Mapping ‘Silence’ in Growing Up as Queer in India

Abstract

The Supreme Court of India struck down Section 377, the anti-sodomy law against homosexuality, on 6 September 2018. However, such a step seldom finds socio-cultural acceptance and inclusivity in the country. The silence around non-conforming gender expressions of queer lives exacerbates oppression, which invisibilises and normalises queerphobic violence. This qualitative exploratory study aims to map ‘silence’ in the growing up years of twenty respondents residing in Kolkata. The study documents derogatory language, inadequate terminologies, misguided exposure, limited same-sex representation, prejudiced fear, absence of parental-peer support and negotiation with attires that lead to internalised silence in a predominantly heteronormative Indian society.