I identify as queer. And I felt a profound pride for all of us when other individuals told me they were queer. I believed that by working together, we were bravely challenging preconceived notions of who and what a person could be. I was certain that we were the next generation of young radicals pushing humanity forward. For months, I struggled with the question of my queer identity, eventually accepting that I was queer because I had a larger vision of love and human embodiment than those mandated by Western civilization's normal gender roles. I started using gender-neutral pronouns, and I started to become annoyed when folks assumed I was a woman. My androgyny assumed queerness because I felt myself as more complete and complex than a woman, both feminine and masculine. Was it, however, I? What does it mean to be queer existentially? Queer love is revolutionary, redefines family, and opposes assimilation into heteropatriarchy, according to one of the various definitions of queerness. Perhaps the most common feature of queerness is that it cannot be stated succinctly or concretely.
Queer movements are about more than just educating and reaching out to possible allies—they're also about standing up to those who are clear foes. And, boy, do we have a lot of definite opponents! There are enemies who are more than just homophobic or transphobic individuals. Complex webs of systems and societal bigotries support adversaries. Enemies who are imposed through laws, and who can be severely punished if you oppose them. Enemies who won't blink at milquetoast deeds or conformity, but will crumble when confronted with actual, drastic change. As a closted teen, I always felt a sense of apprehension and dismissiveness amongst my batchmates and the larger context that we term as ‘society’ but can I share any progress as to how I felt at ease now, unfortunately I cannot. The rise of right-wing ultranationalism and intolerance in the current geopolitical scenario scares me even more. Moreover, the very idea that ‘queerness’ exists and manifests itself so vicariously and nurtured exclusively through the help of a shared community is a hope that I cling to. Does that indicate that there is no safe space, our existence is at threat? Well, it is partially true, there exists a semblance of safe space for close knit individuals who are free to express, dissent harmoniously, interact and be an epitome of challenging the status quo.
This also brings me to cite how queer dissent has been vocal in India and how it was able to give me a sense of cordialship, familiarity and resonance in the hardtimes of figuring out even if the queer movement will stay or wither away with the state;s instrument of fear and callousness but it rose and will never cease to exist.
History of Queer dissent in India
In India, the queer movement developed into resistance phenomenon of the century. Over the previous few decades, certain events have had a significant impact on its evolution. The first recorded LGBT protest happened outside police headquarters in the ITO region of New Delhi to increased right-wing hooliganism. The queer dissent has beared the brunt of it all. In 2009, the Delhi High Court ruled that Section 377 of the Indian constitution, which refers to "unnatural offenses," was unconstitutional. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the high court decision, making homosexual partnerships illegal once more. The Supreme Court of India issued a landmark ruling in the matter of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) versus the Union of India in 2014. The court deemed transgender people to be a third gender and upheld their fundamental rights under Indian law. It also affirmed the right of transgender people to self-identify. In 2018, the Supreme Court found that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was unconstitutional, decriminalising homosexuality in India. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, was introduced the next year, following this historic ruling. By decriminalizing begging and eliminating a screening process, this measure improved on the 2016 version significantly. The queer solidarity during CAA-NRC protestations is another indication of the movements strength and support for morally exercising the right to freedom of speech and express despite under surveillance and threat. These alterations in popular attitudes and legislative developments point to India's queer politics being in perpetual flux. While the majority of these are reasons to rejoice, there is still a long way to go.
Queer dissent has always been one of the most integral parts of my personality and politics. The resistance aimed at self and the regime gives me enough hope to stay just a day more to see it topple down. The resistance march and fundamental get-together of identities which stand together and voice against the oppressor rejoices my soul and reclaims the space that has historically been negated to us. Queer dissent assisted me in acknowledging my privilegde and extending it to my queer friends who are deprived of their autonomy and bear debilitating instances of the state. I feel privilege to be able to have a support group but the instances of queer movements being a radicalised action stir the instinctual need of just looking at each other and realising that “"nolite te bastardes carborundorum" (Don't let the bastards grind you down).
By
Kaushiki Ishwar
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