On Thursday, 6th September 2018, the Supreme Court delivered a long-awaited verdict which was received by loud cheers, applause and joyful tears throughout the country.
Section 377 is now partially repealed, decriminalising what was termed as ‘unnatural sex’ by the colonial lawmakers. While we all hail this historic win over prejudice, for some, this sentence means that they have the freedom, at last, to come clean to the world about who they are.
When it comes to gender and sexual orientation, true inclusivity is a distant dream, but judicial support for the people of the LGBTQA+ community means that their country understands, supports and accepts them as they are.
No more ‘escaping from individualism,’ thanks to the ‘Constitutional morality,’ as CJI Dipak Misra said, that was upheld in the verdict yesterday.
For many, like Arnab Nandy, this was the perfect day to tell the world that they are gay and proud.
In a Facebook post that has gone viral, Arnab shares his story of accepting his sexuality and sharing it with the world. “Sexuality is a part of your identity and not your identity. Everyone takes their own time to accept themselves thereafter its a journey of self-awareness and owning your personality traits. Two years ago I lived a life which was not letting me live like a free bird. The dual in my mind was strong enough to let me be unsure of who am I,” he says.
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The heartwarming post goes on to say how his conservative mother, who once did not understand homosexuality now sensitises everyone around her about it. It speaks of how his parents are beyond thrilled that their son is no more a ‘criminal.’
Perhaps paraphrasing Arnab’s story will not do justice to him or his journey. So here is his post, or rather, his story of crossing a milestone by coming out of the closet.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
