.. Let’s Start a Conversation: Bringing about Change

In order to create a safe, inclusive, open and tolerant working environment, the place where I work has come up with a program called OUTFRONT for the LGBTQIA community (i.e. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Intrasexual, Asexual, for the uninitiated) providing a platform to express them openly, be themselves, fostering a tolerant and safe working environment. Recently we received a mail informing us about including same-sex couples and their partner under the insurance cover, including Gender Reassignment surgery.

Now these are steps in the right direction, positive step. It feels good to see the organisation taking the lead, one of the few times I’m actually proud of being part of it, ok the only time I’ve actually felt good of being part of the company. These little steps go a long way to foster an environment where people are allowed to be themselves, who they are, be their creative self, not live in a closet, to start a conversation, to foster openness.

Let’s face it, no one chooses to be gay or queer or transgender, overnight, it’s not something one decide like hey let me be gay from tomorrow and see how it is. As the Mother Monster says “Baby we were born this way”. With so many men and women hiding in the closet, refusing to come out, afraid of the persecution, and ostracisation, the emotional trauma and the emotional blackmail, now who would want that, kaun khud ke pair par khulade marenga? It takes great courage, guts, strength and resolve, to come out to the world, to be prepared to face the scorn, backlash and the trauma and have very little support.

Steps like these go a long way in starting a conversation, if not eliciting an overnight change. Cause let’s face it we still have a long way to go. These conversations help bringing out of the closet and into the open what would otherwise be swept under the rug, would be treated as something that shouldn’t be spoken about, something that should be discussed, shouldn’t even be there in the first place, a taboo. They help make people comfortable, normalising life. What they want is to be seen as equals, to be treated normally like everyone else, not someone with a disease or a weird person. To love who they choose to love, to live the life they want to life, to be authentic to themselves. For this they would want an acceptance from their family and friends first and then society at large. Many a unhappy marriage (Indian) are because of parental pressure, societal pressure, cause families and society will not accept these people and their relationship, families who are ashamed of what their children are, fearing gossip, ostracism from their social circle and religion.

We have changed our attitude and treatment towards untouchability (unless you’re one of those who like to continue to benefit from it) then why not change it to the LGBTQIA community? They don’t want special treatment or privileges or reservations, cause that would create an unequal world which is not the goal. All is asked is an acceptance, to be treated normally as you would with the next person, to be seen as an equal and not as a deceased abomination in the world.

We elicit change from the stories we tell, the examples we set. It’s time we keep an open mind and be accepting of all, to hear what everyone one has to say, to keep the conversation alive.