The Supreme Court of India's refusal to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages is a huge legal setback for the queer community. What has added to the woes is that same-sex couples don’t have the legal right to adopt. Actor turned humanitarian Somy Ali, who now runs her NGO No More Tears, shares her opinion.
“It’s hard enough for them to be who they truly are and on top of that not being able to adopt is the worst possible scenario ever. It’s such a beautiful act to adopt a child or children for that matter who want to be cared for and loved. To put a fork in the road for such a noble act makes the ones responsible behind it monsters in my eyes, not human beings. It’s truly barbaric and again takes us back to a time when dictatorship was a norm. It seems to me that tyrants are gloatingly in charge of barbarism and we can’t do anything about it. It makes me sick to my stomach,” she says.
On how she thinks this situation would change, Somy adds, “People with clout and power need to speak up more. They need to use their social media platforms to support the LGBTQ community and talk about how they should be able to love who they want and adopt children if they wish to do so. However, many famous people tend to play it safe on social media because they are afraid of being disliked. We have to understand that we can’t please everyone and no matter what you do or post someone will always be there to troll you and it’s not one person it’s a group or of them. I would rather show my love and support for the LGBTQ community and be hated for it than sit and watch them being hurt without interjecting. Our society needs to stand up and protest against these nonsensical laws which are still in place as we approach 2024. We need to be bold and courageous. We need to be educated enough to comprehend that being gay is not a choice, rather one is born that way. I deem it my duty to take a stand against any kind of discrimination that harms and hurts any group of innocent people. I have been and always will be a huge proponent of gay rights no matter what the trolls say or think of me. I find it disgusting to hate someone because of who they want to love. It’s utter rubbish to live with that kind of venom in your mind and body. Above all, it depicts sheer ignorance and lack of education.”
Many opine that homosexuality is still taboo in India. “Well, this was quite a significant sign that they still do, wasn’t it? Unfortunately, this is all learned behaviour and taught within households. We are taught to hate when we are children, be it the LGBTQ community or a specific religion or skin color. No one is born hating rather they are taught at a very young age to hate and at that age children tend to be like sponges taking it all in whatever they are told to be the solid truth. It’s such a disheartening fact to know that children are taught to hate rather than to love. Parents who are closed minded stick to their age old ways and those traits are passed on from one generation to another. This needs to stop immediately and loving someone or something that isn’t like us needs to be a norm not an acceptance as I find that term to be extremely condescending,” she shares.
Somy respects and loves the gay and trans community. Teaching children to love is what will make our world better, not educating them with discriminatory mindsets, she feels.
“This will create more hate than we already have in this world over things like land and religion. We are still fighting those wars when you really think about it. We all have more similarities than differences. All I can say is that powerful people need to stop playing safe and step up on their social media. That’s the only I see any change taking place. Fame has immense power and followers of fame can change the world with that respect for the famous person or actor. Anil Kapoor and his daughter, Sonam, proved that by being a part of a revolutionary film/subject in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha. Kudos and respect to the both of them for doing so. That’s the courage I am talking about which should come from all celebrities and influencers to change our world for the better,” she ends.
