Perspectives

6.

Queer. That is what they call me. To say that I am not like the others is an understatement. Even in the LGBT Community, I am something of a misfit. They add the extra Q for people like me- those who do not identify with the generic ones. We are radical even among the homosexuals.

Article 377 getting discussed in the news did not excite me. I had simply assumed that the majoritarian views of the people would dictate our fate, just as it always was. We would remain a slave to British Customs even though we claimed to be free. Even after the various on-going discussions, I had assumed that there would be no change. Nothing can come out of a matter so focused on the LGBT Community.

Even if section 377 is scrapped, people would continue to ostracise us. How would we ever gather support? Straight people won't show support. They cannot presume to understand our pain. What we go through each day, how frustrated we get in our life. The constant pointing at me makes me grit my teeth. Then, I saw the news in the evening. I half-expected the session would keep on getting delayed and pushed to later dates. I did not expect the court to have an actual answer.
"Autonomy of an individual is important. He or she can not surrender it to anyone"
"No one can escape from their individualism. Society is now better for individualism. In the present case, our deliberations will be on various spectrums."

I thanked whatever deities had watched over us and led us to this victory. With a teary face, I open my social media to tell my friends about this. I planned on doing so with a post dedicated to the team of lawyers who helped in bringing this to pass. I was left speechless when I saw the posts my friends had made for the community. The way the Internet responded to this left me in tears. People were cheering for people like US. I felt overwhelmed. It wasn't just the people who were from the LGBTQ+ Community, but straight people who had no stake in this fight but yet, were there to support us. Such a response will only help others to come out with their differences. I realised, that to show support, you don't need to be homosexual, just not a homophobe. You don't need to be gay, just human.

I thank the Supreme Court for being the court of all instead of the court of many. I thank the team of lawyers who fought tooth and nail in this fight for our rights. I must thank every individual who supported us despite it not being their fight. I must thank every person who saw fit to treat us as human. The list of people whom I should thank is by no means a short one nor did we win this overnight.

It was over several decades of perseverance and determination that led us here. We have further to go but every step takes us closer to our goals. Today, I can proudly claim that I am Queer and not ashamed. I must sign off now lest the tears choke me up.

-Rtr.Deval Savla