LGBTQ news from Europe and Asia

India’s LGBTQ community is watching Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign with anticipation.

“Can she be the catalyst for the change we’ve been waiting for?” is the question that reverberates through the colorful streets of India’s biggest cities. With a history of championing LGBTQ rights, Harris’ candidacy is like a rainbow-colored lighthouse in the political storm. As her campaign gathers momentum, India’s LGBTQ community has gone from mere bystanders to enthusiastic cheerleaders who hope her leadership can inspire similar progress in India.

Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, born in 1938 to a Brahmin family, and her grandfather PV Gopalan, from the quaint village of Thulasendrapuram in Tamil Nadu, connect her to India’s rich culture — a connection that not only energizes her campaign as she seeks the White House, but also resonates deeply with LGBTQ Indians who see her as a beacon of progressive change.

Harris’ grandfather later moved to New Delhi and became a civil servant in British India, paving the way for Gopalan to come to the U.S. Her mother studied biomedical sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, sowing the seeds of her future political ambitions.

Independent Harris’ uncle Balachandran, from Delhi, and aunt Sarala, from Chennai, still visit the local temple about once a year, keeping the family connected to their village and cultural roots.

of State Department He noted that the relationship between India and the United States is one of the most strategic and crucial relationships of the 21st century.

“The United States supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and a key partner in promoting a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.

Harris During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in June 2023, he highlighted the deep ties between the two countries and highlighted the shared democratic values ​​and significant contributions of Indian Americans.

India decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations in 2018.

India’s Supreme Court ruled against marriage equality in October last year, with the justices agreeing to consider an appeal against the ruling.

In a 2023 interview, Harris emphasized her commitment to human rights, equality and LGBTQ issues throughout her career.

Harris was California’s attorney general when she refused to defend Proposition 8, a same-sex marriage ban approved by California voters in 2008.

On March 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case challenging Proposition 8. In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that anti-gay groups had no authority to defend anti-gay laws, allowing federal court rulings finding the laws unconstitutional to stand.

As of June 28, 2013, same-sex couples have been able to marry in California.

“This is clearly a case about fundamental concepts of justice, equality and liberty,” Justice Harris told the Blade after the Supreme Court’s oral argument.

President Joe Biden signed a memorandum of understanding in 2021 committing the U.S. to advancing LGBTQ and intersex rights overseas as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s overall foreign policy.

“Much of the work in my career has been to address human rights and equality issues across the board, including as they relate to the LGBT community,” Harris said at a 2023 press conference with Ghanaian President Nana Afko-Addo in the country’s capital, Accra.

“I feel very strongly about supporting freedom, supporting and fighting for equality for all people, and the importance of all people being treated equally,” Harris said. “This is an issue that we think about, and I think about it as a human rights issue, and that’s not going to change.”

Ghana is one of the countries where consensual same-sex sexual relations remain a criminal offence.

Harris’ visit to Ghana coincides with debate over a proposed bill that would criminalize support for LGBTQ people. President Afko-Addo has yet to sign the Promotion of Appropriate Human Sexual Rights and Family Values ​​Act of Ghana, which lawmakers passed in February.

Manvendra Singh GohilPrince Harris, who calls himself the world’s first openly gay prince and is a Gujarat-born activist who runs the Raksha Trust, told the Washington Blade that Harris is seen not only as a man of power but also as a serious candidate. Gohil stressed that Harris embodies not only the hope but the ability of representation, resonating with LGBTQ communities around the world.

“Merit and diversity are not mutually exclusive,” he said. “Diversity can be about merit, but we must strive to find diversity in merit. I wish Kamala the best and hope she will carry the energy and dreams of millions of people. If elected, I hope she will serve as a president for the entire country, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or independents.”

Deepak Kashyap, India’s first openly gay psychologist, told the Blade that Indians had high hopes for Harris.

“For better or worse, the LGBTQ community is following America’s example in large parts of the world.” Kashyap“Serving in the presidency means carrying the hopes and dreams of a community that hinges on every election. I wish you the best and hope to see you in the Oval Office one day.”

In interviews, Harris often reminisces about his childhood visits to Thulasendrapuram and fondly recalls strolling along Chennai’s beach with his grandfather when he was 5. The memories of those sun-drenched, sandy shores remain, but he hasn’t set foot in India since becoming vice president.

Her nostalgic stories add a personal warmth to her political journey and have endeared her to India’s LGBTQ community and beyond.

Nega Shahin, the first transgender woman to win an award at the 52nd Kerala State Film Awards and a native of Tamil Nadu, told the Blade that Harris’ connection to the state is heartwarming but doesn’t directly influence her stance on LGBTQ issues. Shahin noted that it’s a stretch to attribute Harris’ progressive views on LGBTQ rights to her mother’s background.

“What’s really important in understanding the struggles that the transgender and queer community face is proper education and an open mind,” Sahin said. “When Kamala Harris spoke out on transgender rights, it’s because she recognizes the importance of these issues and the need to address the discrimination and challenges that the LGBTQIA+ community faces.”

“Her advocacy is born out of a broader commitment to equality and justice, not any particular cultural influence,” she added.

Sahin said a victory for Harris would be a monumental moment.

“Hopefully, if she wins, it will have an impact on the LGBTQIA community in India,” Shahin said. “If she comes to power, her administration may undertake diplomatic efforts to encourage other countries to promote human rights, including LGBTQIA+ rights. This could also lead to international pressure on countries like India to improve their legal and social position on LGBTQIA+ issues.”

Harish Iyer, an Indian activist who participated in the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program in 2016, told the Blade that the LGBTQ community needs global leaders who are both allies and members of the community.

“Kamala Harris’s rise to the top of the Democratic Party’s ticket is a ray of hope,” Ayer said. “She’s a staunch supporter. In a world where there are people who reject homosexuality, she understands the realities of being a gay person.”

Michael K. Lavers contributed to this article.

Ankush Kumar is a reporter who has reported on Iran, India and Singapore for the Washington and Los Angeles Blades, and more recently for The Daily Beast. He can be reached at [email protected]He can be found at @mohitkopinion on X.