Celebrating Pride Month
Annually, we celebrate the month of June as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender- LGBT Pride month. It honors the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals. The month of June is gradually serving as a reminder of the injustice in the past and present as well as an impetus for the much-needed change in society.
Highlights from the Newsletter
- LGBTQ+ in India
- How to become an ally
- Mood meter
- Inspiring LGBT+ individuals
- LGBTQ+ community not-so-fun facts
- Team PsychLine
- Movie of the month
- Book of the month
- Find the words: Psychology edition
- Upcoming workshops: PsychLine.in
- From the Founder
- Ask us anything
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” — Carl Jung
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LGBTQ+ in India
Even though the constitution of India mandates justice for all, equal status and opportunity for the LGBT community have been repetitively denied by the social system. Our social systems, structures, and institutions foundationally agree with heteronormativity and an assumption of only two genders which introduces daily living and identity challenges for individuals from the LGBT community. Beginning in 2014, the rights of transgender people were secured under the constitution followed by the judgment given in 2018 decriminalizing adult same-sex consensual relationships under Article 377. However, society is yet to pace up with political acknowledgment and freedoms. Prejudice and derogatory attitude is still a routine for the people of this community. Some media representations like Badhaai Do offer a ray of hope but still have scope for improvement. What could actually help the community is honest and genuine support, along with adequate education. Read our next column to know how we can be an ally?
How to Become an Ally
Ally, in general terms, refers to coming together in order to support or promote a common cause. However, in association with the LGBTQ community, it’s reflective of a multiverse of responsibilities. Individuals who are active supporters of the LGBTQ community and their movement for equality are called “Allies” of the community. It includes all individuals, those who do or do not identify as LGBTQ. The shared goal is to nurture a more inclusive space, develop institutions and build a culture that promotes equal opportunity and expression for all members. So who can be an ally? The answer is everyone. Any individual regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation can be an ally. However, they must shoulder the responsibility of being one. This ranges from understanding the issues faced by people who are discriminated against, to actively working at an individual and community level to foster change. Educating oneself correctly and being aware of inclusive terminology, and respectful ways to address people’s identity (gender-neutral greetings) is primarily essential. Reflection must be continual so as to rid yourself of any conscious or unconscious biases you hold. Active involvement in education, awareness building, and joining resource groups could make your steps bolder and more helpful. Genuine respect, repetitive unlearning, and relearning along with persistent effort shall lead the way on our path to eradicating prejudice and establishing a more inclusive community.
Inspiring LGBT+ Individuals
Alok Vaid-Menon
Born on July 1, 1991, Alok Vaid-Menon is a famous American writer, media personality, and performance artist who works under the moniker ALOK. They are transfeminine and gender non-conforming. Their works contain the usage of singular third-person pronouns. They gained immense popularity for their LGBTQ rights advocacy with their most notable work including Binary and Beyond The Gender. Alok has done their bachelor’s and masters in arts from Stanford University, California. Being a mixed-media artist, they use lecture, poetry, sound art, comedy, fashion design, self-portraiture, performance, and social media to further explore the themes of trauma, race, gender, and the human condition.
Movie of the Month
My Brother Nikhil
Set in Goa in the 1980s, this movie depicts a young male swimmer whose life turns upside down when he falls in love with a man and gets diagnosed with HIV.
Book of the Month
Loving Women: Being Lesbian in Unprivileged India
This non-fiction book will tug at your heartstrings while it depicts ten real life stories of working-class women in India, who are deemed as ‘queer’.
Find the Words: Psychology Edition
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In-Line Exclusive FAQ
What is the Gender Binary?
The gender binary is a social classification system that divides gender identity and gender expression into two mutually exclusive categories (i.e., male/masculine and female/feminine) with narrowly defined limits of what is appropriate for each in terms of appearance, behavior, interests, attire, professional occupations, roles, and responsibilities. Adherence to the expectations for these categories is privileged and rewarded whereas deviation or non-conformity results in marginalization, harassment, or discrimination.
From the Founder
Dr. Niharika Thakkar (Behavioural Scientist, Ph.D.)
My recent visit to the iconic Stonewall National Monument (previously called the Stonewall Inn, one of the most popular LGBTQ+ bars in New York City) loaded me with wonder and inspiration. What better occasion than Pride Month and PsychLine’s second anniversary to reflect upon the remarkable Stonewall movement alongside my passion and purpose that manifests itself in the form of PsychLine.in. June 1969 commemorates the onset of the Stonewall Uprising, a sequence of occurrences between police and LGBTQ+ protesters that extended over six days. It was neither the first time police raided an LGBTQ+ bar nor the first time LGBTQ+ individuals fought back, but the events that transpired over the next six days fundamentally transformed the discourse enveloping LGBTQ+ activism. While Stonewall became eminent as a result of media coverage and the subsequent annual Pride traditions, it was an incredible culmination of decades of LGBTQ+ activism. This relentless back and forth struggle is yet another example of how every movement demands constant effort, indomitable unity, unconditional acceptance, and empowerment to achieve the desired results. We at PsychLine.in aspire to inculcate the necessary values and resolve to bring about much-needed social, emotional, and mental health awareness — THE MENTAL HEALTH REVOLUTION!
The seeds for PsychLine.in were sown early in 2013 when I realized that given India’s colossal population size, regional diversity, and cultural uniqueness, the insatiable demand of our population for mental health care is woefully underserved. Integrating my youthful wisdom, education, and an earnest experience, I set up an initiative called PsychLine.in in Indore, India. But it was only in June of 2020 that I could reinitiate PsychLine.in and give my all to my original purpose.
The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. It has been 50 years, and the LGBTQ+ community has exhibited nothing but unwavering resilience. PsychLine’s first carousel was posted on Instagram on June 30, 2020, and we hope to absorb and imbibe from this revolutionary movement, bear the patience and courage to make a difference, and keep moving forward, one milestone after another!
“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.”