Vinay Aarote; Social Media Expert; Mumbai
“I need visibility to assert the fact that I exist as an individual rather than just as a ‘minuscule minority’ – an unimportant category my government puts me into. We need visibility, not just for showing numbers but also for the sake of equal (not special) rights and most importantly, equal acceptance.
A lot of discrimination exists because society cannot come to terms with the fact that we exist among them; it cannot accept the fact that we are harmlessly different. I faced a lot of discrimination right since I was a kid. In school I was bullied, called insulting names and even hit for being gay. I was depressed for a year until I met a professor who helped me accept what I am. He was gay as well and I explored with him what being homosexual is and got rid of my fears. He is my mentor and my inspiration. I was but lucky to come across somebody like him. Not everyone is as lucky as me. Lack of visibility leads to lack of acceptance which leads to discrimination. And many of us have to face horrible consequences of this.”