Meet Maya Sharma: LGBTQ+ activist fighting for marriage equality in India

Maya Sharma, a 73-year-old LGBTQ+ activist from Vadodara, India, is anxiously awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the legalization of same-sex marriages. She is one of 21 petitioners, including same-sex couples, trans individuals, and organizations, who are advocating for marriage equality.

Maya doesn’t want to get married herself. She left a straight marriage 30 years ago and dislikes the idea of marriage. Instead, she prefers to call her relationship with her female partner a “partnership”.

However, she believes that the court’s decision could help highlight the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ couples. They could gain the opportunity to define their families in their own way and choose to get married if they wish. She hopes that this case will lead people to consider more fair alternatives to traditional marriage.

Maya realized she was attracted to women when she was in school. She had close friendships with some girls, but at that time, society wasn’t ready to accept lesbian relationships.

Who is Maya Sharma?

Maya Sharma is a feminist and queer activist who became a writer by circumstance. She began her work in Delhi’s resettlement colonies, advocating for single women and helping them build a political identity. It was during this time that she noticed the hidden relationships between ‘women who loved women.’

In the late 80s and early 90s, people only whispered about same-sex relationships. Maya’s observations and conversations during this time perhaps laid the groundwork for open protests against the ban on the film Fire in 1990.

This marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey for Maya. She authored a book on single women in Hindi and another groundbreaking book titled “Loving Women: Being Lesbian in Underprivileged India” (2006).

Recognizing the need to amplify the voices of the queer community in smaller towns, rural villages, and tribal areas, Maya moved to Gujarat. There, she joined Vikalp in Vadodara to work directly with people who shared her experiences and those who didn’t.

Challenges faced by LGBTQ+ in India

The story of Maya Sharma shows the challenges that many LGBTQ+ people in India, especially during times when society did not accept same-sex relationships. Even though there were small changes, the overall society was not supportive, leading to discrimination against those who went against the norms.

In 1988, a marriage between two policewomen brought attention to the existence of LGBTQ+ people in India. Even though the law did not legally recognize these partnerships, some lesbian couples showed their strength and unity by forming informal partnerships.

In 1991, the “pink book” published by Aids Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan was a big step for LGBTQ+ rights in India. It called for important changes like making gay sex legal, allowing same-sex marriage, and giving civil and sexual rights to transgender people. This book helped raise awareness and inspired Maya Sharma in her own journey.

Maya Sharma decided to end her 16-year marriage because she felt it was unfair and controlling. This shows her strong belief in equality and freedom. Her personal experiences and her work as an activist show how brave and determined people can be when they are fighting for acceptance and rights in a society that still has a lot of prejudice and discrimination.

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