Following a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court in September 2018, article 377- a
colonial-era law that criminalised consensual sex between adults of the same
sex was decriminalised. On this occasion, the statement of the Chief Justice of
India, Dipak Misra, was that, “The LGBTQ community has the same fundamental
rights as citizens. The identity of a person is very important and we have to
vanquish prejudice, embrace inclusion and ensure equal rights.” While none of
the things mentioned in the abovementioned statement can be challenged and while
this proclamation can seem quite basic in an era wherein we talk of “leaving
no-one behind” (SDG of UN), there remain many questions before us: Is this
Supreme-Court-ruling enough? Can we say that the victory fully won by the LGBTQ
communities? Will this ruling by itself ensure that the sexual minorities are
equal before the law and society? Will this ensure that all stereotypes,
prejudices, discriminatory practices are vanquished and will it ensure an
equality of opportunity for this community?
Sadly, the answer to
the above mentioned question is: NO. While the ruling is a step in the right
direction, there are yet many more steps we need to take as a society for the
LGBTQ community.
One such step in the
right direction is the ‘Freedom Is In The Air’ (FIITA) programme of the Museum
of Goa (MOG) Foundation – an initiative to celebrate the LGBTQ community
through art, creative engagement and discourse and a gesture of solidarity
towards the LGBTQ community.This celebration will be organised at Museum of Goa
(MOG) today, November 10, 2018, 10am to 11pm, to include the inauguration of an
exhibition, seminar, film screening and art activities.
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While it has always
been difficult for anyone from the LGBTQ community to succeed economically or
socially in our country, one cannot overlook the contribution from individuals
such as Vikram Seth, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Anjali Ameer, Rituparno Ghosh,
Onir, among others, who have left their mark on various fields in art. However,
there is also a strong need for artistes to collectively come forward and show
their support to various causes, advocacy of LGBTQ rights being one of them.
Talking along the same lines, Dr Subodh Kerkar, artist and the Founding Trustee
of MOG, remarks,“Art should be the mirror of our times. It should echo social
and political issues. A true artist has to take political stands. An artist
cannot paint flowerpots while a war is waging in his backyard. Art has a
tremendous power to communicate. This should be used for social good.”
MOG Foundation is collaborating with
Humsafar Trust, an NGO striving to advocate for economic, legal and health
rights of the LGBTQ community in India since 1994. Talking about FIITA, the
Project Director, The Humsafar Trust states, “This is a interesting and one of
its kind initiative that will discuss freedom of LGBTQ community through
expression of art. Such initiatives are important as they reach to a wider
community and help raise awareness about LGBTQ community. Legal acceptance
alone will not translate into social acceptance; it is these initiatives that
will help us in the journey of promoting social acceptance.”
This exhibition is also an opportunity
for the LGBTQ communities to benefit economically by launching themselves in
the arena of art. “LGBTQ should utilise their skills and upgrade wherever
required to provide stability to their livelihoods. Economic self reliance
would help reduce stigma and discrimination for the LGBTQ communities. It is a
universal realisation,” comments Charudutta Panigrahi, an author and activist
associated with Goa Livelihoods Forum.
One of the specialties of this event is that the MOG
Foundation wants to appeal to the youth of Goa by reaching out to colleges and
universities, to give them an opportunity to participate in this social event.
Talking on the importance of why Goan youth need to participate in such events,
Sharada Kerkar, Trustee, MOG Foundation, argues, “The socially-conscious youth
need to come together and creatively find ways to talk about social issues!
It’s our responsibility to inspire others and drive the change!”
