Out And About: Being Gay In India
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Dibeyendu Ganguly
Ganguly knew at the age of 12 he was gay but took a while for him to come to terms with what it really meant. Now in his mid-50’s, Ganguly’s smile grows wider and his eyes light up when he talks about his boyfriend. He has been dating Sameer for the last 22 years. While he says the criminalization of homosexual acts through Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code doesn’t impact his daily activities, it is mentally taxing to know that a country whose culture and religion have historically embraced homosexuality is choosing to uphold an old colonial law.
But Ganguly’s personality isn’t the only thing that makes him memorable. He's also inspiring for his willingness to talk openly about his sexuality without any fear of retribution. According to Ganguly, being a member of the LGBTQ community in India is widely accepted, and he has not faced any backlash from family or co-workers.* He also never faced any bullying throughout his schooling for his sexuality.
As an Indian raised in America, I had never met an Indian who was gay and who can freely write about his life without fear of harassment. In America children, teens and young adults have committed suicide if they are outed before they are ready. Multiple states have recently repealed same-sex marriage bans, created anti-bullying campaigns and established support groups for young members of the LGBTQ community.
In India where issues of violence against women, corruption, and infrastructure are prevalent, being gay is not a problem for some. Talking to Mr. Ganguly made me feel incredibly proud of my culture in the sense that his role is one that of a vanguard. Despite the fact that homosexuality has been once again recriminalized, there are people like Ganguly who may be able to eventually change public opinion and improve circumstances for fellow members of the LGBTQ community.
*Although Ganguly admitted his father passed away without knowing about his son’s sexuality.
