India’s lingering homophobia

The month of glory comes and goes; But homophobia in India is here to stay like a ghost. As a good omen for this year’s pride month, the Kerala High Court recently granted a nod to a gay couple, Adila Nasreen and Fatima Noora, to live together after being forcibly separated by their parents. Set a new example. Ms. Nasreen had filed a habeas corpus petition following which Ms. Noora, who was allegedly “captured” by her family, appeared before the court. The court simply asked the couple if they wanted to live together, to which they replied yes. The couple’s happiness took hold on social media. People congratulated the court and several social media profiles talked about the gender spectrum. But worryingly, it also triggered rude homophobic chirps on cyber streets. It revealed that “God created Adam and Eve; There is no Adam and Steve attitude in Indian society.

The Indian Psychiatric Society authentically states that homosexuality is not a mental disorder; But that sentiment has not reassured most Indian households.

an attitude disposition

Homophobia is defined by Encyclopedia of Britannica As culturally a fear or prejudice against homosexuals arises that sometimes manifests in legal sanctions or, in extreme cases, bullying or even violence against homosexuals. The term ‘homophobia’ was coined by an American clinical psychologist George Weinberg in his book Society and Healthy Gays (1972). The suffix ‘phobia’ usually refers to an irrational fear, in the case of homophobia, the term instead refers to a behavioral disposition that ranges from a mild dislike to a hatred of people who are sexually or sexually attracted to individuals of the same sex. are romantically attracted. It is a culturally conditioned response to homosexuality. Homophobia runs against the constitutional values ​​of fraternity and dignity.

JB Kriplani, a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly, commented on the principle of fraternity in the Assembly: “I come to the great principle of fraternity which is associated with democracy. It means that we are all sons of the same God, as the religious would say. , but as mystics would say, that one life beats through all of us, or as the Bible says, we belong to one another. Without this there can be no brotherhood. Therefore, I want this House to remember that What we have propounded are not just legal, constitutional and formal principles, but moral principles; and moral principles have to be lived in life. They have to be lived whether it is private or public life…” And psychological hatred destroys the constitutional fraternity which has to live in the public and private life of the nation.

Devdutt Patnaik in mythology says quirkiness is not only modern, western or sexual Shikhandi: And Other ‘Queer’ Tales They Don’t Tell You (2014). He uncovered a wealth of vast written and oral traditions in Hinduism to show us many unseen tales, such as Shikhandi, who became a man to satisfy his wife; Mahadeva, who became a woman to deliver the child of her devotee; Chudala, who turns out to be a man to convince her husband; and many more.

‘Highest place for brotherhood’

Fraternity is also not a pure Western ideal. Dr. BR Ambedkar clarified the Indian roots of the ideal of fraternity during an All India Radio interview in 1954: “My social philosophy can be said to be rooted in three words: liberty, equality and fraternity. Yet no one says that I have Philosophy borrowed from the French Revolution. Not me. My philosophy has its roots in religion and not in political science. I got them from the teachings of my master, the Buddha… He gave the highest place to fraternity, to liberty or equality. As the only real protection against denial – fraternity which was another name for brotherhood or humanity, which was another name for religion.” Dr. Ambedkar supported the ideal of fraternity to protect the interests of downtrodden castes, downtrodden. The same principle augurs well for the gender dalits of today’s India – the LGBTQ+ community. Society should not deprive the LGBTQ+ community of affection and thanks only for their sexual orientation.

In is god anti gay, Sam Albery quotes the Bible: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6v 35). Albery ends his pamphlet by saying that the “invitation” [of God] There is for everyone. And this gift is so precious that God cannot really be called ‘Anti’, to whom this wonderful gift is being given.” If God is not anti-gay, how can his sons and daughters be afraid of homosexuality?

Faisal CK is the Under Secretary (Law) to the Government of Kerala.