I was not sure whether I should post this link here or in the news section. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIUQJN1B0aQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIUQJN1B0aQ)
(The video is in Hindi but it is subtitled in English throughout)
I've decided to post it here, and the reason is this:
When I came out to myself a few weeks ago, I was extremely scared (still am, but lesser now) about what my identity would mean to me in my country. Given what I had seen or knew of TGs here, I was afraid that everyone who knew me would just abandon me if I came out, that I would lose my marriage, family, career and everything else that's important to me. Since then, coming out to my wife and to a therapist and their support has given me a little more hope. Even though no one else knows and transitioning is still far away, I am at least able to keep my sanity when thinking about it.
Meanwhile, I came across this video on youtube which I have posted above. It is actually a pretty famous TV show hosted by a leading Indian actor, but I had somehow missed this episode from a few months ago and not even heard about it from anyone. In it, he talks about LGBT issues, and interviews two transgenders, both MtF, along with a couple of others from the LGBT spectrum as well as allies, family members etc. It is not perfect but I think it's good enough for a mainstream TV show in its treatment of such an issue.
I'll let you'll watch it and judge it for yourselves.
Anyway, this video has also given me a little more hope that things can be fine, that even here, people can stand by you when you need them in such a situation. None of those cases correspond with my exact situation, but then I'll have to chart my own path anyway, right? I can't just wait for someone else to show me the whole path.
And while I wait until I decide about transitioning, I can at least do my bit by initiating conversations about such issues around me. After all, if such conversations are already taking place on national television, why should we refrain from them in our neighborhoods and workplaces?
Will it matter much? I won't know until I actually do it. Will people try to second-guess who I am? Maybe, but why should I care so much about what others think at every step?