Bullying is endemic. The word “hijra” (often used as a slur for effeminate men) is hurled across classrooms. Boys who don’t play aggressive sports, who speak softly, who enjoy art or dance, are singled out. Teachers rarely intervene.
“I stopped raising my hand in class when I was 12,” says Vikram, a software engineer in Bengaluru. “I used to love poetry. But after a group of boys mocked my ‘girly’ voice, I trained myself to speak deeper. Now, even in office meetings, I hear that fake voice and I don’t recognize myself.” Indian Gay Boys
Rohan, 22, a law student from Jaipur, describes his first meeting: “I was 17. I found a chat room. A man sent me a picture of a rainbow flag. I didn’t know what it meant. I just knew my heart was pounding. I finally had a name for what I was feeling. But I also knew I could never say that name out loud.” Bullying is endemic
I don’t know if you’re married to a woman, living a lie. Or if you’re free, living with someone you love. I hope it’s the second one. Teachers rarely intervene
Celebrities like filmmaker Karan Johar, actor Celina Jaitly, and late activist-writer Vikram Seth have helped normalize the conversation. OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime have released films like Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui and Made in Heaven (featuring a gay wedding), bringing queer stories into middle-class living rooms.
By Aanya Sharma