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LGBTQIA Opinion

Cross-Dresser Stabbed To Death In Bengaluru: Why "Celebrating" Pride Month Is Not Enough

The LGBTQIA+ community has been denied visibility, respect, and acceptance for the longest time? What are we celebrating during pride month when the actuality of their existence is marred by abuse and violence?

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sharanya
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A 32-year-old cross-dresser from Bengaluru was allegedly stabbed to death by an auto driver last month. The incident joins a long list of episodes of violence against the members of the LGBTQIA+ community in India who have to face the risk to their safety on a daily basis, alongside dealing with social stigma and ostracisation.

The deceased, known as Pradeep, was a resident of Bengaluru’s BTM layout. While this incident occurred on May 30, his body was only discovered on June 2, after his neighbours complained that a foul smell was coming from his apartment. The accused, named Rakshith, is still absconding.

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Pradeep had been living in a rented flat for three months and would reportedly often invite men over to his apartment. According to the reports, a fight ensued between Rakshith and Pradeep on May 30, when Rakshith came to his flat in a drunken state.
Police reports reveal that Pradeep was the first to stab Rakshith, which enraged him and led him to repeatedly stab Pradeep in the abdomen and left arm. After the fight ended fatally, Rakshith fled the crime scene.

Cross-dresser stabbed to death: Safety concerns for LGBTQIA+ Community

The news about Pradeep's chilling assault and death comes in the wake of Pride Month, which is celebrated all over the world to acknowledge the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community and spread awareness about the injustices that they have to face. Celebrations aside, news and statistics reveal a whole different story.

In India, violence against the queer community by society including, police brutality is still very prevalent. In 2020, a transgender person, a 28-year-old Vijji, was allegedly stabbed to death by two men in the Subramanyapura area in Bengaluru. The two accused men, Srinath (30) and Arun Kumar (27) reportedly stabbed her and dumped her body in an autorickshaw.

Suggested Reading: Pink Washing Won't Solve Things, Queer Community Offers Tinder Lessons On Pride Video

In another heartbreaking incident, a 23-year-old Sanjit Mondal from Kolkata, who belongs to the LGBTQIA+ community was taken to a police station, and allegedly beaten up and harassed by the police. “I had a harrowing experience but did not even know my fault. These men forcefully dragged me and started beating me without any reason. When I refused to abide by their instructions, they started beating me up brutally" said Mondal.

This judgement challenged the so-called societal norms, thus causing an increase in more horrifying incidents of violence and abuse. India Spend's statistics based on research back in 2020 on the transgender community in India revealed around 52 percent of the respondents had been harassed by the police and around 96 percent had not raised a complaint because of their sexual and gender identity. Keep in mind that the Supreme Court of India had passed a judgement decriminalising homosexuality in the country on September 6, 2018. While the judgement gave legal relief to the LGBTQIA+ community, did it bring them acceptance or protection from oppression? The data quoted above provides a harsh answer to this question.

The community has been denied visibility, respect, and acceptance for the longest time. What are we celebrating during pride month when the actuality of their existence is marred by abuse and violence?

These incidences of violence demand for our urgent attention as mere gaining legal recognition is not enough, people from the community need to be protected from hatred, abuse, marginalisation and discriminations too. Safety can't be a luxury that a few from the LGBTQIA+ community can afford due to their social status or because they live in an urban setup.

Four years is a long duration, but lack of change in our outlook towards issues related to the LGBTQIA+ community, how we conveniently turn a blind eye to incidents of violence like those stated above, proves that we shouldn't be patting our backs just yet.

Views expressed are the author's own.

Celebrating Pride 2022 Pride Month 2022 LGBTQIA+ community
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