Ambar IIT Kharagpur is a student led Genderand Sexuality diversity support group [within the campus]
We provide a safe and open space to LGBT+ and ally students of the institute.
We also organise important events to spread awareness about LGBT+ issues, Feminism, and Intersectionality.
In the same spirit, during
the Pride Month of 2020, Ambar members
answered some commonly asked questions.
Here they are:
So, What does this term "LGBTQ" mean?
This term "LGBTQ" stands for people who don’t identify
themselves as heterosexual or cis-gendered. This term signifies both sexuality as well
as gender, where L stands for Lesbian, the
G stands for Gay, the B stands for Bisexual,
the T stands for Transgender, and the term Q stands for [Queer] people of other gender
and sexual minorities.
Hi. I'm from Ambar.
I have noticed that many people think sex and gender are binary, which
means you can either be female or male. But that's not true. Both Sex and Gender are spectra.
There can be multiple sexes and gender identities. And this is not just something I'm saying,
this is scientifically proven. I wish more
people would educate themselves with regards
to this issue and finally let's just all denounce gender roles and respect gender identity.
Thank you.
What is intersectionality?
Google search will tell you that it is the
interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, caste, gender, ethnicity,
etc. And this creates an overlapping system of discrimination and disadvantage. But what
does this entail for LGBT+ individuals in
India. That those who are at the bottom of
the totem pole in each of these social categories are the most vulnerable.
Lower caste or untouchables,
economically disadvantaged or have-nots, and those who identify themselves as non-binary
genders [or sexualities or both] - you bring these together and it creates intersectionality.
Asexuals are individuals who lack sexual attraction to others. Asexuality is essentially a spectrum.
For example, Some asexuals will never be sexual. Some asexuals are not interested in sex but
will engage with a partner who is interested in sex. Some Asexuals are interested in sex
with themselves but not with other people. What asexuals have in common is a lack of
sexual attraction, not necessarily a lack
of desire or experience. Different individuals
may lie on different places on this spectrum.
Hi everybody. The reason I showed you the poster at the outset was so that it becomes
a little easier for me to talk about this.
Bisexuality is not a phase.
Bisexual people are not confused.
Bisexuality is not a pit-stop to gay-town.
Bisexual men are not secretly gay.
Bisexual women are not "mostly straight but
can also sleep with women".
Bisexuality is not something people go through
before "picking a side".
Bisexuality doesn't make people more prone
to cheat on their partners because they are bisexual.
Bisexuality doesn't mean that a person is
greedy for more partners.
Bisexuality doesn't automatically make a person open to threesomes.
I could go on and on about this because there is just so much stereotyping that has been
done. I guess all I am really saying is Bisexuality is Valid.
It is not a phase. It is not temporary. And
it's definitely not going away if we don't
talk about it. And all the bisexual people
out there, the entire community, it does not
deserve this kind of invisibility.
I guess that's my two cents on it.
Happy Pride Month, everybody. And, I guess, in these times, stay safe.
I recently noticed some attacks by J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series and
I saw a meme on how Hermione would respond to something like that. I took the liberty of painting a
trans flag and writing it on top of that.
I am gonna read it out just in case it's not
clear. "Besides, you are saying it wrong.
It’s TRANSPHOBIA, not defending biological sex"
So, I have a message to all transphobes
out there, "Stop using phoney science to justify
your transphobia. No TERFS on my turf! Thank you!
Transgender people may or may not be gay. The word “transgender” is used to denote
someone’s GENDER identity. It does not convey any information about someone’s sexual identity.
Whether or not someone is gay is a matter of someone’s sexual orientation or sexual identity.
In India, the word “transgender”
is often used as an umbrella term for intersex people
transgender people, and transexual
people.
Transgender People are those who
do not conform to the sex they were assigned at birth. Hence, they seek to transition to
the sex they identify with via therapy, hormone treatments, or surgical interventions.
People who transition to the sex they identify with via medical interventions or surgeries are
called Transexual People. An Intersex Person is someone who was born with any of several
variations in sex characteristics including
chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones or genitals.
The first thing to do is to respect gender
identity and diversity.
Forget this rigid
concept of gender equals sex.
The next thing that you can do, is let your child explore
their gender.
Build a team of professionals consisting of doctors and therapists for your child
so that whenever your child feel depressed or frustrated or confused about their gender
then they can seek the best help at the right time.
Last but not the least,
shower you trans child with unconditional love
and support and make sure that they feel protected at every
hour of the day.
Being brought up in a heteronormative environment, all of us have a lot of baggage that we need
to unlearn. Pride Month gives us a huge opportunity to actually try identify our inherent biases
and constantly work towards removing the same. I have made this super juvenile poster to
show how completely freeing it is to be yourself which a lot of allies might not even understand
because a lot of us have had that freedom given by the accident of birth, but there
are many people around us who don't have it. So, it's the onus of the allies to actually
have that tough conversation. It is not enough for you to be pro the LGBTQ+ movement, pro
these identities. You have to have those tough conversations with your homophobic transphobic
friends, parents, relatives. I mean, you wouldn't realise on your own the benefit of having
those conversations, of being an outspoken ally unless you meet a closeted person and
you start actually understanding the struggles they face. So, be an active ally, be an active,
kind, empathetic person who chooses to read up more, who chooses to question their own
biases more than questioning the person in front of them just telling them who they really are.
Hi, everyone! I'm Swati.
And, as an ally, I feel that the quest for a more safe, inclusive and a welcoming
world for all begins with us making our support visible at every nook,
corner, space, and walk of life. From homes to campuses to parliaments, acceptance at
each level is important to make the rainbow shine all over the world. Thank you, Ambar
for making me learn and strive for a better world for everyone. Happy Pride Month to everyone
out there!
Hi Ambar! Happy pride month everyone and it's so great that you are able to get all your
people onboard even in times as surreal as this.
But here's a little ray of sunshine
from Audre Lorde, 
"Revolution is not a one time event".
So here's to more colours, more you,
and to never forget that this is not the end
but just the beginning.
And to never giving up.
Take care.
Ambar has also had some brilliant conversations with LGBT+ activists and professionals.
You can check them out on our YouTube channel or Instagram TV.
Thank you for joining us!
Stay home, stay safe. And our heartfelt
gratitude and love to healthcare professionals
and others who are working on the frontlines of this pandemic. Thank you!
