#GetMeWellSoonGoa

Months ago, when the BJP came into power at the Centre, the LGBTQIA ​(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) community across the country expected things to get much harder for them. A few months into the new government, our fears have been confirmed. The little hope that we had in brand NaMo and the perceived and propagated ‘Moderate BJP’ — has given way to an increasing presence of orthodox ideals, ideas and bizarre beliefs.

One often wonders if the BJP is indeed a singular party. In August 2014, BJP's Mumbai chief, Ashish Shelar assured the LGBTQIA community that the BJP was against recriminalising of the community. He was quoted as saying, “criminalising the gay community by misusing Section 377 of the IPC is not acceptable to the BJP,” and added, “decriminalising consensual sex between two adults is a pressing need.” Six months later — a minister from the same party in a neighbouring state makes the most regressive statement about the community, yet.

Since the early 1970s, behavioural and social sciences as well as health and mental health professionals (globally) have considered homosexuality to be a normal variation of human sexual orientation. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder. The American Psychological Association Council of Representatives followed in 1975 and the World Health Organization finally declassified it in 1990. Is the honourable Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in Goa, Ramesh Tawadkarji, unaware of this? Or does he believe LGBTQIA individuals are afflicted with an addiction of sorts? Worse still, is he under the impression that medicines and counselling centres can make us ‘normal’?

How is it possible for Tawadkarji, living in Goa, one of India’s most progressive states, to have an uninformed opinion such as this? And as a common Indian citizen, I am very interested in understanding if this project of his will only apply to Goans or everyone who visits the state. This is particularly worrying when one puts into perspective the fact that Goa still attracts the largest number of international and national tourists, many of whom are LGBTQIA people. Is Tawadkarji ready to lose that income for the price of his perceived idea of being ‘normal’?

I have so many questions for Tawadkarji, but most of them will remain unanswered, I know. For now all I’d want to know is if these centres will be located by the beach and if the food will be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. If they are beach-side properties and serve yummy seafood, I’d like to be enrolled first. A free government sponsored holiday might just be the call of the hour. Bring it on! #GetMeWellSoonGoa
 
L Romal M Singh is a freelance writer based in Mumbai. While he’s not capering around as a masked vigilante fighting for the rights of human beings (in general), he travels extensively, sings and makes sweet sweet love to his boyfriend.