Hum hain queeristaani!

On Sunday, my diva Sridevi celebrated her 53rd birthday. She remains the epitome of acceptance. The Mumbai film industry accepted her, she accepted the language, and Mumbai became her home. She is one of the most celebrated actresses in the LGBTQI community.

The ‘Madhuri versus Sridevi’ fight between queeristaanis is legendary. I maintain, Madhuri is a good dancer, but Sridevi is the best performer and that includes dance, in which she excels. Team Madhuri and Team Sridevi will never miss the chance to kindle the debate. Like this one — I know you love Madhuri, but Sridevi can accommodate Madhuri in second position. Sridevi has a big heart.

And while you guys are bhaandan-ing, I will tell you about a fantabulous annual event that is being organised on August 15 by Yaariyan, the youth wing of The Humsafar Trust along with several organisations from Mumbai. This Independence Day, all queer roads lead to Suryavanshi  Kshatriya Sabhagruha, opposite Dadar Catering College. ‘The Acceptance Meet’ that starts at 3 pm, will be replete with discussions, poetry slams and what else and what not. The hashtag theme of this year’s event is #EveryLifeMatters with a special focus on the increasing number of suicide cases in the community.

The main reason for this is that it’s not society as much as our own families who don’t open their minds and hearts to accept their queer family members. Some also attempt suicide because of love affairs gone wrong. When your family would rather have you ‘cured’ for being gay than accepting your child settled happily — compare this with straight couples, the whole world would be focussed on getting them back together. So when LGBT people fall out of love, there are usually more taunts than support. But this is slowly changing. To fuel this change, we need more events like ‘The Acceptance Meet’.

We LGBTQI people have not got our freedom. I mean, till we have the sword of section 377 hanging on top of our heads, we are not truly free. We need to have an open dialogue on all fronts.

In the previous editions of ‘The Acceptance Meet’, we have had psychiatrists, family, friends and even politicians like BJP MLA Ashish Shelar who has attended the meet and raised a toast to equality. He eloquently spoke about the need to respect people for who they are. That’s why we need an event like ‘The Acceptance Meet’, where people can open their minds and speak out. Where the only assumption we make is that everyone is open for a conversation and to listen.

And with that assumption, we steer ahead in building bridges through the lovely art of conversation.

So, please majha barobar The Acceptance Meet la yaa.. mag Kirti College jaa jaavun vada paav khaau yaa.

(Activist Harish Iyer shares his entertaining adventures through Mumbai’s landscape)

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