Deconstructing the Stereotype: Reconsidering Indian Culture, Literature and Cinema

Text Sample:
SOCIAL CONSTRAINTS:
In our society, women have a very derogatory stand and especially if they are lesbian, transsexual or bisexual then they are even more heckled in their surroundings. Women stepping out of heterosexual norms are seen as being doubly subversive (Seager, 2009) 8. Homosexual women are also women. Similarly, the gay man is more vulnerable than the heterosexual man. Homosexuality is nothing abnormal but just another form of sexuality.
The queer problem is considered to be the most trivial in our society. One of the journalists Ushashi Chakraborty says that, most people react and say that they are not lesbians, none of their friends or relatives are also like them so why do they need to think about them? They are the perverts, the other of our society. It is tragic yet true how pathetically our society demarcates them.
It is not only the outside community people who think them to be pervert but unfortunately they themselves also sometimes think so. Their greatest opposition is their families. The social problem is one of the major constraints faced by the queer people. Homosexuality is not against any culture. Science has proved that homosexuality is not a preference but an orientation. This truth has only been rejected through resistance.
SUPPORT GROUPS FOR GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE: SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SAPPHO AND SWIKRITI:
Both Sappho and Swikriti are Kolkata based support groups.
SAPPHO AND SAPPHO FOR EQUALITY-A SUPPORT GROUP FOR LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER WOMEN:
Sappho, a Kolkata based support group for lesbian, bisexual and transgender, founded on 20th June, 1999, is the only group of its kind in Eastern India. It derives its name from the legendary character Sappho of ancient Greek literature, who was one of the most popular female poets from Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. The mission of the organization is to address the issues of sexually marginalized women in our society and to broaden the

Dr Kaustav Chakraborty has been teaching at Southfield College (formerly Loreto College), Darjeeling as an Assistant Professor in English and presently he is the Head of the Department. His recent publications include an edited volume entitled Indian Drama in English, published from Prentice Hall. He has been an associate of Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla. Currently he is engaged in a Major Research Project sponsored by University Grants Commission, New Delhi. His areas of interest include Postcolonial Literature, Queer Studies, Tribal Literature and Culture.