If you’re following up on current affairs about the LGBTQIA+ community in India, you must be aware of the Plea for Marriage Equality for same-sex couples.
While the decision is still pending about the case, A Bollywood movie ‘Badhaai do (2022)’ wins 6 Filmfare awards. The movie portrays two queer individuals, but of course, from a non-queer perspective.
Many queer people are happy that the movie has won so many awards.
“Finally, we’re getting some recognition,“ they say.
But here’s why I think it’s all just bulls*it.
First of all, not just in this movie but in almost all Bollywood movies, queer characters are often written and played by non-queer people.
How exactly do you expect the world to be more inclusive and diverse for queer people, while not giving work to queer people to even play Queer roles?
One argument you can give is,
“If they’ll hire a non-famous queer person, the audience wouldn’t watch the movie. Hiring a famous cis-straight actor helps attract the audience.”
Fine, I somehow agree with it. But it’s not just limited to the lead actors, but even the side roles are played by non-queer people.
Isn’t there even a good queer actor to play side roles?
Another argument people make is:
“They’re putting their career at stake by playing these roles. What more do you want?”
This statement is homophobic in itself. So, playing the character of a toxic man promoting casual violence, glorifying sexism and homophobia, and all the other bullsh*it Bollywood makes doesn’t put their career at stake, but playing a queer role does?
Is it so bad to be queer?
If it was this bad, the movie Badhaai Ho would have never gotten awarded.
Then there comes the argument:
“They’re making our issues mainstream. Queer representation. Impact on people’s minds. yada yada”
Again, I’m gonna say it.
Movies have been made on the lives of sex workers. How much respect do they have?
They’ve made movies about Hindu-Muslim living together in harmony. Where’s that?
Movies made on class, caste, religious fancies, rape, or domestic violence. Where are we standing?
They do talk about Queer rights, but only during the promotion of their movies. As soon as the movie gets money, they’ll go silent about our rights.
Queer people in India suffer every day due to the discrimination and prejudice they face.
It’s a constant process.
Speaking against Homophobia and prejudice should be constant as well, and not for selfish promotions.