As I write this, it is still the 28th of June, 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, in much of America. There has been the excitement of Pride parades, marches, festivities all over. India has caught the echo in a big way and several cities have reverberated with rainbow-power over the weekend.
As Americans engage in the battle to legalize gay marriage, pride battles prejudice in India. Whenever it appears that the repeal of Sec 377, the draconian Indian Penal Code clause criminalizing homosexuality(introduced by colonial rulers in 1860 and never revised since!!!) is imminent, religious fundamentalists throw a damper. It's the same scene with gay rights issues in USA, only in USA the fight is beyond basics to ensuring complete protection and equality. Here it's about the most basic of human rights, the very right of some people to exist that this clause threatens. This strongly worded editorial from The Asian Age dealing with the 377 issue, effectively takes care of any further argument that the defenders of 377 might lamely continue to put forth. They never really had a case because they never really understood what they were talking about. And it becomes more obvious with each day's delay in repealing the obnoxious law, that they're on shaky ground. Sadly, it is politically expedient to pander to these fundamentalists as they hold sway over large groups of humanity who can't or won't think for themselves.
My random musings (fast growing into rants!) here are a precursor to the actual opening of this blog. I need to acknowledge this historical day, need to draw attention to it.
I'm collecting my thoughts for the launch post. As always launches and launch posts never work to plan for me. It's been an intense emotional journey. Think of a wild ride on a moving roller-coaster. With refuelling stops thrown in. Today 29th June, is in many ways the day this ride started for me 3 years ago. I found myself unexpectedly registering on The Ultimate Brokeback Forum in cyberspace, a place I'd visited and thought to be not for me. Who would have known that I was meant to traverse karma's pathways through that very place and draw my vital energy and support from there?
I'll
dedicate this pre launch post to my 3-year journey alon
g this "rutted old road." It's been a long way from Jack Twistto Harvey Milk,
a journey with many challenges & hurdles. I'm now ready to travel on the next lap with both of them as my companions. And hope you'll all join.
Love,
Incognita
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share your own reactions to this post through a comment. Your comment will appear once it is approved by the administrator. You are requested to identify yourself with a name/pseudonym and refrain from anonymous posting. We would like to address you individually and respond to your comment. We want you to Join the dialogue; your thoughts and experiences are the building blocks of our future.
Caution: Comments which are abusive in tone/language or attack fellow posters personally will not be published. We look forward to your cooperation.