Pride life

By – Ashima Chauhan

Image credit – CBT

Pride month came to an end but still  I am writing it today to keep that spirit alive..

Each day has to be celebrated as PRIDE DAY

Let’s talk about what gender and sex is.

Gender and sex are not same and these are not even binary.

 Sex is related to one’s body including anatomy, chromosomes, hormonal levels and genes. Sex is what we are gifted with at birth or technically even before that.

Gender is more related to one’s mind, psychology and societal norms. It may or may not match one’s sex .

*And that’s what we need to accept.*

A person whose Gender and sex doesn’t match (transgender) need to be treated with equal respect.

We need to be gender sensitive and provide others support to accept their own gender identity.

We are living in the 21st century and still there are a lot of people who cannot come up and accept themselves as they are because we , as a society have left them with no choice. We have established a binary societal structure which has been suppressing them.

° Imagine you have been constantly being called by some other name.

How would it feel?

Surely, it would be annoying.

° How does it feel when you are constantly compared with someone to be like them?

 Isn’t it suppressing?

° Have you ever Worn clothes of an unknown ?

 How does it feel?

Uncomfortable  , right?

Think of people who have been bound to be in the shoe of either male or female when they don’t even  belong to them.

isn’t it choking?

Think about it…

When someone’s sex and gender doesn’t match, it take them a long time to get to know about themselves and then when they acknowledge it within themselves , they get afraid of accepting it in front of the their own family. 

Why?

Because we as a society are not sensible enough to respect one’s choice of their own life.

When  they tell the truth of their identity to their parents, they are treated as abnormal.

They take their ward to the doctor as if it’s a disease.

No , it’s not a disease .

We need to understand this.

Do we treat a boy or a girl the same way?

No.

Then, why them ?

We have created our own checklist for gender roles.

° If you like cooking then you are a girl.

° If you like pink you are a girl.

° If you have long hairs then yes you are a girl.

° If you play with dolls, you are a girl. 

° Do you cry? If yes, Then you are a girl for sure.

 And 

° If you like black, then you are a boy.

° You like motorbikes, you are a boy. 

° You have a deeper voice tone, you are a boy.

° You make others cry then yes you are a boy.

° You are muscular ,you are a boy then.

A lot of young people  make fun of Tiktokers, bully them and attack them on their sexuality.

This is recent example which shows that people are not appreciating them for their skills rather pulling them down for their choices 

This depicts, How deep this binary phobia is rooted in our minds.

Are we colourblind or what ?

Why we are seeing this world as black and white while it’s so vibrant and colourful.

Since, birth of a child , we dream about their marriage and then when the child grows up and knows about self  and sexual orientation varying from the conventional, the family reacts like the volcano has erupted over them. 

 Why those individuals don’t have a choice to choose with whom they want to spend their life.

Sadly, even our law does not  allow them to adopt and create their own family.

Eventually, when they get the courage to reveal their identity , we bully them, we make fun of them, we  backlash them with demeaning words and pathetic behavior. We crush their self confidence and lower down their self esteem.

It’s very disheartening to say that very few of them lead a life that they have dreamt for.

I urge all the parents to be the strength of your child. You love your child like no one else can. You have loved them even before they came into this world.

Do not let them break. If they do so,  hold them back.

They don’t need society,  They need you.

Let me throw some light on Indian television.

There is a show based on LGBTQ+ Community and they have not casted anyone belonging to prior. 

Isn’t it hypocrisy?

I know change takes time and it’s evident.

A lot of great people are putting their foot forward to bring it out.

Now , some institutions put ‘others’ in sex section.

Like abolishment of section 377 is a great victory for this but we need to have a long walk for this.

My message for all the young minds

I want to say that we can together break the wall of stereotypes.

 We must come forward as a harmonious society to bring equality.

A society where we serve equal opportunities , love , care ,respect and access to each and every person.

All must be treated as  humans.

I extend warm Hugs to all my friends out there belonging to LGBTQ+ and yes we will celebrate your life equally and respectfully for your own choices.

HAPPY PRIDE LIFE.