Posted On: 2021-09-22 05:07:58
What is Love? How do we know that we are in Love? Is it just an emotion towards another? How do we describe it?
A mix of emotions, sensations, behaviours, and beliefs is associated with strong feelings of affection, protectiveness, warmth, and respect for another person or thing. There should not be any boundaries, rules, regulations or certain ways to love someone. In today’s world where we believe that soulmates exist, we should not stop anyone to keep them away from that person who they love the most irrespective of their gender, colour and race. Let us understand the term LGBTQ:
A woman who is experiencing any physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. They may prefer to be identified as gay or as gay women.
The term gay is used to describe people whose experiencing physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex. A man loving another man or Women getting attracted to another woman.
A person who can form physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to those of similar gender or those of another gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and levels over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had particular sexual experiences to be bisexual; in fact, they need not have had any sexual activity at all to identify as bisexual.
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they are at birth. People under the term transgender may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms— including transgender. Many transgender people are designated hormones by their doctors to align their bodies with their gender identification. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not reliant upon physical appearance or medical procedures.
Queer is used by some people whose sexual orientation is not particularly heterosexual. Typically, for those who identify as queer, the terms lesbian, gay, and bisexual are understood to be too limiting and/or filled with cultural intentions they feel don’t apply to them. Some people may use queer, or genderqueer, to describe their gender identity and/or gender representation. Once considered a derogatory term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBTQ people to describe themselves; however, it is not a globally accepted term even within the LGBTQ community.
The portrayal of a complete "LGBT community" or "LGB community" is also despised by some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Some do not subscribe to or approve of the political and cultural solidarity, and visibility and human rights campaigning that normally go with it including gay pride movements and events. Some of them understand that grouping together people with non-heterosexual orientations continue the myth that being gay/lesbian/bi/asexual/pansexual/etc.
These people are often less noticeable compared to more active gay or LGBT activists. Since this disunity is difficult to distinguish from the heterosexual majority, it is common for people to assume all LGBT people support LGBT liberation and the distinctness of LGBT people in society, including the right to live one's life differently from the majority.
"Rainbow" has implications that recall hipsters, New Age movements, and groups such as the Rainbow Family or Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. SGL ("same gender loving") is sometimes favoured among gay male African Americans as a way of differentiating themselves from what they regard as white-dominated LGBT communities. Rainbow coloured flags in today's digital era specify the support for the LGBTQ community. Rainbows and unicorns signify the community and the community uses these colours to support each other
Pride month
Every year, during June month, the LGBT community celebrates the "pride" of being themselves in several different ways. Across the globe, various activities, events are held during this special month as a way of recognising the influence LGBT people have had around the world. It is celebrated in June because it is when the Stonewall Riots took place, way back in 1969.
Being a month-long celebration, Pride month is also an opportunity and moment to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of current matters faced by the community. Parades are the main feature of Pride month, and there are many street parties, parades, community events, poetry readings, public speaking, street festivals and educational sessions all of which are covered by social media and attracting millions of participants. These events also help and encourage millions of others to come out and be proud of who they are.
Coming out
“Coming out” is agreeing with your sexual orientation and gender identity and then deciding to share it with some important or all of the people in your life. Coming out is unusual and different for everyone and there are lots of ways to do it. You can only know what’s best for your life right now.
Coming out is a choice that LGBTQ people have to face all the time, with every new person they meet. So it’s something you’ll have to probably do over and over again throughout your life. The way you propose and experience coming out might change, depending on where you are and who you’re with. Coming out is a very personal and emotional decision. "You and only you get to decide if, when, and how you do it". Coming out can be a really important step, and people should only come out if and when they’re ready and feel safe doing so. It’s never ok to press someone into coming out or taking out an LGBTQ person without their permission.
Sometimes it’s also helpful to talk to adults you trust, like a counsellor, social worker, teacher, or supportive family member and with other people who are LGBTQ to help you decide when and how you want to come out.
For all people, especially young people especially gender and sexuality, desire can change and evolve with time and experiences. It might take you a while or even a life span in some cases to fully understand your sexual orientation and identify your gender. Sharing a big part of who you are as a person during the time that you’re trying to understand it all can be confused, complicated and hurtful.
For a lot of people, coming out can be a great encounter — especially if they have support and comfort from their friends, families, and communities. Unfortunately in some places, there’s a lot of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia( fear and hatred of people who are LGBTQ. If you think coming out might cause you harm, physical, emotional, or financial) you may decide to wait to come out until you have a plan to take care of yourself.
Social attitudes have improved dramatically in the past decade, thanks to activism from the transgender community and growing understanding and acceptance from the younger generations; aided enormously by the web, and social media sites.
There is this invisible 'comfortable closet' where people hide themselves and their orientation fearing others, what they might do, think and behave. But it's a closet! The moment someone decides to leave that comfortable space they'll face their fear" and be the best carefree versions of themselves.
History of LGBTQ in India
Homosexuality in India has been a subject of criticism from ancient times to modern times. Rigveda, one of the four Vedas, the principal ordained texts of Hinduism, says Vikriti Evam Prakriti (meaning what seems unnatural is also natural), which some scholars believe recognises homosexual dimensions of personal human life. Historical belletristic evidence intimates that homosexuality has been prevailing across the Indian subcontinent throughout history and that homosexuals were not necessarily considered inferior in any way until about the 18th century during British colonial rule. However, under the Islamic law of "Fatawa 'Alamgiri" during the Mughal Empire, male homosexual intercourse was punishable by whipping or stoning. On 6th September 2018, a 5-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court of India revoked part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, hence making homosexuality legal in India, which created history in these modern times.
Public talk on homosexuality in India has been inhibited by the fact that sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly. In recent years, however, views towards homosexuality have shifted slightly. In particular, there have been more depictions, discussions and support towards homosexuality in the Indian media, cinema and between citizens. Mental, physical, emotional and economic struggle and violence against the LGBT community in India continues to be a problem. Lacking support and comfort from family, society or police, many gay rape victims do not report the crimes and drink down the sip of their struggle in the community.
As per "The Mint", Homosexuality remains a taboo for a large part of Indian society, even among the youth. Less than half of India’s urban youth approve of same-sex relationships, even among those residing in the major metro cities, approval of same-sex relationships is low, especially in the southern regions of India.
Social recognition of homosexuality is the highest in Delhi-NCR, closely followed by Mumbai. About 50% of the youth are supportive of same-sex relationships in these cities. the big lag between societal acceptance and legal authorising of homosexuality in India, also indicate that the tides in Indian society are turning.
Nearly 54% of people between ages 18 to 22 (the Generation-Z) said they approved or ‘somewhat’ approved of same-sex relationships and marriages, while only 21% aged 39 or more said they approved of same-sex relationships.
Pinkstart is the new global crowdfunding platform designed especially for the LGBT community. They support a project that has better visibility being in the right place. With this platform, the LGBTQ community can raise money along with awareness of acceptance of the community in society.
Explore more about the platform by clicking on the link https://www.pinkstart.me/en
With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic raging through India, the LGBTQ+ community faces unique challenges. Sex workers have lost their daily wages, trans people have no official ID for government schemes, and those in the closet stuck with their parents have no support systems. Pink List India has put together a list of NGOs working towards providing immediate relief for the queer community across the country. You can support them, click on the link mentioned below
https://www.pinklistindia.com/queerelief
487,803 people are identified as transgender in India and are considered as a third gender of the community. Relegated to the sidelines of culture, most of the people in the transgender community are forced to make a living through begging, dancing at ceremonies like weddings, and sex work, according to rights groups. While some issues are spoken, some remain to be dealt with. The Human rights & Social Justice Association has undertaken the responsibility of giving ration to the people of the Transgender Community. They want to help them in these tough times. When most people ignore them, they want to stand up and help them. 7500 People of Transgender Community, Tribal Community and HIV Affected People in Mumbai are under the Global Rights Foundation.
Your support will help them to get over this difficult phase of their life
https://filaantro.org/fundraiser/view/help-transgender-community
These are some networks where you can discover and support this awesome community and projects around the world. Love is love no matter what, who and how. Let us support each other and be kind towards each other.
"I've been embraced by a new community. That's what happens when you’re finally honest about who you are; you find others like you."--Chaz Bono
Author : Lubdha Dhanopia
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