“For me, it’s very important to be able to express oneself. I don’t fixate with one particular gender. On some days I’m masculine, and on some I’m feminine, but mostly, I’m somewhere in the gray zone. That is my expression.
I’ve always been a kid who loved playing sports. But, I’ve also been the kid who loved makeup. I would give makeovers to my cousins using my mother’s makeup products.
Unfortunately then, that was the only way I could express my love for it. My childhood was fun! It was all a joyride till the day I realized that I was different. I started to behave more macho and tried doing the things that were only considered ‘manly’. I started indulging in fights with my peers and started playing football. Yet, I faced my fair share of bullying. I was always called ‘homo’ by my cousins and there were times when my parents criticized my choices to an extent of pounding me because I loved playing with dolls and wearing high heels. Till my graduation, I couldn’t put a name to my identity. I started opening up on Facebook about the things I felt and I started texting with another boy who resonated with them. Both of us started exploring and eventually I came to terms with my sexuality. I started working soon and that was when I met my first boyfriend on Grindr.
We started dating but I was scared to talk about it, let alone people know. In 2016, six months into my relationship, I came out to my parents and my entire family over call. We fought over the phone and it turned into a full fledged bollywood drama where they told me, ‘You’re not our son anymore. What you are is not natural’. That was by far the toughest point in my life. I slipped into depression, due to which I quit my job. I had officially hit rock bottom. My two friends, Ruth and Manoj and my then boyfriend were my rock. They helped me gather myself and told me to pursue my sketching because it always made me feel good. And, I did. Soon, I joined a university for my masters and unfortunately my boyfriend and I went separate ways.
The day a judgement was taken on section 377, I cried my heart out with joy. All my friends from the LGBTQA+ community and I, we cried happy tears, together.
Today, despite having to fight for our rights, I’m not afraid anymore. I wear my makeup bold, I have drag on my bucket list and I dress loud. ‘Pride’ is being happy with who you are. ‘Pride’ is being you. Remember, you are worthy. Regardless of everything, you will always remain to be.”
#pridemonth2020 #pride2020?️? #pridemonth #pride #lgbt #gay #loveislove #genderfluid #queer #acceptance #gaypride #bisexual #transgender #lgbtq #bornperfect #equalitymatters #community #accelerateacceptance #comingout #Hyderabad #HumansofHyderabad