herself. The show is regressive and pathetic,” expressed Madhav.
Several members of the LGBT community have called for Geeta to be sacked immediately.
“I pity this person. It just goes to show her complete lack of awareness and her ignorance on transgenders and homosexual. The channel must sack her immediately for this. By threatening to hit people, she is not just displaying homophobia or transphobia, it is an act against humanity,” fumed trans-activist Abheena Aher. The sheer lack of remorse on the part of the channel has further infuriated the community, who allege that despite all their complaints and pleas fell on deaf ears.
“After part one was aired, many of us had called up the channel and expressed our concern. We had requested them multiple times not to air the second part, but despite our complaints and requests, they went ahead and aired it. There was absolutely no regret and no remorse from their side,” Madhav added.
Despite repeated attempts, the channel was unavailable for comment.