Although it has been seven years since the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality through its landmark judgement in “Navtej Singh Johar vs the Union of India” case, queer friends & relatives continue to report high levels of harassment in their workplace. The numbers cited on this subject in this IndiaSpend piece make for eyewatering reading:
“Four out of 10 transgender persons face sexual abuse before they turn 18, a 2017 survey of 2,169 people in three states had found, as IndiaSpend reported in January that year. Abuse begins as early as five years but most vulnerable are those aged 11 to 15…
A 2021 survey of 103 LGBT+ individuals containing 10 questions showed that only 17 of the respondents were completely open about their orientation at work, while six were “partially open”. Eight of them reported facing negativity when coming out. Sixteen of the 17 respondents who were open about their orientation said they faced discrimination, including denial of opportunities and promotions, and substandard increments.
Twelve individuals said they faced harassment such as exclusion from colleague groups and verbal abuse/offensive remarks, with one case of physical abuse.
Among the 80 employees not open about their sexuality at work, only 18 (22.5%) plan to come out in the near future, with 27 unsure and 35 having no intention…
In 2017, a report submitted to the National Human Rights Commission of India by the Kerala Development Society found that 96% of transgender people were denied jobs, 92% were denied the right to participate in any form of economic activity, and 18% suffered physical abuse.
An October 2024 paper published in the International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research identifies key structural barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in Indian workplaces. The paper highlights how transgender persons, in particular, are subjected to misgendering, workplace hostility, and microaggressions that hamper their professional growth.”
The IndiaSpend article goes on to highlight that in response to workplace discrimination, queer people are increasingly setting up their own businesses or practising how to look heterosexual:
“Deepak Tandon, 28, of New Delhi, identifies as a transgender nonbinary person. “I’ve seen the opposite side of embracing your true identity,” Tandon, who goes by ‘Dee’ says, sitting at her godown in Lajpat Nagar. “From parents to classmates and office colleagues, my identity came to be the biggest reason for my mental breakdown.” She left a corporate job after facing slurs and discrimination regularly.
“At the office they would touch me randomly, follow me to the washroom, and openly humiliate me,” Tandon says. “From school to office, the pattern of harassment remained the same.”…
After leaving the corporate world, Tandon, along with a friend, started an online thrift store, ‘Dee & Ron’ (@theelitethrift). This page on Instagram has over 41,000 followers, a community that Tandon describes as her family.
“Whatever I had wanted from my people, I received all of that from my virtual family,” says Tandon. “If some user comments something wrong, my followers make sure to show them their place and correct them. This is the support that I had expected in real life also.”
While the harassment at the office still haunts Tandon, with this online space she feels she has found a new identity. “Through Instagram I found a new identity, which was sabotaged by regular bullying and harassment,” she adds.
Presently, Tandon says, she makes ‘six figures’ through this business. “If I have enough money someday, I would definitely hire a bodyguard to protect me.””
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