#dnaEdit: The significant others

Goa’s sports and youth affairs minister Ramesh Tawadkar’s ignorant and insensitive comments about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth have rightly triggered a public backlash, forcing the minister to retract his statement on Tuesday. Earlier this week, Tawadkar announced his plans to set up camps along the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous to ‘cure’ homosexuals. The remark has not only infuriated LGBT rights activists, but also drew sharp condemnation from the United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon. The UN chief expressed grave concern over the rising intolerance in India towards ‘Others’ — a trend manifest in the increasing incidence of violence against these vulnerable communities. 

However, Tawadkar’s utterances — part of the foot-in-the-mouth syndrome of politicians (former health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said homosexuality was “unnatural”, a “disease” and “not good for India”) — also reveal his ignorance of his own party’s policies at the national level. The mindset of the regressive elements within the ruling BJP, both in the states and the Centre, is at variance with the government’s National Youth Policy 2014. If anything, the Centre’s policy wants to “ensure that youth of all backgrounds are free from discrimination, stigma, and disadvantage; and have recourse to a justice system that is swift and equitable”. It also speaks about the need for greater monitoring and a vigilant media to prevent a host of illegal practices, including the stigmatisation of LGBT youth. 

Curiously, Tawadkar and the likes of him, in positions of power and authority, fail to see the writing on the wall. The world, including India, has realised the need for accepting gays, lesbians and transgenders and integrating them in the mainstream. The ever-increasing participation of ‘normal’ people in the pride marches, organised in the metros, most notably in Mumbai, shows openness and empathy towards the sexual minorities’ cause.

Ostracisation, though still prevalent, is being challenged more and more. This changing India has more than once demonstrated its willingness to accept Others without hesitation or inhibition. Consider, for example, the Mumbai University’s decision to include transgender as the third gender in a separate column on its forms for admission, scholarships and examinations. The people of Raigarh in Chhattisgarh recently voted for a transgender mayor Madhu Bai Kinnar who had spent 15 years begging on trains for a living before contesting the elections. 

Tawadkar’s backtracking in the face of widespread protests in the mainstream and social media is indicative of the way popular perception is evolving. It should also serve as a reminder to Baba Ramdev next time he talks about “curing the disease of homosexuality” with his brand of yoga.

In the midst of this current controversy, it is necessary to recall the Supreme Court judgment that reversed the Delhi high court’s decision to lift the ban on homosexuality. An otherwise liberal judiciary, which has led the way for reforms on several occasions, had squandered away a great opportunity to put an end to violent discrimination under the archaic Article 377. With more people coming out of the closet and openly stating their sexual preferences, it would be difficult to ignore the numbers of the LGBT community in India, where the transgender population alone is pegged at 4,90,000 by the latest census. Not for long can their aspirations be suppressed with antiquated laws and attitude. Already, their struggle to be accepted as they are has begun to yield results. It is time our public representatives woke up to the spirit of the times.