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Gay community faces hostility
- By News Hound
- Published 06/6/2007
- Gay Local Community
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Sutapa Deb
Monday, June 4, 2007 (Kolkata)
Twenty-two-year old Sumona is a kothi, a term used in the Indian subcontinent for an effeminate male. Sumona's love for women's clothes defies what is considered normal masculine behaviour.
But now it appears to be making him an easy target of homophobic violence that is hate crimes against gays and lesbians.
Sumona is one of many kothi in Kolkata to have reported cases of violence, abuse, blackmail and harassment in the last 45 days.
There is an overwhelming sense of fear and insecurity in public places.
On April 20, a kothi was murdered in Kolkata's Maidan area around 5.30 pm. The police have made no headway in the case so far.
Thirty-two-year old Ronald D Silva, a kothi and cross dresser was killed by an unknown assailant. Incidents of extreme violence against kothis is becoming a daily occurrence in Kolkata.
On May 6, Sanjoy was attacked when he was returning home late at night.
''They dragged me to the forest, beat me mercilessly. I screamed for help. There was someone nearby but he turned his face away. They held me by my throat and beat me like an animal. I bit his hand and tried to run away,'' said Sanjoy, Victim, Hate Crime.
What is worse is that kothis face violence not just from members of the public but also from law enforcing agencies.
On April 24, Sumona was beaten up and sexually assaulted by the railway protection force police at Sealdah station. He faced a near rape situation.
''The officer said, Show me whether you are a male or female. I said I am what I am. I don't have to prove anything to you. He asked what I was doing at the station so late at night. I told him I was returning from work. Then 10 to 12 officers opened my shirt and asked me to strip,'' said Sumona, hate crime victim.
But the cases fail to register in public memory because of the hostility they face in making a police complaint.
''It's perhaps easier being a woman because there are certain recourse you can take. But being transgender or having a different set of body or being perceived to be queer, it puts you at the risk of sexual violence, other kinds of attacks,'' said Anindya Hajra, Pratyay Gender Trust.
Senior police officials admit that junior level policemen often display biases in their response to the transgendered community.
''People also reflect the society at large, the kind of views, the kind of attitude, society has. All those kind of attitudes, all those kind of behaviour patterns you will find in the police organisation, for that matter in any organisation,'' said Gyanwant Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Kothis are demanding strong action against the culprits, saying the state has a responsibility to ensure that their human rights are not violated.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070014392
Monday, June 4, 2007 (Kolkata)
Twenty-two-year old Sumona is a kothi, a term used in the Indian subcontinent for an effeminate male. Sumona's love for women's clothes defies what is considered normal masculine behaviour.
But now it appears to be making him an easy target of homophobic violence that is hate crimes against gays and lesbians.
Sumona is one of many kothi in Kolkata to have reported cases of violence, abuse, blackmail and harassment in the last 45 days.
There is an overwhelming sense of fear and insecurity in public places.
On April 20, a kothi was murdered in Kolkata's Maidan area around 5.30 pm. The police have made no headway in the case so far.
Thirty-two-year old Ronald D Silva, a kothi and cross dresser was killed by an unknown assailant. Incidents of extreme violence against kothis is becoming a daily occurrence in Kolkata.
On May 6, Sanjoy was attacked when he was returning home late at night.
''They dragged me to the forest, beat me mercilessly. I screamed for help. There was someone nearby but he turned his face away. They held me by my throat and beat me like an animal. I bit his hand and tried to run away,'' said Sanjoy, Victim, Hate Crime.
What is worse is that kothis face violence not just from members of the public but also from law enforcing agencies.
On April 24, Sumona was beaten up and sexually assaulted by the railway protection force police at Sealdah station. He faced a near rape situation.
''The officer said, Show me whether you are a male or female. I said I am what I am. I don't have to prove anything to you. He asked what I was doing at the station so late at night. I told him I was returning from work. Then 10 to 12 officers opened my shirt and asked me to strip,'' said Sumona, hate crime victim.
But the cases fail to register in public memory because of the hostility they face in making a police complaint.
''It's perhaps easier being a woman because there are certain recourse you can take. But being transgender or having a different set of body or being perceived to be queer, it puts you at the risk of sexual violence, other kinds of attacks,'' said Anindya Hajra, Pratyay Gender Trust.
Senior police officials admit that junior level policemen often display biases in their response to the transgendered community.
''People also reflect the society at large, the kind of views, the kind of attitude, society has. All those kind of attitudes, all those kind of behaviour patterns you will find in the police organisation, for that matter in any organisation,'' said Gyanwant Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Kothis are demanding strong action against the culprits, saying the state has a responsibility to ensure that their human rights are not violated.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070014392
