They Take Pride in Their Sexuality, But Say They are Still Discriminated Against

They Take Pride in Their Sexuality, But Say They are Still Discriminated Against

CHENNAI: Even as members of the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, and Intersex) in the city are readying themselves for the seventh annual Rainbow Pride — activists, in an exclusive interaction with City Express, expressed their apprehension about the existence of  ‘various contradicting  laws.’ This was ironic, given that a press meet was held on Monday announcing a slew of events to celebrate the presence of alternate sexualities and gender identities — beginning June 6 with a theatre performance and culminating June 28 with the Pride March. The events will be organised by the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition, a network of groups in the State working on human rights and health issues, including those of sexual minorities.

A few activists whom CE spoke to maintained that the turnout for the events organised over the course of the month might be poor, as had been the case after the December 11, 2013 judgment of the Supreme Court overturning  an earlier judgment by the Delhi High Court that decriminalised gay sex.

The SC judgement, they opined, had driven sexual minorities back into the closet. The activists also argued that even though NALSA judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in April last year, held that any form of discrimination on gender identity and sexual orientation was unconstitutional, and though transgenders could legally get married, Section 377 actually prevented them from indulging in sex.

“It makes little sense, doesn’t it?” questioned Shankari, a transgender and LGBT rights activist. “How can a person be allowed to get married but prevented from having sex?” she wondered. Shakti Nataraj of Nirangal, an NGO working for the rights of sexual minorities and sex workers, added that Tamil Nadu was yet to reactivate the Transgender Welfare Board and expand its scope by incorporating an inclusive definition of transgenders set by the Supreme Court. “What’s quite surprising to note is that any form of carnal intercourse is illegal, but marital rape is legal. What if the rapist indulged in anal sex without the consent of his wife?” she queried.

Vikram Sundarraman from Nirangal stressed that even as their struggle for fighting HIV/AIDS was on, Section 377 was proving to be a hindrance. “Gays and transgenders might not want to get tested for HIV since they would be discriminated against,” he maintained.

Shakti added that the sensitisation must begin from the schools itself and gender studies must be mandatorily made a part of the curriculum, especially in lieu of the rising cases of bullying, ragging and sexual harassment regardless of the students’ sexual orientation.

The activists further said that this time their strong opposition through a series of events was not just on the discrimination against sexual minorities, but  the social and cultural forces that punished people choosing relationships outside socially accepted gender, caste, class, and religion as well. They added that the events, like any other year, depicted the celebration of their  sexual identity and their pride in being associated as a member of LGBT.

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