No longer labelled criminals, says Bangalore's sexual minority

As they celebrate the Delhi High Court's verdict decriminalising gay sex, there is relief among Bangalore's sexual minorities. But there is pain, too, as the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community recounts stories of suffering and discrimination over the years.

"When I first told my educated parents about existence of a man in my life, whom I wanted to marry, my father asked me to leave home. Homeless and traumatised, I left Bangalore and did odd jobs in Delhi," a teary eyed Praveen Kumar (name changed on request), told IANS.

"After years of spending a lonely life, my father called me back to Bangalore. They have accepted me the way I am," said Kumar, 35, who is working as a content writer with a web portal in Bangalore.

If Kumar was forced to leave his home, Divya was severely beaten in her small neighbourhood in the city, when existence of her 'girlfriend' came into light some eight years back.

"I was a college student and I fell in love with one of my classmates, who also happened to be a girl. We were deeply in love and shared a physical relationship. But, I never mustered the courage to tell anyone about it. Somehow, my neighbours came to know and one day around a group of 15 people, both men and women, beat me up," recalled Divya.

"After being brutally battered and getting no support from my parents and siblings, I had no choice but to run out from home, as everyone threatened to send me to police," added Divya, 29.

After going through a harrowing time, Divya today is working as a salesperson in a garment shop, but is yet to declare her orientation in public.

"Hopefully, after Thursday’s Delhi High Court's verdict, I am planning to tell all my friends and colleagues about my sexual orientation,” smiled Divya.

The Delhi High Court judgment Thursday decriminalised gay sex, by striking down a portion of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which sees homosexuality as "unnatural sex" and treats it as a criminal act.

“We’re hoping that after the judgment, police harassment of LGBT community will come down. At least the police won’t be able to arrest a person, because of their sexual orientation,” said Siddharth Narrain, a gay rights activist and advocate.

Monica, a transgender said her family abandoned her as she was born as a boy, but started living the life of a girl.

“My parents hated me. They were embarrassed of my identity. One day I left home and danced and begged to earn my livelihood. On many an occasion, I was harassed. I would like to go back to my home and parents one day,” said Monica, 25, who was born Abdul.

In Bangalore, several organisations such as Sangama, Samara, Good As You (GAY), Swabhava, and the Alternative Law Forum (ALF) are working for the rights of the LGBT community.

“Now, transsexuals too can lead a normal life. After the Delhi High Court’s verdict, the existence of transsexuals has been legitimised,” said Revathi, a transsexual activist.

“We will no longer be considered criminals,” smiled Sumathi, member of Sangama, fighting for the rights of transsexuals.

The activists across Bangalore are feeling that judgment although pronounced by the Delhi High Court would be applicable across the country as there was no other law that now criminalises consensual sex among adults in private.

“All high courts and lower courts across the country will have to take cue from this particular judgment,” said Narrain.

“It is a good step taken by the judiciary. Now, many who till date have kept their identity under wraps will be encouraged to come out in the open without any fear,” said advocate and human rights activist B.T. Venkatesh.

“This would be one of the many steps in the recognition of the LGBT community, at least their existence as people would finally be recognised,” he added.

Last updated on Jul 3^rd, 2009 at 17:58 pm IST--IANS