Be Your Authentic Self Unapologetically And Embrace Rainbow For All Seasons Says Zoya Lobo

It is an understatement to say that social media has connected people around the globe. It has offered people platforms to become self-independent, earn their living, and learn about what is happening around them.

While there are boons and curses with every invention, the advent of social media has also facilitated people to spread awareness about crucial subjects, and at the same time deal with misinformation and trolls.

According to a report published in Forbes, there are at least 4.9 billion active social media users in the world. Among these, India has over 465 million users, says a report published in the Data Reportal.

There was a time when you would not know what was happening around the world or even in your city. But now, you can get your hands on the smallest piece of information with just a few clicks.

Over the decades social media has proved to be a revolutionary tool to connect activists and people fighting for the rights of communities and marginalised groups. It has helped to transform small movements into global campaigns.

In our latest conversation with Zoya Lobo, India’s first transgender photojournalist and Dipali Sharma, Director of Organisational Effectiveness at ActionAid Association, we tried to navigate the role of social media platforms in amplifying the LGBTQ+ movement in India. Here is how the conversation went.

How Social Media Has Helped With Networking?

Lobo and Sharma agreed that social media has helped people from the queer community to connect. It has helped the communities to amplify the visibility and bring forward their struggles and issues. They believe that it has made our society more inclusive and acted as a medium to promote the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

While it has been a crucial tool to discuss and debate the discourse of the Pride Movement, Lobo said that most brands run superficial campaigns in the disguise of supporting the queer community. “If you want to go rainbow, you should do it 365 days a year rather than changing the background of the logo around the pride month,” added Lobo.

She added that brands show that they are inclusive, but the organisations do not have queer-friendly policies or would not even hire the transgenders.

Role Of Social Media In Breaking Taboos And Shattering The Myths Surrounding The LGBTQ+ Community

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Lobo said that many content creators are posting queer-friendly content that is helping the community fight the taboos and stigma. However, she highlighted the issue with many people posting content by calling themselves queer.

She added that people should post content that helps other people learn about the community and help queer people struggling with their identities and sexual orientations. She also emphasised the need to question content creators and their work to understand the reason behind the kind of content they are creating. Since they have mass-following, they can influence many people, positively as well as negatively.

Sharma and Lobo said that if a user posts informative content, it contributes to spreading awareness. While the platforms are loaded with a lot of misinformation too, they have helped shape the Pride movement in India.

How Social Media Helps People Fight Internalised Homophobia?

Lobo said that creators on social media when talking about gender identities and sexual orientationshelp queer people overcome internalised homophobia.

Sharma said that social media has helped society shift towards inclusivity. She added that while queer individuals might find it too hard to discuss the struggles they are experiencing at an initial stage, they can find a safe space on the internet to learn and get their doubts answered.

Since people of all age groups use social media, they also come across videos and posts that talk about the LGBTQ+ community, gender identities, inclusivity, and the struggles of people. “We are still struggling for acceptance, and there is a long journey ahead, but social media is helping,” added Sharma.

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Social Media: An Easy Access For Faceless Trolls

Lobo said that when her video went viral on social media platforms that is India’s first transgender photojournalist, she begs to earn a living, many people commented, “Why does she have to beg?”

She replied that those people did not know that there are limited options for employment for the transgender community in India. She asked if the organisations in the country have been transgender-friendly, no individual would have to beg or become a sex worker to survive. “What if I am a trans, I am also a human being,” she added.

Lobo shared her experience of visiting a famous Jewellery store in Mumbai where the staff did not greet her with respect. However, when she wore an ID card from her organisation, people welcomed her into the space. In another incident, a renowned food outlet chain, where a staff member rebuffed her as a client. Lobo said, “I used my Brahmastra and started speaking in English.”

Apart from a lack of awareness and acceptance, Lobo’s experience highlights that the class divide and stereotypes also play a role in outcasting the LGBTQ+ community.

While Lobo said that she likes giving it back to the trolls, Sharma added it is better to avoid them as much as possible. “We have to learn to ignore the trolls,” she added. She also said that we as a society have to work towards the empowerment of the community so that they have the means to get educated and employed.

Representing ActionAid, Sharma has worked in Tamil Nadu making it one of the few states in India with a Transgender Welfare Board in India. The struggle might be long, but the right tools can help us achieve positive results faster.

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