Apurva Asrani: I find the term 'Queer' derogatory

Award-winning Screenwriter, editor ('Aligarh') Apurva Asrani has an issue with the word 'Queer' as he thinks it is derogatory. This is the reason why he had boycotted 'Kashish' (Mumbai International Queer Film Festival) for several years. However, that seems to have changed this time around. Apurva is slated to be on the panel of a debate at the ongoing fest. About making an exception with his presence at the fest, Apurva stated, 'I am going to attend in protest.I have nothing against the festival or the organisers but I find the word 'Queer' derogatory. It's not indigenous but an insulting term. The word originally means strange, unusual or odd. While it even faced opposition across the world, gay rights activists in the US reclaimed the word, in order to prove that they were not ashamed of 'being Queer'. Gay people in India are still fighting for dignity and a sense of identity. 'Aligarh' was against labelling people. If we are fine with Queer, we should have the courage to call ourselves 'gud', a term often used by the ignorant heterosexuals to mock gay people. Gud or jaggery is not a bad term but is often used in a negative connotation.' Apurva has voiced his reservations to the organisers of Kashish earlier. 'What they are doing is great but an ideal word has to be found, as abuse against the community is rampant.'

However, not all seem to be offended by the term, including jury member at the fest, Kaizaad Kotwal. He says, 'I have no problem with the word 'Queer' at all. I know it has been used to attack the gay populace in the past. But like with all words that have been used against a group of people, you will often find that marginalised groups will re-appropriate these words. And turn them into words of empowerment, so that haters can't use the word in the way they intend to. We should take away the power of any word which tries to do harm by turning it into a word of celebration. It reflects more poorly on the people using them than people being called those names. I do understand that some people are sensitive about these things. But I think, they need to perhaps see the bigger picture here.'

Filmmaker Onir too, hates to be bracketed into any category. He feels sexuality is just an aspect of one's personality. He says, 'In the world where people are not fully aware of terminology, the term 'Queer' could be avoided. But then again, the whole idea of being termed as anything based on your identity and your orientation is bad. I don't have a specific problem with the word 'Queer', I have a problem with being labelled. I don't like being called a gay filmmaker either. I am a filmmaker. Period.'

Sridhar Rangayan, director of the festival reasons that 'Queer' is an umbrella term for people from the LGBTQH community and is no longer derogatory. 'It has been appropriated by the community all across the world. It only highlights the diversities and showcases the various shades and layers of sexuality. It is a proud term and we carry it with no shame or anxiety.'