Coming Out & Stories-Tamil (தமிழில்)
Coming out is the process by which individuals accept their own gay, lesbian or bisexual orientation or transgendered nature, and then let friends and family members know about this aspect of themselves. Most people come out to others in order to lead more open and honest lives without the constant fear of being discovered that accompanies remaining in the closet.
image from Trikone Magazine July 1997 issue
Coming out in Indian and other Asian contexts is often complicated by the huge emphasis on conventional gender roles, heterosexual marriage and on begetting progeny to perpetuate the family line. Sure, these issues exist in other (non-Asian) contexts as well, but it is helpful for us and our families to hear accounts of people from our cultures, and in terms familiar to us.
Orinam.net seeks essays by queer Indians on coming out and other aspects of their lives . If you have a story you would like to share, or know of existing resources on the net, please let us know. As you read the essays linked below, remember that the coming out process is likely to vary tremendously depending on your age, gender, family circumstances and economic independence, environment and experiences as an immigrant, second-generation (or later) member of the diaspora, or as a resident in your country of origin.
We hope that the following accounts from members of the MP group inspire you in your journey, and encourage you to send in your experiences to us. Experiences of coming out post-377 are especially welcome…
These narratives have been reproduced here with consent from the authors. You are welcome to link to these from your website, but please do not reproduce them without express permission from orinam.net. Please direct your submissions and inquiries to orinamwebber@gmail.com
Coming out stories from the Trikone-Tejas archives
For more information, check out Trikone Magazine’s 1997 Coming Out issue. Also, the Singapore-based queer women’s group Sayoni released a booklet on coming out as part of their IndigNation pride events in August 2009. You can download a pdf version here.