In June of 2023, the LGBTQIA+ community in India is waiting with bated breath for a tectonic shift in the recognition of its rights. Meanwhile, many of us still grapple with the stark gap between societal and legal acceptance that might deter us from even considering same-sex marriage despite having the potential opportunity to do so.
We live in two Indias: One of carefully curated queer spaces in metropolitan venues that promise representation with a big side of glittering drag, and the other of socially mandated violence and vastly inadequate infrastructure to support those at risk.
While awareness' has been the primary agenda for many activist movements and organisations for years, it is increasingly clear that the mere awareness of the existence of queer identity is not enough. Moving beyond the landmark Supreme Court judgment that decriminalised sexual activity between people of the same gender also means that we have to move beyond reductive stereotypes of hypersexuality. Seeing LGBTQIA+ people live full lives in public with the same aspirations and issues as their straight counterparts is significant in more ways than one.
MANY STRIPES
For a group blanketed under a huge rainbow flag, there exist as many internal power dynamics as the number of labels available to identify with. Sumit Pawar, founder of The QKnit Collective, an advocacy collaborative that started out by posting YouTube videos about the desi queer experience, says, "There are still very limited spaces for us because no space is truly safe. There's a lot of toxicity in online spaces, and it's not only on social media, but also on dating apps." The toxicity he speaks of is the reinforcement of cis-heteronormative biases within LGBTQIA+ spaces. There is transphobia and casteism aplenty, and women are often held to different standards than men.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من Grazia India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2023 من Grazia India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Cultural Renaissance
With a vision to bridge Jaipur's artistic legacy and the global contemporary art world, HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Noelle Kadar launch the Jaipur Centre for Art
LOVE, LOSS, AND LESSONS LEARNED
In conversation with Durjoy Datta, as he reflects on the emotional toll of writing intense stories, his journey as an author, and how his latest book revisits themes of love, second chances, and loss
All Eyes On THIS
Meet the newest standout brands on Grazia's beauty desk
Is Restocking Our Fridges A New Form Of Self-Care?
All the reasons why #restocking may not be as calming as it seems
SAVOUR THE TASTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
In the heart of our capital lies an extraordinary dining experience, unlike any other
ESCAPE THE ORDINARY
Luxury stays are now an essential part of our lives.
CHEFS ON THE LOOSE
Here's How Pop-Ups, Takeovers, and Workshops Are Heating Up the Indian Culinary Scene
NOT SO HIDDEN
What's making everyone wear acne patches, from transparent ones to colourful with bold designs, in public spaces?
RAISING THE BAR
With medi-facials on the rise, we're setting new benchmarks of our expectations from these treatments, and they're delivering
WHAT WORLD ARE WE LEAVING BEHIND FOR HER?
Despite stronger laws, crimes against women continue to rise in India. The International Day of the Girl Child is not one for celebration, but instead, one for igniting concern, awakening, and reformation
