In pursuit of acceptance

On 26^th of June, 2015, the SCOTUS passed a historic judgement. Now, USA has become the 21^st country in the world to legalise same sex marriage. The Court has ruled that the US Constitution grants every citizen equal rights and protection, irrespective of their sexual orientation and no state can ban same sex marriage. The USA has added its name to the list of countries that have legalised same sex marriage such as The UK, France, Norway, Spain, Sweden, etc. “No longer may this liberty be denied,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority in the historic decision. According to Justice Kennedy, ‘marriage is a keystone in our social order and that no union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. The decision was celebrated by gay couples all over The US. The social networks flooded with hashtags #LoveWins, #scotusmarriage, #equalityforall and many others.

Rainbow coloured flags were waved all over the States. The social media even went all colourful. Several accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram uploaded their pictures in the rainbow colour. The Rainbow flag is an international symbol of LGBT pride. The flag was created in 1978 by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker. As he told MoMa in an interview, the idea began to take shape in 1976. Baker was a Vietnam War veteran and a drag queen. It was the year of the United States Bicentennial, and the American flag was inescapable. Baker created the first Rainbow flag in the attic of the Gay Community Centre in San Francisco with the help of nearly 30 volunteers. They soaked fabric in trash cans full of dye, fed them through a sewing machine, and laboriously ironed the strips at the other end. The massive banner flew for the first time in United Nations Plaza in downtown San Francisco on June 25, 1978. Following its debut, the Rainbow flag spread widely.

This victory didn’t come so easily though. For years, the LGBT community has been fighting for equality and acceptance in the society. Earlier, people found it odd to be gay. Those who came out were often ridiculed for their sexuality. Some religions called such relationships to be blasphemous. Many eastern countries declared it to be a ‘western disease’. Some called it a psychological disorder. Situations are quite different now. More and more people, including the ‘straight people’, are fighting for and supporting the LGBT community. More and more people are coming out proudly. A year ago, actress Ellen Page, known for her roles in Juno & X Men, came out at the Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive conference held in Las Vegas. She said, “I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain.”

We know about her struggle because she is a celeb. There are many others like Ellen, who struggle to reveal about their sexuality because they’re afraid. Because they think of what others will think about them. They need not now. Because the law’s with them. It’s time people understood that love is unconditional and without any constraints. Things have certainly changed a bit in today’s times, though. A few religious communities, these days are open to same sex marriage. Even some parents are accepting and respecting their children’s choices. Such decisions act as a breath of relief for LGBT community all over the world and influence other countries to take proper steps.

THE SITUATION AT HOME:

Unlike what we saw above, the glorious picture of acceptance, the situation’s quite different in India. India is one of those countries that hasn’t legalized same sex marriage yet. Indians are still skeptical of the LGBT community. A family still feels ‘ashamed’ to admit the sexuality of a member if he/she is gay. They strongly believe it is out of the norm. The families take ‘special’ corrective measures, like ‘corrective rape’; to ‘correct’ their sexual orientations. It is such a shameful act. How can ‘rape’ be corrective? The people don’t even consider the implications of it on the child. A minister, once went too far, saying that he would open ‘correctional centres’ for the gay people and ‘cure’ them. The question that pops in one’s mind is: Is he trying to classify gay people in the same group as addicts? Many so-called politicians make strange statements. Many say, it’s a western disease, corrupting today’s Indian youth.

However, there are several Indian LGBT communities who voice constantly for their equality and acceptance in the Indian society.

It’s a long road ahead for LGBT people in India but someday, hopefully, the bureaucrats understand the essence of love and pass a law favouring such communities. Then, there will be no more hiding and no more lying. People can be free and happy, for happiness is the goal of everyone’s life.