As SC Announces Its Verdict On Same-Sex Marriage, 10 LGBTQ+ Celebs Reflect On Need Of This Right
"It's for Parliament and state legislatures to legally recognise queer marriages": CJI
As Supreme Court announces its split verdict on the legalization of same-sex marriage today, the country is flooded with thoughts. As the historic day unfolds, Indiatimes spoke to 10 inspiring LGBTQ+ activists and received their views on the importance of sanctioning marriage rights to non-heterosexual couples.
1. Gauri Sawant
The veteran activist whose biopic titled Taali was recently released spoke to us and shared that People need to understand the meaning of marriage first. She added, ¡°Whenever there is a conversation about the community, it¡¯s always about sex and how will queer people have kids. But do we always have sex to get kids? It¡¯s all about societal security. We were always seen as a cartoon, it¡¯s time for us to shine like a hero.¡±
2. Sridhar Rangayan
Sridhar, who was one of the petitioners along with his partner of 29 years, Saagar Gupta, spoke to us on the importance of equal marriage rights. ¡°We need to have rights over each other's assets. Suppose my partner is ill then I can¡¯t sign for his medical procedures and only his family can. We need to be married for that. We need basic rights. It¡¯s high time that civil partnerships should be equal for all.¡±
¡°I am together with my partner for more than what even a heterosexual couple lives together these days and we just can¡¯t wait to get married.¡±
3. Apurva Asrani
The queer filmmaker best known for writing Aligarh and Simran revealed to Indiatimes that marriage equality will sanction the security of relationships among the community. He shared, ¡°In the world where swiping right is normalised even when there¡¯s a little discomfort, You¡¯ll be 60 years old and there¡¯ll be nobody waiting as nobody would want to swipe.¡±
¡°So the moment you have marriage equality and recognition, it¡¯s not going to be that easy to get a divorce. You¡¯ll have to think twice about parting ways.¡±
4. Dutee Chand
India¡¯s pride in the world of sports, the ace sprinter spoke to Indiatimes and shared how same-sex marriage will give her all the rights to have a family of her own. Dutee added, ¡°I want to marry my partner, adopt a kid and live a happy life with my small family. I am not doing anything new.¡±
¡°Some countries have legalised and supported same-sex marriage.?The absence of this in India for so long has made the couples struggle and live with fear. If the Supreme Court grants marriage rights then same-sex couples will be able to live fearlessly and with honour.¡±
5. Sushant Divgikr AKA Rani KoHEnoor
Recently seen in Rhea Kapoor¡¯s Thank You For Coming, the actor-singer told us, ¡°I think equal marriage rights are very important. It is extremely integral to the fact that it sanctions the relationship between two consenting individual adults in this democracy of India. Why am I paying taxes if I can¡¯t live my life the way I want? I would better invest in the education of my girls.¡±
¡°There¡¯s no space for us in the gender budget. This is important for us as a nation then only we will be able to go out and truly say that we are India, the land of diversity.¡±
6. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil
The first openly gay prince of India in a conversation with us shared that he struggles in the absence of marriage rights. He expressed, ¡°Marriage rights for queer individuals is going to affect in a very positive way because first of all, I have been married for 10 years now. But my husband, when he comes to India, his status is just a foreign tourist. He has no other status in India.¡±
¡°Even if we have bank accounts together, he cannot be a joint bank account holder. I cannot nominate him in the account or any fixed deposit or insurance or anything. This marriage getting legalised will definitely make life much easier for both of us, especially for him who¡¯s a foreigner, who has no security in India.¡±
7. Onir
The National Award filmmaker told us, ¡°We have lived centuries of being invisible, being oppressed. And now I, as a person, as a filmmaker, and as a queer individual, refuse, when we are discussing marriage equality at the Supreme Court, refuse¡ to accept what is given to us by people who feel entitled to control our lives.¡±
He argued, ¡°Who thinks that, OK, they have the right to discuss how much equal we will be? And similarly, people decide how much of our stories are OK to be told. I feel we need to also make people uncomfortable.¡±
8. Anjali Gopalan
The veteran activist in conversation with Indiatimes shared, ¡°I¡¯m not someone who really believes in the institution of marriage but I strongly believe that it¡¯s very important for people who want to get married. As a culture, there are no spaces for single people in this society so civil rights that safeguard heterosexuals must equally protect every individual irrespective of anything.¡±
9. Harish Iyer
Another petitioner in this case, Harish exclusively told us, ¡°Marriage equality is important not because there are two people who want to go and sing Ham Aapke Hain Kaun. We don¡¯t want elaborative functions but certain legal recognition. What if I am outcasted from my family because of my sexuality and I am hospitalised? Who¡¯ll have authority over me?¡±
10. Neeraj Churi
The film producer shared with us, ¡°This much-needed move will make people more receptive to queer stories. Today when the film distributors are apprehensive about screening our films, I am sure after the legalisation, the same theatre chains will create a space for us too. Marriage equality is a very strong step towards bringing a certain level of acceptance in our society.¡±
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