A semi-academic essay authored by Sayantan Datta, Assistant Professor of Practice, Krea-CWP (Centre for Writing and Pedagogy) has been published in Sangamithra magazine (issue 10), published by Good As You Bangalore. It’s titled Marriage Equality in India: Queer Intimacies, Heteropatriarchal Institutions, & the Language of Rights.
In the essay, they briefly historicise queer mobilisation in India to show how, contrary to popular belief, marriage fails to emerge as an important concern for a substantial duration of the queer- and trans-rights movements in India. When marriage finally does emerge as an important point for discussion, it is articulated through the language of ‘rights’. In recounting this history, they demonstrate the limited capacity of this language, and propose that we find a different and complementary register to speak about same-sex marriages in India.
Sangamithra is a magazine published by Good As You Bangalore, one of the oldest support groups for queer-trans people in India. This issue of the magazine titled A Ode to the Past, A Nod to the Future celebrates the support group’s thirtieth anniversary, and features writing and art from over a hundred queer-trans individuals.