Times of Bennett
ArticleCampus

Is it a good time to be queer in India?

The Times Literature Fest organised a session to answer the question “Is it a good time to be queer in India?” and a talk about how LGBTQIA+ community faces constant struggles when it comes to acceptance of their sexuality and freedom to express their choices.

Published:February 14, 2023 at 12:18 PM4 min read
Is it a good time to be queer in India?
By Ritika Choudhary

The Times Literature Fest organised a session to answer the question “Is it a good time to be queer in India?” and a talk about how LGBTQIA+ community faces constant struggles when it comes to acceptance of their sexuality and freedom to express their choices.

Journalist Renuka Bisht with panellist Dr. Sharif D. Rangnekar, author of the book Queer Sapien, and Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, India’s first trans woman doctor, discussed and shared their personal struggles and challenges they overcame to gain the kind of visibility they have today.

In the opening statement, Bisht read out a prose from Dr Rangnekar’s book about how he wanted to move to Thailand because he thought Delhi will always disillusion him. He could never imagine a safe society and a partner to live in this city.

Dr Rangnekar talked about how he grew up in a world with very few safe spaces and where you could not be yourself fully and freely as gay/ queer man while censoring yourself or holding yourself back. He also talked about the fear of someone finding out and destroying you because of the social stigma attached which leads to mental illness, such as anxiety or depression.

“Even when Article 377 was let down I wasn’t so excited because I got used to living in a certain manner that the law didn’t really matter anymore because I have learnt to be a criminal and censoring myself every now and then,” said Dr Rangnekar, because he realised that he spent half of his life living with Article 377.

According to him, there isn’t a better time to be queer in India because he couldn’t imagine these kinds of discussions happening five years ago as there isn’t enough material that gets published of the queer community because there isn’t a big enough market.

Even Dr. Shaikh shared how difficult it was for her to accept her identity in as person who was born in a chawl in Mumbai. Where the only thing used as a lingo for queer was TV and cinema. The caricature that she saw of gay men as funny and comic characters were extremely frightening.

“The one difference between a trans folk and a gay person is that gay people realise who they are mostly in the second decade of their life but a trans person realises that something is different or wrong since the time they start to learn the basic things at the age 3,” said Dr. Shaikh.

“This is when you are learning the vocabulary and realise there is no vocabulary for me, there are no words that define me,” she added.

As an insight from the queer community, Dr. Shaikh also elaborated on how the medical world is one of the most transphobic places one can encounter because there everything is looked from the lens of normal and abnormal, disease, pathology, hormones, chromosomes, every disease doctors try to find out a cure. Like the gene therapy to cure homo sexuality.

Disorder of sexual differentiation is how intersex people were defined. Even gender identity was a disorder and that’s how transness was labelled. Conversion therapy was legal with doctors performing conversion therapies which included giving electric shocks to people so that they can think straight. Even psychiatrists were writing papers about successfully conducting conversion therapies.

So, when asked about is it a good time to be queer in India, Dr. Shaikh said, “India is one of the most liberal countries when it comes to queer folks but not the most friendly. So, to answer the question, yes, it is a good to time to be queer in India but it can become better".

(The writer is a Semester IV student of BA (Journalism and Mass Communication) programme.)

Tags
#renuka bisht#Times Literature Fest 2023#Times Lit Fest#Queer community#LGBTQIA+#Dr Sharif D. Rangnekar#Queer Sapien#Dr Aqsa Shaikh

Related Articles

An enthralling book talk on Dhiraj Singh's debut novel Mater O
Article
Campus

An enthralling book talk on Dhiraj Singh's debut novel Mater O

On World Book Day 2026 at Kunzum Book Cafe, Bennett University students explored the futuristic novel Master O by Dhiraj Singh, Deputy Dean at Times School of Media. Hosted by media expert Mia Lakra, the book talk delved into the story's themes of godmen, politics, and superpowers, earning Singh the Salis Mania Best Author Award (2023). Singh passionately unpacked character symbolism drawn from real-life observations, his writing journey, and revisions to perfect the plot. Lakra's witty questions and a rapid-fire round added humor, leading to an engaging Q&A. The event ended with thanks and felicitation for Singh, Lakra, and cafe founder Ajay Jain, leaving a memorable impact.

May 2, 20263 min
#dhiraj singh#kunzum book#bennett university+2 more
Bridging Theory and Practice: Bennett University Hosts Insightful PR Session with Adfactors Executive
Article
Campus

Bridging Theory and Practice: Bennett University Hosts Insightful PR Session with Adfactors Executive

Bennett University's Times School of Media conducted a masterclass in PR and personal branding featuring Nikhil Dey, Executive Director at Adfactors PR. Students were walked through the A - Z of the public relations world through innovative interactive segments.

May 2, 20263 min
#sneh gupta#nikhil dey#dhiraj singh+3 more
'Bennett Dialogues' launched with a talk on the war in West Asia
Article
Campus

'Bennett Dialogues' launched with a talk on the war in West Asia

Times School of Media at Bennett University hosted the inaugural 'Bennett Dialogues' session, featuring West Asia expert Waiel Awwad in conversation with senior journalist Zakka Jacob. They discussed the Israel-Iran-USA conflict's global implications, including its roots in broader U.S.-China-Russia geopolitics, Israel's territorial ambitions per its scriptures, Gaza's humanitarian crisis affecting 2.6 million, and uneven global responses to events like October 7.Awwad critiqued U.S. "weapons of mass deception" over 253 years (e.g., Vietnam, Iraq, Iran), highlighted media bias with "no free media," and linked wars to economic greed over oil and chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. He shared experiences from conflict zones, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and noted India's proactive stance amid potential economic risks like inflation.The event, attended by students and faculty, ended with Deputy Dean Prof. Dhiraj Singh's vote of thanks, promoting critical thinking on international issues.

Apr 28, 20263 min
#bennett dialogues#zakka jacob#waiel awwad+3 more
TSOM Hosts Exclusive 48-Hour Photography Workshop
Article
Campus

TSOM Hosts Exclusive 48-Hour Photography Workshop

Bennett University's Times School of Media hosted an intensive 48 hour photography and filmmaking workshop in association with DIGITEK & Cineposium Initiative. Students gained insights into the art of composition, gained valuable hands on experience and won goodies.

Apr 24, 20265 min
#digitech#bennett university#media nest+4 more
BENNETT DIALOGUES launch with the War in West Asia
Article
Campus

BENNETT DIALOGUES launch with the War in West Asia

Bennett University has launched BENNETT DIALOGUES, a fortnightly talk series conceptualized by Chancellor Vineet Jain (Times Group MD) to help students grasp global geopolitical shifts. Led by Prof. Dhiraj Singh (Head, Centre for Media & Technology), it features informal fireside chats and Q&A with experts in geopolitics, business, and media. The series aims to connect world events to everyday impacts, like how the US-Israel-Iran war affects India's petrol and LPG prices. The inaugural edition on April 21 explores "The War in West Asia," with Times Now's Zakka Jacob and Dr. Waiel Awwad (Syrian-origin expert on West Asia conflicts, based in Delhi). Prof. Singh highlights its blend of Times Group media legacy and Bennett's academic excellence, benefiting media, liberal arts, business, and law students.

Apr 18, 20262 min
#dialogues#zakka jacob#dhiraj singh+3 more
A Curtain Call to Remember: Jashn-E-Cinema 2026
Article
Campus

A Curtain Call to Remember: Jashn-E-Cinema 2026

Jashn-E-Cinema 2026 embodied the university's vibrant cultural spirit through a night of unity, talent, and reflection. The highlight was BYOB Live's finale, where the audience joined in singing and swaying, blurring the stage and crowd in a shared, emotional celebration marking the year's end. The evening opened with a poignant badge ceremony honouring club leaders for their dedication, setting a reflective tone before the performances. Clubs showcased diverse talents: Advaita's energetic band set the musical rhythm; Cerebrum's witty Farzi Mushaira skit satirised poetry; Panache's ethnic-modern ramp walk dazzled visually; Verve's narrative Bollywood dance enthralled; Ansh's comedic theatre Big B chal Padhe delivered laughs; and Rivaaz's classical dance closed gracefully. Vikram Singh, Music Society Secretary, summed it up: “A great end to the year—a final goodbye, but a celebration of what we’ve built together.” The event was a farewell tapestry of collaboration, from quiet honours to explosive energy.

Apr 17, 20264 min
#ansh#advaita#panache+2 more