Diane J. Savino: The case for same-sex marriage | Video on TED.com

Very good talk

Diane J. Savino: The case for same-sex marriage | Video on TED.com

Random thoughts

I kick start this blog with random thoughts about "coming out" coz  being a closeted person, I am obsessed with this particular topic. I know my sexual orientation since I was 7 or 8 but still could not understand or accept it until recently. Growing up in a conservative and ignorant society aids to the confusion of one's identity. I have gone through stages of depression, anxiety, self-loathing, low esteem. The fear of facing the society which is so ignorant that honor killings are common in parts of the country if a person marries out of his/her caste against the parents' wishes. Talk about homosexuality-pffff. One has to be well prepared to dodge the bullying, social isolation and hate crimes. Everyone wants to know about every others' job. There is a constant bullying against people who are different. I myself  was bullied by my own friends for my tom-boyish appearance. While the society at large bullies you for being who you are, there is no acceptance at home either. There are articles in newspapers now and then, about the suicides of the same-sex couples. When parents come to know that their son/ daughter has a different "life-style", they immediately force them to lead a "normal life" by marrying them. Parents decide what their child should like, what they should study, what job they should do and whom they should marry. This is the general case. Not a good one. My parents constantly tells me how I am their dream, hope and how I should never disgrace the family honor. My mom is always planning my wedding and how my husband should be (I myself never even thought about that, for obvious reasons). 
Until recently, homosexuality is a punishable crime. I found out sometime ago that there are now associations and groups for gays & lesbians and they even held pride parade in the capital city. Good sign. But it needs decades for us to reach the current situation that prevails in US. 
My move to USA, a far more tolerant society (comparatively), has given me the courage to finally accept who I am. But still I am scared to be who I am. I am taking baby steps towards telling everyone that "I am queer, I am here, get over it".


Here is one of my favorite stand-up from Wanda Sykes about being gay:
Wanda Sykes_Being Gay