GLBTQ discrimination as compared to India's caste system

[suzer1013]

On a blog that I read (Mad Priest -- he's simply divine!), the blogger made an analogy between the religious and societal discrimination faced by GLBTQ persons, and that historically (and currently) faced by the lower castes in India.

I thought it was a great analogy. Though I am not "up" on India's history, I know a bit about the discrimination faced by the lower castes. Mad Priest pointed out that this discrimination was always considered a moral issue. When India's government passed laws eliminating discrimination based on caste, many of those in the previously privileged castes expressed outrage and indignation that they would have to treat those of the lower castes equally.

I'm sure caste discrimination in India is still alive and well in many ways and that there is still a battle being fought in the application of these laws.

But isn't it interesting, that the charge most often brought against marriage equality (and even against making GLBTQ a protected class as far as hate crimes, job discrimination, etc.) is that it is a moral issue?

If India can do it, so can we. Let the privileged holler all they want to -- granting equal rights and protections to a class of people does not take away the rights of the already so privileged.

I'd love any input on this, especially folks who may know more about India's history with the caste system.

Susan

[Daniel]

Susan- I don't know all that much about the caste system in India, but have a friend who is Indian (a classically trained dancer). He lives with his male partner in New Delhi.

He was here recently- we're been friends for many years- and I asked him how gay rights were progressing there. His response was interesting. He noted that there aren't religious scriptures which condemn gays there- it doesn't exist in the same way there that it does here regarding Christianity. He also said that being an artist gives he and is partner more leeway- if he was an engineer he would be expected to marry- family pressures are much more intense there. But artists, you see, are a respected class. His family is Brahmin.

That said- his view is that Indians have not concerned themselves with matters of rights for gay persons for the simple reason that, in society at large, matters of sexuality are not spoken of. The cultural context embodies 'don't ask don't tell'.

So it is a double-edged sword: he has more freedom- as it were- not being noticed. But that is changing as we speak apparently.

I'll have to ask him about this class issue in more detail when I see him in January.

[marutidas]

Brahmin, is the religous, and the highest caste, the next one down are the merchants, then the last one is the untouchables, people who handle the dead for cremation. It was/is believed that touching the lower classes, would pollute one self, and you have go home and cleanse yourself. There are four, but I can't remember the other one, but these are the major ones.

The caste system had been outlawed, and discrimation is penilized, In Hinduism, the major religion of the country, the Gods, especially Krishna were sexually ambiguos, and fequentally dressed up in womens clothing, It was when india was under british rule that the ban on homosexuality came about, but sex in general, gay or other wise, is just not something talked about in polite conversation, but there are sacred practices, like the tantra, that is the thought that sexual energy can help you awaken profound wisdom.

I hope this helps with the conversation some.

~~~ Maruti Das