Swetha Murugan (Batch of 2022)

Acceptance, a word that originated in French, is not difficult to pronounce nor uncommon. Yet, the meaning it embodies is realised mainly through its antithesis. Acceptance is equivalent to understanding another, which paves the way for love, the elusive nectar in short supply.

If acceptance is that important, why is it so hard to practise? Our unwillingness and inability to tolerate differences among people sow the seeds of discord in society. Therein lies the cause for the many problems we grapple with, time and again. Ironically, the complex system of beliefs in India is built on the principle of unity in diversity. It is a miracle that India, with its heterogeneity, has been cohesive in decades since her Independence.

The LGBTQ+ community has been vehemently pushing for fair treatment and acceptance in society. This tight-knit community has people with a different sexual orientation than the normative choice and identify with a gender other than the binary choices assigned at birth. More than seven decades ago, these people came out of the closet and expressed solidarity. Marking this period in history might suggest that this movement is of recent origin. That's far from the truth. We go back in time and look at the scriptures and mythology. It was there, wasn't it? We've heard stories about Apollo, the Greek god, and Hyacinthus, a Greek prince. We examine Hindu Mythology which is so rich in queer characters. We have temples such as Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, the Sun Temple, Virupaksha Temple, et cetera. The sculptures in these temples depict queer practices. These temples were built during the Chandella dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD.

<aside> 🛕 Temples built in an earlier era with such portrayals suggest a liberal culture in the mainstream. So why? Why does our society get squeamish about fringe groups in the community, especially in India, where history would have us believe we co-existed with differences? During British rule, same-sex relationships and transgender people came to be seen as immoral and treated as morally repulsive outcasts. The British colonial law, section 377, stated, "whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal" would be punished with imprisonment or fines. They believed that such laws would modernise society and cleanse us of perversions.

</aside>

In contrast, such laws left us intolerant and discriminatory against people whose preferences we did not always understand. The British also tried to erase transgenderism or the third gender. While in the Muslim-majority population, the Sharia law prescribed severe punishment for such transgressions.

After many years of a concerted struggle, the Indian Supreme Court finally decided in 2018 to repeal Section 377. It was a momentous step forward that decriminalised queer behaviour. Still, we have a long way to go in the future. Even if we grudgingly accept them, their families remain stubbornly defiant and unappreciative of such realities.

It's high time that we embrace differences empathetically. The social ostracism of the LGBTQ+ group needs to stop. Everyone deserves space to breathe freely and live life on their terms.