Books, toys, career choices, cars, and public spaces—this seemingly incongruent list has a distressing commonality, they are all gendered. The overwhelmingly male and white architectural approach has left public spaces with much to be desired. An intrinsically heteronormative design can severely intimidate the LGBTQIA+ community, aspects like poor or inadequately arranged lighting only serve to make the space less frequented by marginalised groups. Despite the repealing of Section 377 in 2018, violence against the queer community continues to be a harrowing problem. One way to counter these hate crimes is to focus on how public spaces can be made safer and more inclusive.
In Vienna, Austria, city planners have installed warmer lighting, and used greenery to create semi-open pockets in parks that afford privacy to those who do not want to be completely exposed. Housing estates, which have been historically designed for heterosexual families, need to be planned to make neighbourhoods more diverse. Visible markers of inclusion like statues, memorials, plaques, and even street or building names relevant to queer history, emphasises the existence of the community, making it harder for people to practice intolerance. Perhaps the most important aspect is diversifying workforces, bringing LGBTQIA+ people to the forefront while planning a design. Jourdan Sayers, whose research centers on the factors that support the production of Queer and Trans People of Colour (QTPOC) space says, “I think the actual key to creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities is going to be making sure LGBTQIA+ communities have access to space as well as the power to create and make decisions about spaces. When doing so, we also need to consider the multiple intersections of queer identity: how are you increasing access for, and listening to the needs of queer people who are undocumented, queer people who are homeless, queer people who are people of color, queer people who are differently abled, queer people who have a mental health issue...?” The simplest of beginnings is with gender-neutral washrooms, that are inherently period-friendly, i.e., contain sanitary napkin vending machines and disposal bins. Non-binary and trans identities are rarely considered in the rigid male/female construct of public washrooms. The current scenario leaves them exposed to taunts and unwanted scrutiny—a common entrance which is then divided into stalls for all gender identities can go a long way in preventing shaming and discrimination. Metro stations, swimming pools, gyms, and similar spaces must lead the charge in abolishing needless gender-based divisions.
Illustration by Adarsh Jay
People of the LGBTQIA+ community constantly face difficulties in accessing health care with dignity. There have also been many concerns regarding the lack of understanding of trans-bodies by doctors, which has impaired their access to a quality life. “Transphobia is written into medicine through scientific publication after another. Cis doctors have voyeuristically picked at and torn our bodies apart literally and figuratively without an ounce of accountability. Accessing ourselves through surgery is seen, even within the queer community by cis and sometimes non-dysphoric trans people as frivolous, cosmetic, unnecessary. Even the wokest sexual health pages make zero mention of trans bodies.”[1], writes Dr Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju. The community's people are at a higher risk of HIV infections, depression, suicidal behaviour and substance abuse due to various social factors like the experience of minority stress. They are in greater need of behavioural health services as most community members face marginalization, isolation, and abuse. Lesbian and bisexual vulva owners are as predisposed to cervical cancer as cis-heterosexual women. Yet, a study has shown that they're less likely to get regular screening.[2] Clearly, we can see that equal access to healthcare is vital for maintaining a good quality lifestyle in the members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Unbiased medical and mental health professionals who can diagnose and treat patients without making them feel marginalized are required to create a drastic change.
Workplaces, colleges and schools are where we usually spend most of our time. A discriminating environment can severely impair the mental and overall well-being of the people of the LGBTQIA+ community. “I think of the woman (doctor) that converted to Hinduism, and nonchalantly kicked me out of class for a nose piercing. So much for your faith and mythology. I think of her prejudice. I think of how my fundamental right to freedom of expression was thrown out of the Dissection Hall window that day.”, writes Dr Trinetra [3]. She has also written about how she was denied the rights to live in the girls' hostel because she did not have the 'female parts'. Teachers, colleagues and students with a very narrow understanding of gender, sexuality, and sexual orientation treat members of the LGBTQIA+ community differently. In workplaces, as a result, they usually lie about their lifestyle choices to elude discrimination [4]. The introduction of inclusive policies, educating the masses, and stringent actions against acts of bullying are just a few ways to build an inclusive public space.
The world is constantly catering, knowingly or unknowingly, to people that are considered ‘normal,’ an arbitrary standard that has been drilled into our minds by social and cultural norms. Something as small as asking people for their pronouns goes a long way in learning to respect gender identity. Alok V Menon, a writer and performance artist says, “It’s hurtful when people say they admire my work and then still refer to me as he/him. [....] it’s hurtful when corrected how so many non-trans people make it all about them (centering themselves) “why are pronouns so hard to remember!” rather than re-committing to doing better, recognizing how hard it is for us to live in a world which erases us.” [5] They go on to describe the needless obsession with established gender expression, “Masculinity maintains its power through control — disciplining people into one uniform look. But here’s the thing: we don’t need to be fixed, society’s obsession with gendering arbitrary objects needs to be fixed. [...] But dresses can be feminine for some people, masculine for some people + mean whatever they want for anyone. Everyone should be able to wear what they want without fear of persecution or harassment.”[6]
Every human being must be able to live with dignity, and their access to such a life should not be limited by the choices they make. We need to work actively to overcome these prejudices, and remain vocal about the need for inclusivity. After all, an inclusive society is where love spreads and humanity flourishes.
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