HYDERABAD: A year ago, the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment, struck down the portion under Article 377 which criminalised consensual homosexual acts between two consenting adults. However, many from the city’s LGBTQ community are still hesitant to file cases against harassment.
“Only a handful of people are comfortable to come out and report harassment cases. Even if the victim has all the evidence and access to police, they will think about family and workplace too. Firstly, the police department needs to be sensitised about the community. We still have a long way to go,” said Tashi Choedup an LGBTQ activist.
Kalyan (name changed), a techie from Gachibowli who joined a dating application for queer persons found it difficult to report harassment as he feared the implications at his workplace and home. After getting a match on the application, Kalyan had been harassed for a week.
“The person knew a lot about me, where I stay, where I work and how my room looks like. Out of curiosity when I gave away my phone number, the next couple of weeks was tough. I got random calls, messages and video calls from men,” he said. However, he chose not to report the incident. “I still do not know who it was,” he further added.
Another individual Gaurav (name changed), a private employee who was talking with a man for weeks ended up being blackmailed. “We met after weeks of chats and calls, he then blackmailed me into giving money by telling me that he will post our chats on social media. I have not come out to my parents about my sexuality. I freaked out. I paid off Rs 5,000 and then he stopped all contact. I am glad it did not escalate after that,” he added. When asked whether he would report the extortion, Gaurav refused. “I am unsure how the police will react to the case. They might also call my workplace and family. That will do no good to me,” he said.
According to activists, social change is the only solution to such problems. “The community needs to understand basic human rights. There has to be a change in perceptions. The community is still dealing with basic problems,” said Tashi. When asked whether they will report sexual harassment, five out of six LGBTQ community members refused to file a case.
“Only a handful of people are comfortable to come out and report harassment cases. Even if the victim has all the evidence and access to police, they will think about family and workplace too. Firstly, the police department needs to be sensitised about the community. We still have a long way to go,” said Tashi Choedup an LGBTQ activist.
Kalyan (name changed), a techie from Gachibowli who joined a dating application for queer persons found it difficult to report harassment as he feared the implications at his workplace and home. After getting a match on the application, Kalyan had been harassed for a week.
“The person knew a lot about me, where I stay, where I work and how my room looks like. Out of curiosity when I gave away my phone number, the next couple of weeks was tough. I got random calls, messages and video calls from men,” he said. However, he chose not to report the incident. “I still do not know who it was,” he further added.
Another individual Gaurav (name changed), a private employee who was talking with a man for weeks ended up being blackmailed. “We met after weeks of chats and calls, he then blackmailed me into giving money by telling me that he will post our chats on social media. I have not come out to my parents about my sexuality. I freaked out. I paid off Rs 5,000 and then he stopped all contact. I am glad it did not escalate after that,” he added. When asked whether he would report the extortion, Gaurav refused. “I am unsure how the police will react to the case. They might also call my workplace and family. That will do no good to me,” he said.
According to activists, social change is the only solution to such problems. “The community needs to understand basic human rights. There has to be a change in perceptions. The community is still dealing with basic problems,” said Tashi. When asked whether they will report sexual harassment, five out of six LGBTQ community members refused to file a case.
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