Episode 10 - Queer Auraten

Aura'ten

Being queer in a desi family is a tough battle. It can be a tragic, traumatic and isolating experience. Fearing social ostracization parents often respond to their child coming out with choice epletives and rage coupled with shame and guilt for bringing shame to the family. Sometimes the reactions can be violent and extreme in nature; physical abuse, banishment, stopping monetary support for education, etc. Your entire life is spent maneuvering around the potholes of ignorant assumptions or questions and under the weight of other people's morality resulting in total disgust of who you are. As if this one thing defines you in your entirety. Feigning support while saying things like "well you can still dress like a girl, at least." is disingenuous at best.

The right way to respond to someone coming out to you is to remind them that this doesn't change anything. If it does, you aren't an ally.

Queer desi youth struggle with depression and anxiety which follows them into adulthood as a result of their life experiences. Thankfully, their has been an increasing amount of representation in South Asian pop culture which is creating a bit more openness for queer desis. But we're nowhere close to inclusivity, so we MUST continue sharing our stories in the hope of a better tomorrow.