“From Kush List to Gay Bombay: Virtual Webs of Real People” by Sandip Roy
The article addresses the issue of East vs. West in the portrayal of the LGBTQIAP
movement and the East debating whether or not it is wrong to use the
constructs of the Western LGBTQIAP movement. I believe that the issue
should not focus on East vs West and should focus on the discrimination and
struggles that all members of the LGBTQIAP community faces. In our present
society, I noticed that generally the East and West do have different opinions
and beliefs about the LGBTQIAP community and their issues can differ also.
But in order to bring complete equality for this community, the equality must
be broadcasted worldwide. Though the opinions and beliefs can differ between
the East and West, it seems that anyone who defines themselves under the title
of LGBTQIAP still face similar problems. I don’t believe using the constructs
of the West or similar versions to promote the LGBTQIAP movement in the
East is considered assimilation or a bad idea because so far, the LGBTQIAP
community in the West have hit enormous milestones with their movement
and I believe the issue that the LGBTQIAP community faces isn’t between
East vs West but more of the LGBTQIAP community fighting to be able to
be themselves in any place in the world. Also, the LGBTQIAP is continuing
to grow and change, so I don’t think the movement is within certain
boundaries of a construct so there is no exact “westernized LGBTQIAP
movement”. The internet is a very important tools used today for
communication overseas. The internet has been a useful asset in aiding the
building of the LGBTQIAP movement in the East. But due to the internet,
the LGBTQIAP movement in Asia has not been able to be legitimized.
The movement is promoted through the internet but it has not lead to
activism in a face to face reality. I believe the LGBTQIAP community in
Asia must utilize the internet for planning instead of comfort and they will
be able to establish the movement better with the creation of events
promoting the movement, meetings, and marches towards equality
through internet communication.
Kelly Loves Tony Film:
This film talks about the life of soon to be weds Kelly and Tony and their baby boy. Kelly has worked hard to graduate high school with honors. She has
become pregnant during her senior year and has become engaged to by
through their parents’ arrangements. Tony faces deportation due to his
criminal past. This brings up the concept addressed before of immigrants
being deported due to their involvement in minor crimes without much say in
the process. Tony does not understand the laws and charges that he faces and
his community members help him understand what is going on. This also goes
to show that it is difficult for immigrants to fight the system due to their lack
of knowledge of the laws. The concept of female agency also appears in this
film through Kelly. Though she has the responsibility of taking care of her
son, Kelly also begins college. Tony doesn’t understand why she must
take the classes. It is common in cultures for women to be seen as stay at home
moms and to let the men take care of providing for the family. Kelly expresses
female agency in taking on the responsibility of college classes for herself along
with her already large list of responsibilities. Kelly continues to do things for
herself without the need for approval of the males in her life and this continues
to express Kelly’s female agency and independence as a person.
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