Love knows no boundaries: Utkarsh and Kotia pave the way for Marriage Equality
Utkarsh Saxena and Ananya Kotia's remarkable love story shatters societal norms and challenges the status quo in a world that often defines relationships within rigid boundaries. For 15 years, they have nurtured a bond that transcends gender and embraces the beauty of love in its purest form. As they stand hand-in-hand, they embark on a courageous quest to the Supreme Court, where they have filed a petition seeking the recognition of same-sex marriage rights.
Utkarsh, a Ph.D. student at the prestigious University of Oxford, and Ananya, pursuing his doctorate degree at the renowned London School of Economics (LSE), are determined to redefine the meaning of love and advocate for a future, where every relationship is honored and celebrated.
The Bureaucrat team recently had a conversation with the couple, where they talked about their life story, initiatives for the queer community, challenges, and dreams for the future in India.
Given the conservative social and cultural landscape in India, how do you respond to critics who argue that same-sex marriage goes against traditional values and religious beliefs deeply rooted in the country’s history?
Indian culture has historically been accepting of queer culture. Temples like Khajuraho and those in Odisha openly depict same-sex love, while our scriptures, such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, feature queer characters and emphasize love and acceptance. The British colonization of India disrupted our civilizational history, imposing Victorian values and suppressing our true cultural heritage. The ongoing process of decolonization aims to eliminate British influences and reclaim India's authentic ancient history.
The legal battle for same-sex marriage rights in India has faced significant obstacles and opposition. How have you dealt with the emotional toll and the potential backlash that comes with being at the forefront of such a contentious issue?
Reform and progress inevitably face opposition and backlash, which is a natural part of the process. Often, the root cause of opposition is the lack of exposure to diverse experiences, such as queer couples and their love stories. To combat this, we share our own stories and those of others, recognizing that the problem lies in the absence of exposure. While hateful comments initially affected us, we now focus on constructive feedback and continue sharing more stories.
How do you remain optimistic and motivated in the face of potential delays and setbacks from the Indian legal system?
The litigation timeline has shown promising progress. The petition was filed in November last year, and the judgment has already been reserved. We can expect to receive the judgment after the vacation, potentially in July or August. However, there may be additional challenges ahead, as the outcome of the judgment may lead to further litigation in the future. We are grateful for the efforts of the court in supporting our cause, and we remain optimistic that our prayers will be considered with sensitivity.
Do you think the conferring of the status of civil union for queer marriages is beneficial? Like is it any different than traditional marriages for heterosexual couples under the law?
Our focus in this litigation is on seeking marriage rights, rather than civil unions. We believe in achieving equality similar to heterosexual couples, and civil unions alone do not fulfill that objective. Looking at the experiences of other countries, civil unions may offer limited support but do not grant access to crucial facilities such as adoption, surrogacy, starting a family, and inheritance and succession rights. Our fight for marriage rights is rooted in the principle that if the state chooses to grant marriage rights through special marriage acts to certain groups, it should not deny those rights to others.
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights has mentioned that a child raised in a queer household is no different than one raised in a traditional household? What do you think about it?
The identity of parents is not defined by their gender or sexual orientation, but rather by their qualities as human beings and their ability to care for and nurture their children. Single fathers and single mothers successfully raise children with love and happiness, regardless of their housing situation. Children from diverse family backgrounds are just as joyful and complex as those from traditional families. What truly matters is that the individuals involved, be it a gay couple, lesbian couple, or non-binary couple, are good-hearted and capable of providing a nurturing environment for their children.
As an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, how do you respond to the criticism that the LGBTQ+ movement has become overly commercialized and overlooks the systemic issues at hand? In your efforts to bring about long-lasting change, what specific tangible actions are you taking that go beyond symbolic gestures to advance LGBTQ+ rights?
While celebrating Pride Month is important, it alone does not fully serve the purpose of LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It is necessary to talk about and highlight queer stories, but it is insufficient if we limit our efforts to just one month and forget about it for the rest of the year. Companies, offices, and organizations need to actively change their policies, to create a more inclusive environment for queer employees. This requires meaningful groundwork and support for NGOs working towards inclusivity. Rainbow colors, parades, and fireside stories are important, but substantial groundwork is necessary to bring about meaningful change.
