LGBTQ community seeks to be accepted as humans

Rachana Ramesh | NT
Bengaluru

Come June, the hues of the rainbow will spread across public spaces. It is a month that has become a memorial for struggles and victories of the LGBTQ community. This year, activists and members of the community want to see real representation instead of a superficial show of support.

Manoj Kumar Reddy, a veterinarian who identifies as pansexual said most brands and businesses use the pride month as a marketing strategy. He said that the public must scrutinise and stay away from the brands that merely make changes in their packaging and show no real support to the LGBTQ community.

“There are many companies that are owned by the people from the community itself. One must understand the fact that there are so many people in the community who have been disowned by their families,” he said.

 “Some brands really do support and have been an ally for a long time but some brands use Pride month just for sales,” said Ravi (name changed to protect identity), a person who identifies as gay.

“The least the public can do is acknowledge and accept the fact that we are humans, we exist and that we must not be treated any differently,” said Manoj when asked about what he expects from society this pride month.

The awareness of LGTBQ being normal is lacking, he said, which leads to bullying in all public spaces – may it be school or work. “People know of either being gay or lesbian, the other identities are not known about. Being a trans person, I have seen people not understand my journey of becoming a man. This pride month, I want people to genuinely accept me as a man,” said Kiran Jeevan, a trans disability activist.