He grumpily wiped his forehead, the sun was sweltering. And the intolerable clamour! Painted faces, weird clothes, slogan calling, rainbows, and ‘Pride’ posters held high, what was he even doing here?
His eyes scanned the crowd for cameramen, his manager had promised good media coverage. It was still early, he wondered how harsh the heat would be after a while. So much for one photo op, he sighed.
“Selfie?” A queer couple requested and he obliged. Were they men or women, under all that makeup?
Much as he hated the parade and the crowd, he hid his disdain. With a fake smile plastered across his face, he tried to mingle. Bizarre people, what were they proud of? Since childhood, he had been warned to keep away from them, he had broken up with his best friend for years because the boy had secretly admitted that he was gay.
For how long should he walk, he wondered. All for some publicity for Season 2.
“Aren’t you that actor?” He turned, and he saw the prettiest of faces. Alas, she was participating in the Pride March.
“You lesbian?” He blurted out, instantly regretting it.
She laughed, “You think queer is just gay and lesbian? Let that be, but you here for some photo-op, right?”
He nodded reluctantly. His gay portrayal in one of the most popular web series was being widely appreciated. If only they knew how much he disliked the part, thanks to all the trolling by his straight friends. Even his family, especially his father considered the role a disgrace. Plus, he personally disapproved of the community.
But the makers paid him well.
“You enjoy representing the LGBTQ?” He heard her question.
“Of course.” He lied, “My character reflects the pain of a gay dress designer, abandoned by family, isolated by friends, craving for true love. I want the masses to understand their agony.”
“The agony of being glamorous, employed in a big city, and dating multiple partners? Isn’t it how they show queer people on tv?”
He glared. She went on.
“You see him there? The burns aren’t accident marks. His father and siblings torched him with his boyfriend. Honour killing, they termed it. The offenders were arrested, yet they walked free. He was rehabilitated by a queer support group that helped him earn a living, and now he’s fighting a case against his family. So proud of him.”
He was dumbfounded, disowning was one thing, but killing their own blood?
“That couple there?” She pointed at a man and woman walking hand in hand. Was the man pregnant?
“Well, He’s She and She’s He. The government legalised their relationship, but not marriage. They want a child, but transgenders can’t adopt. It seems, they can’t be good parents. So He, who’s biologically She, has gone against his masculine desires to birth their baby. For family.”
He nodded in admiration as she continued, “At least, they have each other. But a transwoman, an educated and law-abiding citizen, was sacked from her job and thrown out into the streets, just because she underwent gender reassignment. Changed from man to woman. She wrote to the President to grant her mercy killing.”
“I had no idea it was this cruel.” He indeed had no inkling.
“Well, it is. Her plea for euthanasia made it to the newspapers. The LGBTQ community across India demanded justice, and eventually, after a huge struggle, she got her job and dignity back.”
“My God, is she here today?” He was genuinely concerned.
“Yes, she is standing right before you. And yes, I am a Transwoman, and proud.” She shouted aloud.
As he stood rooted to his spot, she waved goodbye, “Fact my friend, is far stranger than fiction. Why don’t you drop the cliché and play a more realistic character in the next season?”
He waved back. Yes, he would. With pride.
By Preethi Warrier
Preethi Warrier has completed her Masters in Electronics Engineering and is an Assistant Professor. She is one among the winners of the TOI Write India Campaign Season-1, for the famous author Anita Nair. She can be contacted at : warrier.preethi@yahoo.com
