THE BOMBAY TIMES TRIES TO DO RIGHT AND FAILS MISERABLY
First of all, people should be aware that there is still a law in India that prohibits and criminalises sexual activities “against the order of nature” (a.k.a. us, the non-heteros). This is called Section 377. However, this law that seems to have been made by someone with a medieval mentality, is not the main point of this article.
Suknidh Kaur and six other LGBTQ+ students that were being interviewed about this law were invited to participate in a photoshoot organized by The Bombay Times. Everything seemed positive, representation is good, right?
Well, it depends on the type of representation. The wrong kind can be damaging and dangerous, especially for a society that has been oppressed for such a long time. These students left the photoshoot when they were told they “didn´t look gay enough”.
They literally told LGBTQ+ students to come back looking as their stereotypes, the ones they are ridiculed for by a narrow-minded society, for a photoshoot that was supposed to address the issue of LGBTQ+ rights and dignity in the country.
Outraged but not surprised. Even those who appear to be pro-LGBTQ+, like to indulge and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. So please, learn how to work with LGBTQ+ people without being offensive and exploitative. If you cannot accept their authentic selves, don´t portray yourself as progressive because you are not.
There is not only one way to be gay.
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