Creating spaces sans bias

Thursday, April 9, 2009
By Vaishali Chandra
SOURCE:  DNA India

Bangalore: Reel life often takes flights of fancy. It, however, is a potent medium to mirror reality. The two-day Bangalore Queer Film Festival commences Friday in an effort to raise awareness towards LGBT issues among the masses.

Films are a celebration of life, a window into people’s lives. Good As You, a support group for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) groups, and Delhi-based Nigah bring to the city an array of international films that throw light on queer lifestyles.

“It’s extremely important to raise awareness related to queer issues all over the country, given that there is still ignorance, prejudice and sometimes just no information about LGBT people and issues related to them,” says Siddharth N, member, Good As You.

Emphasising the need for awareness in a city like ours, he says, “Since Bangalore is a growing metropolitan city, there are many people who migrate here and live on their own, and are looking for information, safe spaces and communities of LGBT people.” Hence, an event like this aims to provide an opportunity to talk about queer issues and create such a space, he says.

But with the queer or LGBT population growing, there is a need for their acceptance in families as well as society. Siddharth, who is part of Good As You since 1994, points out at the growing communities working for GLBT and says, “In terms of the work being done on this issue, activism and people who openly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersexed, the community has grown. There are more than 10 organisations that do work on sexuality, sexual health and sexual minority rights issues in Bangalore.”

Family support and acceptance is lacking. This is a concern for queer people as they look towards their family for support. Siddharth also pointed out that, “Families are the first space where queer communities face violence and discrimination.” It is important for attitudinal and societal change. There is also a need for parents to be educated about LGBT issues.

There are some serious issues that need to be addressed. Siddharth speaks about three burning issues — The demand for the Repeal/Reading down of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the law that criminalises homosexuality in India. He says, “This law is used to harass, intimidate, and extort LGBT people in the country.” This law creates certain underlying problems that make it difficult for LGBT persons to claim positive rights like the right to marry, the right to adopt as a couple.

He informs, “A case filed by Naz Foundation in the Delhi High Court has just been heard, and the judgment is awaited.”

Secondly, positive recognition of issues related to lesbian and bisexual women which include violence from within the family, and lack of safe spaces for women who desire other women. He says, as a result, a number of lesbian couples have committed suicide all over the country, yet little has been done by the state to address their concerns.

Lastly, he feels that there is a need for state support for transgender persons. He says, “The state should accord choice of gender/sex to people who have undergone sex reassignment surgery, and provide welfare measures for the transgender community like housing and employment.”

With the films, he hopes that attitudes will change for the better.