The Acceptance Meet hosted on August 15 by Hum Safar Trust in association with Yaariyan, a community-based organisation at Morello Halls, Holy Family Hospital, Bandra saw individuals coming together for a cause that is often swept under the rug. “Being straightforward is the only straight thing we do,” joked Harrish Iyer, equal rights activist, motivational speaker and well-known cause crusader at the start of the second anniversary show of The Acceptance Meet.

While many of us openly supported the gay-pride march, which took place in the USA by changing our facebook display pictures to the multi-coloured flag, the Indian mindset is still not fully accepting of this community. The question, however, remains—how effective are such drives in a country where homosexuals are still frowned upon? “Supporting the gay-pride march was easier said than done and ironically, since it’s still so hard for gays to come out,” added Iyer.

Gender bias

Iyer points out that the reason why homosexuals are ostracised by the government and the draconian Section 377 is that sexual intercourse sans reproduction is condemned and deemed unnatural. Women and men who are impotent fall under the same critical scanner. What was interesting to note was that the ratio of men to women present at the programme was 4:1, which meant that the number of men present was far greater than the women present. “It’s a double stigma,” explained Iyer, “Firstly, being a woman has a certain stigma attached to it, and being lesbian is an add-on, so it is relatively easier for the men to come out of the closet, than it is for the women.”

Debunking misconceptions

In addition to the numerous misconceptions formed of the gay community, a common error that occurs is the misunderstanding of the difference between homosexuality and paedophilia. Radhika, who works with Arpan, the largest NGO in the world working on the issue of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), explained, “Homosexuality is not a result of child sexual abuse and this concept needs to be dealt with in depth.” Vivek Anand, CEO of Hum Safar Trust, added, “A pedophile is a pedophile; they cannot be specifically gay or straight and it is non-negotiable.”

Influence of media

Later in the programme, a panel discussion ensued with panelists hailing from different walks of life. The discussion, curated by Vivek Anand, CEO of Hum Safar Trust included panelists such as Pallav Patankar, Director of Programs, The Humsafar Trust; Radhika Sharma, counsellor at the Arpan Trust, Child Sexual Abuse; Dr. Mahinder Watsa, renowned sexologist; Yogesh Pawar, journalist and Nitin Karani, corporate personnel. A primary point that was discussed related to the influence of media on the mindset of people. “Since the media is handled by regular people and there is some amount of bigotry from the media too, it influences the mindset of the readers,” said journalist Yogesh Pawar.

“Mumbai is bursting with talent, however, many Mumbaikars suffer in their careers due to issues that deal with their sexuality,” explained Patankar. “The process of self-acceptance can be painful for many LGBT youth in the midst of discrimination, especially in a religiously-driven society like ours,” he concluded.

Source: DNA

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Gay and independent – DNA