Queer Infocus | December I ’19

Queer InFocus is a bimonthly roundup of queer news in India.

Despite massive protests, Trans bill gets assent, becomes law

December 7, 2019

Despite nation-wide protests against the highly problematic Trans bill, it was signed by the President, Ram Nath Kovind on the 5th of December and was made into a law. Protests have been taking place across the country demanding the Bill to be sent back to the Parliament to be looked at by a select committee and modified taking into consideration the concerns of the transgender communities.

Click here for the full article.

TCS to be the first Tata company to include LGBT staff for health cover

December 7, 2019

Tata Consultancy Services tweaks its health insurance policy to involve employees in same-sex relationship. The new policy redefines ‘spouse’ as ‘partner’, thereby broadening the scope to include same-sex partners of the employees. The policy will cover up to 50% of the cost of sex/gender reassignment surgery (up to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh).

Click here for the full article.

Painting It Queer: Dear Delhi, Welcome Rainbow Literature Festival

December 10, 2019

The first edition of the Rainbow Literature Festival was held in Delhi. Panels ranged from the now read-down Section 377, queer protagonists in cinema and culture, sex workers, wages, ways to combat hetero-normative patriarchy amongst others.

Click here for the full article.

Netflix Christmas special showing gay Jesus evokes ban demands

December 13, 2019

Netflix releases a Christmas special titled ‘The First Temptation of Christ’ which portrays Jesus Christ in a gay relationship and Mary as a weed smoker, angering millions all over the world resulting in a petition demanding its withdrawal. Abraham Mathai, the president of Indian Christian Voice said, “As a member of the Christian community and follower of Christ, I join the rest of hundreds of thousands who have registered their protests calling for the Netflix Christmas Special depicting Jesus in a gay relationship to be axed immediately. Even though freedom of expression is a fundamental and a constitutional right, using the same liberty to offend the sentiments of the members of a particular faith persuasion is highly abhorrent and totally unacceptable”.

Click here for the full article.

Nagpur LGBT Activist Claims He was Assaulted by 7-8 Men after Refusing Demand for Sexual Favours

December 14, 2019

An LGBTQ rights activist from Nagpur claimed that he was assaulted by 7-8 men for denying sexual advances made by them and the police arrested just 4 of them only to be let out on bail later.

Click here for the full article.

Comments: Passing of the Trans Bill comes as a big defeat for the community, making room for more discrimination. The new policy implemented by Tata Consultancy Services gives the community a new found hope. 

Haima Simoes is Outreach Officer at the Queer Resource Centre at One Future Collective.