'We Are Tied Together Through Hope': Harish Iyer Talks About The Bind Of Indian Queer Community
Activist Harish Iyer opens up about the plight of the queer community in India and says that he is hopeful for better days.
In 2017, activist Harish Iyer took the country by storm when he started hosting India¡¯s first gay radio show on Ishq FM. This was one of the hundred revolutions that Harish brought to this country. From being the recipient of Karamveer Puraskar to appearing on several TV shows advocating for queer rights, Iyer has come a long way.
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Indiatimes exclusively spoke to Harish and took a sneak into his life filled with struggles and years of being the changemaker.
Harish has been a victim of child sexual abuse and he talked about the same on Aamir Khan¡¯s popular TV show Satyamev Jayate. Iyer shared how even speaking about his sufferings wasn¡¯t received well by audiences. ¡°Even after being a child sexual abuse survivor, I have suffered criticism from within the community.¡±
Harish further shared, ¡°They stereotyped my struggles by saying that I became gay because I was sexually abused. I feel no one should be pushed to a point in activism when their mere survival becomes a medal. I have been made to suffer several shades of it.¡±
Also Read: 'I Was Called A Psycho', Dutee Chand On Backlash After Coming Out As India's First Gay Athlete
Sexuality is one of the most judged realities of multiple orthodox minds. Harish reflected on the same and said, ¡°Sexuality is the essence of who we are and not the consequences of what happens to us.¡± For the unversed, Harish¡¯s life has inspired two films, director Onir's I Am and Judhajit Bagchi and Ranadeep Bhattacharyya¡¯s Amen.
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The LGBTQIA+ community continues to suffer every day due to a lack of legal assurances and several rights.
Asked about the same, Harish said, ¡°We are holding on to hope every time. The community is hopeful that the change may come. First for pulling down Section 377 and now to get equal marriage rights. Emily Dickinson says that hope is a thing which feathers. But I believe that hope is a thing that withers as well, like the weather.¡±
Harish whose activism rose because of his love for animal rights voiced strongly for the importance of equal marriage rights.
Harish details, ¡°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?¡±
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¡°I would need my partner to make decisions for me and on my behalf and legally it¡¯s not yet possible. These rights are just limited to heterosexuals. I am earning and saving all my life and I don¡¯t have children then who do I leave my property to? Who¡¯ll take care of my wealth after my death?¡±
Also Read: 'Because You Are A Mother', Gauri Sawant Recalls Why Sushmita Sen Agreed To Do Her Biopic Taali
Harish continues, ¡°What if I want to give it to my partner? I¡¯ll not be allowed legally. Legal recognition of equal marriage rights will open the window to several other things that as a society we keep reserved for legally married husbands and wives.¡±
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¡°We are not just asking for the right to live but the right to die with dignity.¡±
Iyer also reflected on the representation of queer characters in Indian cinema and shared, ¡°More than an entire film, we need friendly gay characters woven into the usual stories. Have a gay friend who is just part of the narrative, make them visible in a natural manner. Coming out, coming out bohot gaya, let¡¯s normalise now.¡±
Indiatimes
Harish who believes that there always be someone showing light on the revolutions unfolding in this country concluded our conversation by saying, ¡°India has a concept of ¡®Shaadi ho jaega to beta settle ho jaega¡¯. That is the settlement we want the government to legalize and I so hope every single day that it happens soon.¡±
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Aditya Sagar is an Entertainment Journalist at Indiatimes who holds a true-blue Bollywood heart and has his ears tuned to the whispers of Tinseltown. From Dharma to Drama, he is your trusted guide to the glitz, glamour and gossip that make headlines. He can be reached out @theadityasagar across all social media platforms.
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