I recorded a documentary about the LGBTQ+ community in asia

Unprotected people, united associations, 2 women and a camera. A documentary about LGTBIQ rights in India, China and Taiwan.

It was pre-pandemic 2019, together with my colleague Susana Zubiaurre we decided to propose a report on the LGTBIQ community to the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, taking advantage of the fact that we were traveling with the university to China (Shanghai), Taiwan and India (Pune, Mumbai and Calcutta).

First of all I will tell you that it was not easy, but we were committed with desire and enthusiasm to the proyect.

Mature glances looked at us with some skepticism, but we did it and it was incredible.

The main goal was clear, we wanted to give voice to all those silent voices that have so much to say and share, to create a common path towards inclusion for social transformation.

In India we interviewed 12 people and some activism organizations (Trans, Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, activists, mothers, fathers, street people, lawyers, teachers…) in addition to having attended various community events, this gave us an overview of how the situation really was at all levels.

In this post I will tell you everything those people told us, personal stories, some very hard, that made us think a lot about how lucky we are, and about everything that remains to be done.

Full documentary below:)

CONTEXT IN ASIA

The lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGTB Q+) community is experiencing a

complicated global situation. The fight for civil rights is raging seeing reflected in Western countries, with the approval of laws that punish discrimination and legally accept same-sex couples.

In Asia, however, the situation is different, although homosexuality is legal in most countries, it remains a taboo subject, and the right to marriage and adoption remains illegal. So there is still no common path when it comes to protecting the rights of the collective, what a surprise.

In addition, in the case of women it is even more complicated, since just because they are women they are discriminated against and because they belong to the LGTBQ+ community even more, they live in fear and in silence.

INDIA

Thanks to the fall of article 377, India decriminalizes homosexual relations in 2018, previously thousands of people were detained in India with sentences of between ten years in prison and life imprisonment. According to data from the International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA), around 1,500 people were detained in India under section 377 in 2015.

This means that being part of the group is no longer a crime, and although the situation is still terrible, at least the public is beginning to realize that there is something called LGTBIQ, and what they claim... also Pride Day is celebrated in most cities. On the other hand, it seems that there is no interest in approving other basic rights such as equal marriage, but as an activist woman told us, "little by little...".

OR NOT....

The fear of family dishonor, persecution, rejection in the labor market, harassment in the workplace and physical violence lead many people of the community to secrecy, resignation and to be something they are not.

In rural areas where 70% of the population resides, they consider the homosexuality as a mental illness, which must be treated, so there is still a long way to go to achieve equality and dignified treatment in the whole country.

Regarding gender equality within the same group, many lesbian and bisexual women are forced to marry and have sexual relationships with people they do not want, due to family pressure or are even abused with the aim of changing their sexual orientation.

Niki Ray is a woman who inspired us a lot, she is openly bisexual and an activist in Pune. When she discovered her sexuality in the 80s, she had no support, she also had no sex education, it was a difficult road.

But she tells us that there is an open path towards inclusion and diversity but what is actually more necessary is education, especially for children, it must be normalized since they are little.

Today, through talks and shows, she transmits a very important message and gives visibility to both women within the group and the LGTBIQ community in Pune.

We see the great importance of the artistic world, as a tool to fight against misinformation, we have met great local activists who through art such as creative murals, comedies, crafts... make visible the existence and message of the LGTBQ+ community and create a common path towards diversity and equality.

We met the Relieef Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness about sexual education in schools, since the percentage of people with HIV and sexual transmission is high. They work in both urban and rural areas of the city of Pune, they tell us about the workshops they give from adolescence to help improve lives in terms of hygiene, health, and awareness.

THE THIRD GENDER, THE SO-CALLED HIJRAS

The Hindu religion stands out for not having a very clear definition of the sexes. Their gods are sometimes goddesses, or vice versa. And the existence of a "third sex" is recognized that has both masculine and feminine qualities.

The hijras refer to that "third sex". They have been a part of Indian culture since ancient times and have enjoyed status and social respect throughout history. But with the advent of the British Empire and its strict moral standards, the hijras were ostracized, that is, they were banished and excluded.

Most are men or intersex, but some are women. Most of them refer to themselves as feminine and usually dress in traditional feminine clothes, but we could say that they are non-binary people, since they do not identify with either the masculine or feminine gender.

The most shocking thing we have seen in India was the rejection suffered by the hijras, since they do not have the right to receive an education, therefore they cannot acquire a decent job, so it is very common to see many of them respectfully asking for money on the street.

We went into the suburbs of the city of Pune, I'm not going to lie to you at first we were a little scared, we got into the second floor of a house through which some unreliable stairs were entered through a hole in the roof... but well, I will tell you that it was super authentic, and they trated us with love and respect. We started talking to them through a translator, I leave you a piece of that moment.

Discrimination and rejection in many areas, even by their own families. They tell us terrible experiences about being assaulted and even abused by police officers and then being threatened with going to jail if they ever made the fact known.

I felt really sad after this conversation... Because it is not a way to live, disgusted for people incapable of understanding that people can do what they want with their bodies and their lives and that they can freely and respectfully love whoever they want without the need to receive approval from a society governed by religion and traditions.

There are still many countries where homosexuality is persecuted and punished, even with the death penalty. Today it's time to celebrate this progress in India... Starting tomorrow it will be time to continue working so that freedom spreads throughout the world.

CHINA

La homosexualidad fue descriminalizada en 1997, y fue retirada de la lista oficial de enfermedades mentales en el 2001. Pero muchas personas consideran la homosexualidad como un concepto extranjero (JAJA). A pesar de ser una de las grandes potencias mundiales y ser de los más avanzados tecnológica y científicamente aún están muy atrasadxs social y políticamente.

Con una población de más de 1.400 millones de personas, se estima más de 70 millones de personas LGTBI en el país, es todavía uno de los países más conservadores y opresivos hacia las personas del colectivo, se estima que solo el 5% de los ciudadanos LGTBI de China se han aceptado públicamente.

A pesar de haber una gran comunidad que luche por ello, existe un gran tabú en torno a estos temas. Si tuviese que definir la situación de la comunidad LGTBIQ en China con una palabra sería SILENCIO.

En Shanghái conocimos a Kim, sin duda su historia nos dejó tocadas, a pesar de haber sido asignada el género masculino al nacer, desde muy pequeña de identificó como una mujer.

El rechazo por parte de su familia fue lo más duro para ella, no le creían, le quisieron ingresar en un hospital de salud mental porque pensaban que alguien le estaba lavando el cerebro. Kim hizo todo lo posible para convencer a sus padres de como se sentía, aconsejándoles ver películas sobre la transexualidad y explicándoles como quería vivir su vida.

"A día de hoy lo más seguro para mí es seguir aparentando ser un hombre, es lo más seguro, para evitar conflictos, tanto con los vecinos, como con mi familia y en el trabajo".

Quedamos con un grupo de mujeres activistas lesbianas de Shanghái, han estado trabajando en un documental sobre la historia de la comunidad LGTBIQ en la ciudad de Shanghái, nos acogen en su casa con mucho cariño y nos cuentan historias personales en torno a las discriminaciones que sufren en el mundo laboral, ofertas de hombres gays para contraer matrimonio...

Nos abren sus corazones para contarnos que solo luchan por vivir tranquilas, y poder ser ellas mismas.

"Solo quiero poder ser yo en casa, en el trabajo, en la calle, querer a mi pareja, da igual quien sea y la identidad que tenga, a veces me gustaría poder gritar y decir soy lesbiana! En el metro, en la calle o en cualquier espacio...."

El matrimonio homosexual es ILEGAL en China, en esta sociedad conservadora, las personas se enfrenta a una gran presión por contraer matrimonio, y se calcula que 20 millones de homosexuales están en matrimonios heterosexuales, que triste, verdad?

También nos cuentan que existen MATRIMONIOS FALSOS entre gays y lesbianas llamados contract marriage.

Espera, ¡qué eso no es todo! Incluso existen apps para que puedan concertar matrimonios de conveniencia y que sus familias no descubran su orientación sexual, llegan incluso a tener una casa común con apariencia de llevar una vida juntos!!!

He de decir que a veces la realidad supera a la ficción.

Pero nos alegra saber que siempre vayamos donde vayamos haya gente haciendo cosas increíbles, montando eventos, iniciativas, creando redes de apoyo, y proyectos para visibilizar los derechos del colectivo LGTBIQ+, aquí en China o en Calcuta.

TAIWAN

La esperanzadora isla de Taiwán nos deja un buen sabor de boca. Desde 1945, la isla y otras cercanas han estado bajo el régimen político de la República de China, pero a pesar de su compleja situación jurídica y diplomática, Taiwán es considerado uno de los estados más progresistas en Asia.

Taiwán hizo historia el 17 de mayo de 2019, legalizando el matrimonio homosexual, el primer país en Asia en legalizar el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo.

En 2017, el tribunal constitucional de la isla dictaminó que las parejas del mismo sexo tenían derecho a casarse legalmente. Y a día de hoy las parejas del mismo sexo gozan de casi todos los derechos de los que gozan los heterosexuales cuando se casan".

Y sabes quien se encontraba en Taiwán aquel 17 de mayo de 2019? NOSOTRAS!!

Pudimos acercarnos al registro de la capital, Taipéi, y asistir a una especie de celebración en el centro de la ciudad. A media jornada ya se habían formalizado 363 matrimonios, 116 de hombres y 247 de mujeres. La felicidad se respiraba en el ambiente, fue un día muy especial para muchas personas, ya que parejas nos contaron que tuvieron que esperar incluso décadas para poder contraer matrimonio.