Views on Decolonializing Transgender
Gender within the Indian subcontinent has always been a highly debated issue, especially due to the existing indigenous patriarchal structures within the society. The article on 'Decolonizing Transgender' tries to bring this to the forefront while focusing exclusively on the subset of transgenders who identify themselves as femenine and may come from a lower caste (Namely Hijras or Kothi). An interesting difference between the Indian LGBTQ+ forum from its 'foreign' counterpart is the manner in which sexuality is seen as a part of gender and vide versa. The idea of intersectionality is ever present within the trans community and (as mentioned by the writer) the mobility and agency of some are restricted by the caste and class they may come from. In fact in a video about how Indian Queer people may be victims of intersectional discrimination, the paradox of being homosexual as well as from the lower community was brought out which is similar to the paradox of being trans and from the lower caste. The video explained how even within the more accepting community you were never fully accepted since you could only be one; Gay or queer. This is primarily the impact of elitist studies which create stigmatizing labels like 'chakka'. It is however heartening to see how a community within the larger group may form friendships without stigma attached to them.
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