Section 377 violates the right to life, liberty and equality - thus judged the Delhi HC. Thank You! Der aaye durust aaye.
With Hindustan Times carrying out a series of articles on racism in Mumbai - a self-analysis, post the Oz brouhaha - it looks like we may have matured enough to realise that we have some overhauling to do. Like throwing off old attitudes about what is mockable and what isn't. Fat, Black, Gay or as it still happens with Hindi films, Women, should not be seen as easy targets. Dostana took the smart track - it did not actually have a gay couple but it explored the idea in a funny, non-judgemental way that has never been seen on Hindi screens. Lighten up!was the message, not the yucky "tum logon ki biraadri aaj kal kuchh zyaada hi badh rahi hai" type of dialogue seen in films like "Welcome".
I have known no one who is a gay in my life but as a teen I saw it as an "abnormality" that was perhaps the result of debauched ideas or unfortunate abuse. When my MBBS cousin told me that some people were just born, "wired" that way, I told him in no uncertain terms - "what rubbish". His ten years of analysing the human physiology did not after all make him a superior judge of such things as far as I was concerned.
Today, I feel glad that this silly ignorance which is essentially based on the fear that things that don't conform could be dangerous, has given way to a more accepting outlook. After the media-bashing in the last post, I have to admit that the media has played no mean role in nudging this belief into me. The only time I came across a gay couple was on a bus ride to the Grand Canyon from Vegas. They were young and good looking and ridiculously quiet throughout the journey - clearly self-conscious. It made me think why the sight of them holding hands should offend anyone so much. The pursuit of happiness is a noble goal after all.
If finding love in the unusual way is your means to it, it should definitely not be anybody else's problem.
Here's hoping that society stops agonising over these non-issues and takes to conserving it's energy for something positive.
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Ah!!! I totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI just hope we as a society start minding our business.
right as it is we have so many things worth minding on our business :)
ReplyDeletethanx
As a teenager, I was apprehensive of gays as well. I think the way this community is portrayed in films and media, and moreover the general way they behave and dress scared me, but as an young adult when I saw foreign TV shows and saw that gays dress and behave normally and they dont usually behave"gay" I started seeing them in a new light, I really cried watching Philadelphia, and understood this community and the need for acceptance that they have. Am happy about this law.
ReplyDeleteHey Sujata
ReplyDeleteit is so unfortunate that such meaningless hatred should be fostered in any society. havent seen philadelphia. but there are quite a few hollywood films that have done justice to gays. I am keen to seee brokeback mountain - love heath ledger.
thanx
M
From maruko to gay pride? How diverse !
ReplyDeleteHey Spike
ReplyDeletenahin chalega kya?
stifling something that doesnt hurt anyone is so dangerously stupid - it is one of my pet peeves. btw, our winking yogi - baba ramdev says that regular practice of kapalbharati will "cure" gays. :))))))
hey... bilkul chalega. I was surprised at the complete change in the topic u chose... more of a compliment than anything else.
ReplyDeletei didnt think you meant it badly either. but thanks for putting it in black and white - that it IS a compliment :)
ReplyDeletehii M! am so glad to be reading u again! dont stop now i've found u!! ur so right in this post and i agree, people should be less moralistic and correct their own behavior first. a couple of months ago i was in pune and was feeling ashamed to call myself maharashtrian/even indian at a point when a local building manager proudly told us of discriminating against a certain community by not allowing them to book houses there. why this disgusting prejudice? i am glad that the lgbt community is closer to some rights. i was also predisposed to admiring baba ramdev from all the reports i had heard about him, it's sad to hear about his statement above.
ReplyDelete