Several conservative middle class families in Bandra in the vicinity of the venues for the Queer Mela and the Gay Pride March are wondering how to explain to the children what they see
The way the windows and doors to the balcony are closed and curtains drawn makes it necessary for the lights to be kept on in the Barwalkar residence at Bandra even during daytime.
“What else can we do?” asks Snehal Barwalkar who has asked both her children not to go out. Since she won’t tell them why, the 11 and 12-year-olds keep pestering her with questions. She looks up exasperated, “This is what the government should think about before giving permission for these gay festivals. What are we as parents supposed to say about their costumes or conduct?”
Several conservative middle class families in Bandra in the vicinity of the venues for the Queer Mela and the Gay Pride March are wondering how to explain to the children what they see. “Telling children anything will only lead to more questions about a topic which we are ourselves uncomfortable discussing,” says Beatrice Rodrigues, Barwalkar’s neighbour.
Unlike both these working women, homemaker Momaya Banerjee says it is healthy that children get to see the LGBT community just like the heterosexuals. “Why should we decide for them?” she asks and adds, “Unless there is nudity or inappropriate behaviour I don’t think there is any reason to get upset.” Her sound recordist husband Partho disagrees with her and wonders why there should be any discrimination at all. “Don’t we see couples snogging on Carter road? And what do we do? We ignore them but just because it is two men or women we have a problem,” he says. According to him children take their cue from parents on how to react. “The idea that a certain way of life is wrong can be wrongly planted at very tender age,” he explains.
Rodrigues scoffs that all such progressive talk is only because the couple is newly married and has still to start a family. “How you think as a couple and as parents is completely different,” she says.
Vivek Anand of the Humsafar Trust which is part of the organisers says that the Queer Mela and the week-long events are actually an attempt to take on such dogma about the community head-on.
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