In fact, some LGBTQ people are happy that they criminalized homosexuality again A qualitative study about LGBTQ activism in Mumbai

摘要

India is one of many countries in the world where homosexual acts are still illegal. India,however, represents a somewhat unusual development regarding the legal rights of lesbiangay-bisexual-transsexual-queer(LGBTQ) people. From 1860 to 2009”unnatural intercourse”(non-penile-virginal sex) was illegal under Section 377 of the Indian panel code. In 2009Section 377 was read down, but was however reintroduced in 2013. The purpose of thepresent study was to investigate how LGBTQ activists perceived the relatively rapid changein the legal status. Eight semi-structured interviews with LGBTQ activists in Mumbai wereconducted. The interviews covered both their own experiences and their knowledge of thesituation of other LGBTQ individuals in society. In addition, the study aimed at, through theexperiences of these informants, investigating the importance of Section 377 for theirstruggle of claiming the rights of LGBTQ people. The main finding was that the status of thelaw is central in explaining the social stigma and discrimination that LGBTQ individuals aresubjected to on the basis of their sexual orientation. Furthermore, through the theoretical lensof queer and intersectional theory, I was able to emphasize that the legal status of LGBTQpeople was not enough in explaining their vulnerable situation. The affiliation of differentsets of social categories, the power exercised by different structures and societal norms washighly important, according to the activists, in understanding the situation of LGBTQ people.Therefore, the informants were ambiguous to the consequences, of the legal changes, for theLGBTQ activism.