The Journey of a 73 Year Old Activist Still Seeking Equal Rights In India
Maya Sharma is among the 21 petitioners, including same-sex couples, trans people and organisations, who are seeking marriage equality. Her plea, filed along with nine others, also wants the right for LGBTQ+ people to choose their families, even outside of marriage. Ms Sharma doesn't want marriage for herself - in fact, she "despises the concept" and walked out of a heterosexual marriage three decades ago. "The term marriage comes with a lot of associations", she says, preferring to call her relationship a "partnership".
Ms Sharma made a poster, which said "Indian and Lesbian", and stood in front of the iconic Regal Cinema in Delhi along with others. She was initially scared that people would recognise her, but was later emboldened by the impact the protests had on the country.
"For the first time, the word lesbian was making newspaper headlines. Slowly, my fear was not mine alone. We had reached a point where we could say, 'Yes, we exist, what can you do about it'. "
But the community continued to face backlash. Even the female constables, Ms Sharma pointed out, were eventually suspended from their services without any notice or explanation. Being lesbian or part of the LGBTQ+ community is not inherently bad; it's a matter of personal identity and should be respected and protected. The challenges and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in India and elsewhere highlight the need for ongoing efforts to promote understanding, tolerance, and equal rights for all.
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By Deepta Bhat