The LGBTQIA community has been the victim of stereotypes for decades. Our perception of the community has been completely warped, as movies and TV serials have always represented the men as flamboyant and effeminate while the women are represented as more boyish/androgynous.
This is the reason that a lot of us try to differentiate between a straight and a gay person based on their attire and mannerisms. But, what we fail to realise that our ignorance can actually hurt the sentiments of a community which has been fighting for equal status for a long time now.
Something similar happened when a leading news website Bombay Times invited the members of the LGBTQIA community for an interview.
However, the members who went for the interview were severely disappointed by the treatment meted out to them. A Twitter user Sukhnidh took to the micro-blogging site to share what happened in a thread.
1. The professionalism in the interview became a victim of ignorance.
https://twitter.com/skhndh/status/956226379380641794
2. They couldn’t handle the outrageous demands anymore and made the right call.
https://twitter.com/skhndh/status/956227584177577985
3. The community faces enough troubles already, they did not need their dignity trampled on.
https://twitter.com/skhndh/status/956228011845607424
Obviously, Tweeple were angry at the blatant ignorance and insensitivity of the journalist. Some research was imperative especially when they wanted to talk about section 377, which has plagued the LGBTQIA community in our country for decades.
1. Accusing the website of being exploitative.
https://twitter.com/skhndh/status/956363668974845952
2. Is outrage the way to go?
Unsoliticited advice: name the journalists involved. Make sure lgbt community boycotts them & send a rejoinder to the editor.
This is unacceptable behaviour.— Vidya (@VidyaKrishnan) January 25, 2018
3. Publicity does not warrant insulting an entire community.
That’s awful. Ironically, the reason they do something like this is just as a publicity stunt, yet they just hurt the very thing they crave for
— Vivek (@7_vivek) January 25, 2018
4. King of frivolous!
Pathetic! But not surprised! It’s Bombay Times and they’re known to be the king of frivolous. What did you expect?!
— M (@whaddyasayin) January 25, 2018
5. The sad truth of the world.
https://twitter.com/sakshi2394/status/956368227067506690
6. This needed to be addressed.
Am glad u addressed the issue. Seemed more like a situation of backstabbing the community by making them look unsocial and ridiculous
— Vinay Garg (@vinaygar) January 25, 2018
7. Exactly!
It's upsetting to hear that. It's about time we #breakthestereotypes
— MissTransQueen India (@MissTransQueen) January 25, 2018
8. The consequences of a shallow world?
I realise the media, even those who appear to be pro-lgbt, like to indulge and perpetuate the stereotypes. Whereas the authentic voices get drowned out
— Khakan Qureshi (@KhakanQureshi) January 24, 2018
9. I second that!
.@bombaytimes owes an apology for this stupidest, despising and Racist act. The interview was conducted to slander the community. The reporters involved in this crime must immediately be sacked.
— Sahil Prasad🌈 (@laxmi407) January 25, 2018
However, Sukhnidh also had a rather different perspective on how the whole matter should be dealt with. Her perspective is a lesson to everyone who wants to jump on the hate bandwagon as quick as possible.
https://twitter.com/skhndh/status/956389832929902592
An experience which was supposed to empower a community ended up being a nightmare. We hope the journalist learns from their folly and tries to educate themselves a bit more before resigning blindly to stereotypes.