The passion and attention the issue of gay, lesbian and same sex has attracted is path-breaking. Heart-breaking too. Not just because I’m opposed to the very idea of this sexual pedagogy. Also not because of the reason that theology or the tradition condemns this.
For some, it may be an issue of identity of self as an individual who may have strong belief in alternate sexual behaviour and identity. But, the question I would like to ask is whether it is this identity of someone as an individual (with overt sexual expression) that holds more importance or is it the nation and national issues that evoke more passion.
24 hours since I shared this question on some forums and my mail has been flooded with mixed responses, reactions, reasoning and perspectives – all full with passion.
The question goes – Sexuality or Nationality? What unearths more passion? For, I didn’t see this kind of coverage for any issue related to nationality and national development in the past decade as the issue of gay and same sex has attracted. Even if this is because it is a historical judgement, there have been bigger instances of national significance when we felt, it deserved bigger and better public and media attention.
The responses I am receiving are good enough to exhort, exhilirate as well shock a common Indian. That the media has forgotten its responsibility and role is something few would disagree with. It is all about TRP and market-driven content generation where everything that sells makes sense. From an item number to an item girl, rape to pedophilia and, unreal reality to rotten jokes everything sells better than a story or copy on a relevant subject.
Because it is much easier to cash-in on what is already in demand, the marketers know they should not tamper the status quo when the going is good. So, no need to alter what already sells.
I am leaving this blogpost incomplete as I await some more responses to bring you the full story.
Looking forward and, awaiting your mails.
deepaksingh@youngturks.in
You are right when you say media is giving attention to the gay case more than required just for TRP. I would like to add some more dimensions to this debate.
One of the sections of media represents the interests of aggressive westernisation. Gay rights is an excuse. This issue has a potential to propagate the value of heterosexuality and multisexuality. It is not just a co-incidence that gay activists give the slogan- “homo hetro bhai bhai”. Every culture has a set of core values. Though values change with time and it must change but, the fundamental tenets maintain a continuity. Though there are instanses of hetrosexuality in Indian mythology, it fundamentally is aginst the fundamental tenets of indian culture.
I oppose the so called gay activism on the ground some other vested interests are taking advantage out of this.
As far as legal rights of the gay is concerned I am for that. I agree that the root of their sexual orientation is biological. They should not be penalised for something they themselves are not responsible for. On the cultural ground too, we should recognise them as normal people. But, on the cultural ground, we should be aware that they and some other interests with them are not trying to colour the whole society. We should not try to colour them and they should not try to colour us. We should let each other as different.
Cool!