The society we inhabit views everything with binary lenses and anything beyond is considered deviant. The largely heteronormative thinking of the society promulgated queerphobia and has resulted in many persons from the sexual and gender minorities community being discriminated against. The queer community in the public sphere is treated very badly, are subjected to verbal, emotional, mental and physical violence by people around them, sometimes even family. Using these queerphobic slurs does not help in any way either.
In the purview of recent incidents as the recent affidavit by the Union government filed in Delhi High Court mentioning that same-sex marriage cannot be given legal sanction since the marriage had “sanctity” attached to it and the relationship between a “biological man” and a “biological woman” were based on societal conduct and values. Moreover, laws like the Transgender Persons (Rights) Act 2019 that takes away the agency of trans persons to self-identify are just reminders of our heteronormative thinking which indirectly perpetrates queerphobic thoughts.
The queer community is often subjected to crude statements, crass jokes, and dehumanising phrases in the name of humour. Some even call queer persons ‘377’ as a joke because it was now-struck Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality. The larger problem is that slurs as such have been normalised so much that people don’t even see why it is problematic anymore. Society is largely oblivious to the effect these slurs can have on the queer community.
Here are 10 Queerphobic slurs we should stop using!
Chakka Hai Kya!
'Chakka Hai Kya (Are you trans)' is a common queerphobic slur that is used to demean transgender and intersex persons. Often men are called chakka or hijra if they are effeminate. People also use gestures of clapping hands to mock trans persons or those who are effeminate.
Meetha Hai Kya!
'Meetha' in Hindi or 'Fruity' in English is another common queerphobic slur used to denote a gay person, especially men. The analogy is commonly used against men who break gender biases. A man wearing makeup will automatically be labelled as 'Meetha'. A man wearing a skirt will be called the same. This stems from gendered stereotypes and reiterates beliefs like makeup is for women, skirts are for women, etc.
Kinnar ki Baddua lagegi!
A common stereotype across India is that transgender persons' curses will ruin your life so one mustn't upset them. Kinnar or hijra is a terminology that usually refers to either transgender persons or intersex persons but the word has become a slur. The irrational fear is being instilled among people which leads to their further ostracisation. The community is already alienated and using slurs as such does not help in their inclusion at all.
Suggested Reading: The Not-so-Humorous Homophobia
Couldn't fight, Hijra hai!
"Must be hijra, he could not put a fight," is a common phrase used for men who don't fight or if they don't subscribe to most cis-gender heterosexual man's toxic idea of masculinity. Furthermore, words like 'sissy' or 'pussy' are used for men who don't wish to fight. This statement is also another way of mocking the hijra community which is inherently queerphobic.
You're so gay!
'That's so gay is a slur used in literally any situation from people's clothing to their gestures. A man wearing pink clothes or anything considered feminine is often subjected to the comment, "That's so gay". I remember once two men were hugging each other and the third one commented 'Phew you guys are so gay'. It's really horrifying that gestures like hugging are roped in the loop too.
You Faggot!
The word 'faggot' is so ignorantly used disregarding its fraught and violent history. In the late 16th century the word faggot was used as a derogatory and abusive word for gay men. This is directly in line with how tightly wound together misogyny and queerphobia, femmephobia are in our modern understandings of oppression. A while ago 'God hates Faggots' trended on Twitter dehumanising queer persons.
Homosexuality is curable
The belief that homosexuality can be treated implies that you view it as a sickness. It is not! It is a choice that is as natural as the colour of your skin. In the name of cure, many queer children are subjected to traumatic events at conversion therapy centres. It makes them feel that whatever they are feeling is unnatural and something is wrong with them.
You are too emotional to be straight!
Feeling and expressing emotions make us humane. It is very sad that being sensitive is labelled as something only queer persons and women are allowed to be. Many men are subjected to this insensitive phrase which not only rejects the emotions of men in an attempt to uphold a toxic idea of masculinity but is also derogatory towards queer persons.
Chikna
Apparently having a beard tops the checklist of being masculine anyone without one or clean shaved is made fun of using the word 'chikna'. The term is super homophobic and it's high time we do away with it.
Beech ka bicchu!
We have already established that our society is largely binary which recognises only two genders: male and female (which are biological sexes, not genders). Any person identifying themselves as any other gender is subjected to the problematic comment 'Beech ka bicchu' which essentially means a person is intersex or transgender. The derogatory phrase is very often used and has variations in most regional languages.
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