Today is a day to celebrate the victory and freedom restored to us by the Supreme Court. With the Court referring to the importance of heterogeneity and why majoritarian views should not count given the essence of our Constitution, the verdict—to decriminalise homosexuality—gains greater significance and probably even an indication of what’s next in our battle for equal rights.
As we cherish this moment, it would be inappropriate not to raise a toast and acknowledge that we have had many unknown committed warriors working across the country for the larger community that is diverse and not as privileged as the well healed, urban lot who have access to a system. I am part of this clan who has access, a home to seek shelter, and people on call to protect me from the hostility of society and government authorities such as the police.
In my few years exposed to activism, I’ve come across ‘real’ workers who have risked their lives for others. Maya Sharma of Vikalp in Baroda, for example, has spent four decades working on ground in Vadodara. Anjali Gopalan of Naz Foundation led the initial case for us, given shelter to many a queer person risking the police. Ashok Row Kawi first stood up and came out and built the Humsafar Trust.
How can we forget the selfless work of the Lawyer’s Collective be it Lawyer’s such as Anand Grover, Tripti Tandon and at different stages people like Aditya Bandopadhyay, Akshay Khanna or a Vivek Divan? What about the petition led by Voices Against 377, of faceless names that stepped up the decibels for our rights? Or the organisers of the various Pride Marches across the country giving us our space even if for a few hours, inspiring so many others?
Some activists even in ‘progressive’ states such as Kerala were beaten up or almost handcuffed under Section 377 not for what the Section says but just for being gay or running advocacy programmes on health. This is what Jijo Kuriakose of Queerala had said to me. According to Pawan Dhall of Varta, even importing a publication led to difficult times with the customs department in Kolkata, using Section 377 as a reason. Rituparna Borah of Nazariya in a conversation said spaces for discussions were denied due to the same act!
And these were ‘milder’ instances of discrimination that did not amount to being jailed – something so many have experienced. The violence against Arif Jafar, as many of us would know, is one such terrible part of our history. I am told there are many other instances where the victim hasn’t been able to speak up and out – clearly spelling out the fears many have lived with.
We can all go back home, dream our lives away, imagine and experience the freedom we have today but let’s not forget the lives lost, the activists working for our rights (and I know they will continue to do so) selflessly beyond any gratification of ones pride or ego.
I surely have missed many names here (forgive me for my ignorance). But you know who you are. Thank you.