Secondary Research

Following media was consulted in the process

Books

• Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History, Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai

• Fun House - Alison Bechdel

• The Lost language of cranes - David Leavitt

• A boy’s own story - Edmund White

• Hostel room 131 - R Raja Rao

• Giovanni’s Room - James Baldwin

• Funny Boy - Shyam Selvadurai

• Black Hole - Charles Burns

• Shane, the lone ethnographer - Sally Galman

• Because I have a voice - Narrain and Bhan

• Flatland, a romance of many dimensions - Abbott

• Wish you were here - Sunil Gupta (Photobook)

• Tales from Outer Suburbia - Shaun Tan

• 32 Stories - Adrian Tomine

Films

• In the mood for love, Dir - Wong Kar-wai, Sep 2000

• Happy Together, Dir - Wong Kar -wai, May 1997

• The Laramie Project, Moisés Kaufman, Feb 2000

• The Talented Mr Ripley, Dir - Anthony Minghella, Dec 1999

• The Silence of the Lambs,, Dir - Jonathan Demme, Feb 1991

Papers

• Storytelling Artifacts, Toke Krainert, Springer 2014

• In the footstep of Ambedkar, mobility, identity and dalit

• initiatives for change, T. Sirari, S. Jhodka

Podcasts

• Choice, Radiolab, Season 5, Episode 1

• Mutant Rights, Radiolab Short

• Beyond Time, Radiolab, Season 1, Episode 5

While LGBT history in India is extensive section 377 may be used as a reference point.

377

The British Raj introduced anti-sodomy law in 1861 as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a retrogressive step, it states. 

Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. 

Explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence.

Pre 377

Same-sex love in India and society’s attitude towards it can be understood by looking at oral sources as well as written text. Oral tradition and sources, despite their richness and value are difficult to access as well as fix antiquity to. Thus, I looked at written text instead; helped immensely by Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai’s pioneering book ‘Same-Sex Love in India– A literary history’.The book focuses on written texts about love and affection between men and between women (not biologically related) set in India and parts of Pakistan. The 377 act is seen as an agency of change, for the worse. Evidence to which is given in part by the change in India’s literary tradition. The book is divided into three parts—ancient Indian materials, medieval materials and modern Indian materials—this division isn’t watertight.There exist enough literature to suggest a peaceful coexistence, heteronormativity and homophobia, seems to be the western import rather than homosexuality. 

Post 377

1. This law led to persecution of homosexuals, it instilled in the Indian mind associations of sina nd uncivilised behaviour with homosexuality. 

2. Stigmatisation of alternate sexuality, resulting in disownment from families and discretion in practicing said sexuality.

3. Susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases and psychological trauma.

4. Complicating and impeding HIV AIDS prevention.

5. Misrepresentation of LGBTQ as criminals leading to discrimination in workplaces and higher opportunity cost to education. 

6. Impeding protection against same sex violence and abuse.

7. Erasal of homoerotic and queer literature.

8. Misrepresentation in media using stereotypes and caricatures.

9. Loss of livelihood for transgender and Hijra communities

Key Theories

1. Some of the key scientific and sociological theories that played a role in my understanding were:Stephan J Gould’s theory of punctuated equilibrium) states that large shifts in society may punctuate change, leading to stability. The concept, it seems may extend to progress in the LGBT movement. The technological revolution that has brought in applications and cyberspaces that allow for queer individuals to meet and interact with each other is one such big shift. It has opened pathways and facilities that never existed

2. All oppression is connected: Audre Lorde, a Caribbean-American writer, radical feminist, womanist, lesbian, and civil rights activist described herself as black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet. She says “There is no such thing as a single- issue struggle because we don’t live single-issue lives.” The struggle for equal opportunities, justice, decriminalisation and representation that queer communities fight for resonates with challenges faced by other oppressed communities

Primary Research

Confirmation Bias

In psychology and cognitive science, confirmation bias (or confirmatory bias) is a tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions, leading to statistical errors. It essentially means that one may end up validating an existing opinion instead of discovering them, asking questions such as ‘Is it so?’ instead of ‘What is it?’.

Interviews

Disclaimer: The identity of the interviewees isn’t revealed nor is the transcript shared in order that they shall speak freely. The interviews are audio recorded for the sole purpose of understanding the project as promised to the same.

• Sample size interviewed: 19

• Mean age of Interviewees: 26yrs

• Profile of interviewees: A majority of the interviewees have lived in urban cities, are educated (minimum graduation) and are aware of homosexuality.

• Duration of Interview: 30min–1hr10min

• Media: Audio recordings

• Sexuality: Identifying as bisexual: 12%

• Identifying as heterosexual: 47%

• Identifying as homosexual: 26%

• Identifying as undecided: : 15%

Method

Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were carried out where interviewees were encouraged to draw from their experiences. Furthermore, they were encouraged to elaborate more on issues and areas where they had an opinion or experiences to support the same. The primary questions were asked nonetheless in addition to those that came up in the course of the interview. The audio was recorded along with notes. In certain cases the interviewees were uncomfortable with recording in which case notes or chats became a source of data. Contextual inquiry was performed with the interviewees, the questions forming only a base to stimulate reactions,, studying their reactions as they associated their own experiences with the themes.

Questions

1. How do you identify yourself with respect to sexual orientation? • Do you know anyone who isn’t straight?

2. How do you know they are so? How (can)did you identify them? • What kind of lifestyle do they/you lead?

3. At what age did you come across them?/ Realize you are? • How do you think they meet each other?

4. How do you meet other queer people?

5. Are people born queer?/How are you queer?

6. Ideas of love and personal experiences.

7. How would you respond to a gay/straight person expressing love for you?

8. How would you respond to 377?

9. Is there any link between HIV AIDS and homosexuality?

10. What is their/your role in society? Why should they/you get representation in mainstream society

Fly on the wall

In addition to the interviews I visited cruising areas to observe the MSM community, men who have sex with men without identifying themselves as homosexual.

Deduction of categories

On putting all the post-its together, a few categories were established. Of the 200 post-its several fit in overlapping categories. Each of these were further arranged based on opinions and dialogues as well as positive and negative undertones. These categories aren’t water-tight, overlapping each other, the overlaps are revealing. Along with these categories several inferences were possible for instance, femme-phobia came through in the responses of both straight and queer individuals.

Concepts

1. Single page comics with minimal text that aren’t outrightly talking about queer love, instead finding themes that bring people of all sexuality together, finding the common denominator of feelings

2. One page stories set in a public space to adhere to the short attention span that exists owing to the internet

Insights

After creating these concepts I built on them based on the opinions and views of readers. It seemed that subtle narratives were often misread or failed in communicating that a homosexual relationship was being talked about (unless explicitly said). It is my humble opinion that language in itself—textual as well as visual is heterosexual. This finds parallel in how all languages are male. When no gender is mentioned, everyone assumes it to be a man in literature. Love between men and between women is invisible even if it is in plain sight. Perceptions of visuals and text are largely heteronormative. In order to convey queer stories it is essential that text and visuals go hand in hand in order to extend each other and drive the message across. 

We have a shared humanity, so the specifics are imagined and often filled in by the reader. Short stories are fed by the reader’s insertion of his/her own experiences and life into the story, imagining what isn’t written or drawn. 

Conclusion

The project enabled me empathise with the queer community and look at things with fresh perspectives. I understood the kinds of oppressions they face and the nuances of the same. I realised that despite labels of gender and sexuality there exists a shared sense of humanity, ideas that unite us, dissimilarities notwithstanding. In this case love. Unrequited love is at the heart of this oppression for several people. Oppression lies in the absence of a facility to express one’s feeling for another. A paralysis in being disallowed from putting to test your love against acceptance or rejection. Society’s acceptance of the queer community is valuable only if it comes from a place of understanding. This understanding is made possible by sharing these expressions of love and helplessness felt by queer people. All oppressions are connected. When these stories of oppression, unrequited love and identity are shared it makes room for dialogue. Through dialogue resonances may emerge leading to empathy.