Is it unwanted: question arises after the absence of Indian LGBTQ community opinion from the public spheres?

Public sphere is a space where people from diverse backgrounds come together and put out their opinions. A shaping of perspective and its formation gives transparency and considerable outlook. With time, public spheres have increased from gatherings at small coffee houses to big panel discussions or social media activism. Today from forming a unison view point, public spheres also push specific propaganda for the political purposes. From the beginning, it has its participation depending on the genders and race. Usually, white men were supposed to participate in public spheres, discussions on politics or on other spectrums.

A paradigm shift has been witnessed where women are making marks by participating in public spheres with their fierce voice and high opinion. But still, absence of LGBTQ community in such spaces arise several questions that needs to be recognized. Multiple instances of mainstream media panel discussions, where hardly audiences hear opinions of queer people inquires, representing a queer’s opinion on big platforms is unwanted?  

While speaking to Damini, her desire to make her community heard, reflected in her opinions. She said, ‘They (news channels) always call one or the two from our community when topics related to LGBTQ comes up, but when discussions like politics or economy or education or of any other scale appears, we don’t see a single representation or an individual view point from our community.’ Well, to be precise, Anmol who works in production department of a news channel shares, ‘This is not the case. We have a proper list of guest names when a panel discussion happens and we contact them accordingly.’ On asking is any LGBTQ member is on that list, he simply declined. In addition, he explained this is not something they promote but is done unconsciously.

Since Article 377 decriminalized from Indian constitution, the media space for LGBTQ community has been enlarged and the media portrayal is evolving in this diameter but still it remains a taboo for Indian society to accept it. Damini told EAT news, ‘Yes, we won legally and got the right but still we are fighting to be accepted by the society. It is till abnormal for lot of people watching us co-existing with them.’ She further added, ‘It is very important to let us represent our identities in all spectrums and to not limit us which conditions people to discriminate.’ Damini thinks social media platforms as a public sphere enhanced and encouraged the community to embrace their identity. ‘I won’t say no change we have felt towards us. If I talk personally, yes people’s perspectives have changed and shifted from negative to positive. The presence of our community members on social media platforms have increased and alongside hate, we do get love and support’, she said.

 Why not we are watching queer people participating in public spheres, asked Damini? Misrepresentation of queer people on mainstream media is a problem for many years. According to Damini it is also because number of representatives are quite less in field. She said, ‘Misconceptions and misrepresentation has dented our identity each time we go through it. It is needed that whenever such situations occur, or if anyone is trying to portray our community, getting in touch first hand in brief with us, reflects the reality. Correct information about our community and making it reach out to as many people as it can, helps. But again, correct. No false or self-assumptions, which can make situations worse for us.’ She thinks, this is one of the fears of queer people, that stops them to come out in public spheres, even if they want to.

Just like Damini, other respondent who doesn’t want to be named said, ‘I am in college and there are times when we friends talk about politics. I have seen a slight difference the way they take my opinions. They don’t give weightage to it rather laughs it off. But when it comes to LGBTQ friendly topics, they listen to me carefully. They kind of limit my viewpoint to an extent where consequential and critical topics does not include.’ According to the respondent, doing advocacy for LGBTQ community does not mean people barred us to not be vocal about other issues.

Panel discussions and other formal gatherings over mainstream media gets organized every other day. Damini working in journalism field herself calls media people hypocrites. She said, ‘We do encourage people to speak up but when it comes to giving that platform, we blame it on unconscious decisions. This is not how it works. People need to be more inclusive with our view points and should not exclude us from sharing our opinions on serious topics. Definitely this issue needs to be raised because such representations uplift our community and makes us one of others and not ‘abnormal’ or ‘unwanted opinion’.’

Indian media needs to start considering LGBTQ as a capable participant in public spheres. Until, will wait to hear an individual opinion coming from LGBTQ community on Russia-Ukraine war or other political affairs on Indian mainstream media.