LGBTQ+ activist Mohnish Malhotra tells Asmita Sarkar how nurturing an often overlooked community can bring them dignity and pride
A mini revolution is afoot on heels, wheels and mobile phones. The lgbtq+ community is no longer an underground culture but is grabbing the bull by the horns and has begun to enter popular culture. It has also become cooptive of other social groups. “I remember the first time when the drag performance began at Keshav Suri’s Kitty Su and Violet Chachki had come, two lawyers told me that they too do drag but in secret. They wanted a chance to showcase their talent as well,” said Mohnish Malhotra, organiser of the Delhi Pride Parade and the creative head of a public relations company.
Currently, there are many in contemporary performative artists like Mandeep Raikhy’s Gati Dance Forum, Vasu Primlani — an openly gay comedian — and Sushant Divgikar aka Rani Kohinoor, who are making people sit up and take note. In literature, poet Akhil Katyal waxes lyrical about everything from same-sex relationships to Partition and politics. But this recognition and acknowledgement has been hard-earned through decades long struggle. Drag, for instance, was seen as deviance 10-15 years ago but now Suri works with 30-40 Indian drag queens who earn a decent living, entertain and have star power. The community has risen up to include all minority rights under its purview and demands among the many policy changes, removal of the marital rape exception that affects both heterosexual and homosexual relationships.
“Queer is not just LGBT but maps a large landscape of all minorities whether it’s trans, adivasi, Dalit, women or Black people. In the past, we have been affirmative about making a statement and these are movements that are growing in tandem. They are not alone and we are not alone in this,” said Malhotra. But how does one make homosexual partners accountable when the marriage is not acknowledged by the law?
“We do discuss these issues. When we were talking about pride, nobody knew that the Supreme Court would actually strike down Section 377. From here, we can only go ahead. Acknowledging is important and we don’t know when same sex marriages will be legalised, if it’s done in two years or 10. But are we going to quit? No. We are going to do it together,” said he.
Among other demands that the Delhi Pride Parade would put forward is seeking legislation on hate crimes. “What we would like is that these cases are taken seriously in the court of law and whatever the law decides we will accept. Most of the cases don’t even make it to the FIR stage. It’s a very common thing,” he said. And he doesn’t absolve society from accountability by putting the onus on the judiciary alone. “The Supreme Court advised that the judgment should be sent to government offices, police stations and hospitals. Sensitisation training should be conducted throughout departments, that’s step number one. Step two is developing campaigns. That is something I am personally working towards by creating a talk show format web series — Unfamiliar Families (UF) — that will be launched at the World Dignity Forum, where the likes of Ted Turner, Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Gore will be present in India. The forum will speak of issues and offer and exchange solutions about what the situation is and how we go about sensitisation. The web series covers real life stories and struggles of people,” he said.
Another demand of the community is the creation of equal employment opportunities. “As a society, the utmost need is inclusion and empowerment. Even though the third gender identification has been granted by the apex court, the implementation of that has not penetrated the layers of society. Majority of trans-people are still beggars and are engaged in sex work, which is why there is an urgency to create employment with dignity,” he said.
On property and healthcare rights of same sex couples, he said, “It’s time we look at homogenous policies for all citizens regardless of their sexuality. A lot of private corporates are beginning to offer mediclaim policies to same sex couples already. It’s time to extrapolate.”
On November 25, the Pride walk will begin from Tolstoy Road at 3 pm in all its colourful glory till it reaches Parliament Street, where the stage has been set up for anybody and everybody to voice themselves. To those who find themselves alone and struggling with their identity, he said, “You’re not alone and reach out. It might feel like it’s lonely but spread your wings and you will find someone to listen to you.”