Page 3 - SMJ
P. 3
INTRODUCTION
On the morning of October 19, 2014, a few minutes before our episode on
Accepting Alternative Sexualities was about to air, we had a short discussion
about the possibility of receiving hostile responses on our social media pages
given how contentious this issue has been over the last few years.
About 15 minutes into the episode, our Facebook and Twitter timelines were
flooded with messages that surprised us and moved us deeply. Teenagers,
parents and grandparents were openly supporting the rights of the LGBT
community. Many confessed that they regret making fun of gay and
transgender persons. Several people wrote to us saying that they used to
think homosexuality was wrong but now felt a shift in their attitude.
Our episode hashtag ‘FreedomForLGBT’ trended on Twitter at the number
1 position in India and in the world. In a country where there is a law
discriminating against the LGBT community, this response was like a
beacon of hope.
This booklet is a result of the big surprise that India gave us. So many
members of the LGBT community have recounted the struggles and
triumphs of their personal lives. We are touched by this generosity of spirit.
It is an ongoing battle for acceptance of course, as evident from the messages
that show ignorance and lack of acceptance.
All names in this booklet have been changed to protect the privacy of the
individuals involved with the exception of a few who asked for their names
to be retained.
This effort is in collaboration with The Humsafar Trust, which has been
working on these issues for several decades. There could be no better day
than Independence Day to launch this booklet. We hope these winds of
change continue to blow and lead to a fairer, more loving world.
With warm regards,
Team Satyamev Jayate
August 15, 2015
3
On the morning of October 19, 2014, a few minutes before our episode on
Accepting Alternative Sexualities was about to air, we had a short discussion
about the possibility of receiving hostile responses on our social media pages
given how contentious this issue has been over the last few years.
About 15 minutes into the episode, our Facebook and Twitter timelines were
flooded with messages that surprised us and moved us deeply. Teenagers,
parents and grandparents were openly supporting the rights of the LGBT
community. Many confessed that they regret making fun of gay and
transgender persons. Several people wrote to us saying that they used to
think homosexuality was wrong but now felt a shift in their attitude.
Our episode hashtag ‘FreedomForLGBT’ trended on Twitter at the number
1 position in India and in the world. In a country where there is a law
discriminating against the LGBT community, this response was like a
beacon of hope.
This booklet is a result of the big surprise that India gave us. So many
members of the LGBT community have recounted the struggles and
triumphs of their personal lives. We are touched by this generosity of spirit.
It is an ongoing battle for acceptance of course, as evident from the messages
that show ignorance and lack of acceptance.
All names in this booklet have been changed to protect the privacy of the
individuals involved with the exception of a few who asked for their names
to be retained.
This effort is in collaboration with The Humsafar Trust, which has been
working on these issues for several decades. There could be no better day
than Independence Day to launch this booklet. We hope these winds of
change continue to blow and lead to a fairer, more loving world.
With warm regards,
Team Satyamev Jayate
August 15, 2015
3
