For Amit Khanna, an acclaimed fashion photographer, defining someone’s existence by
his/her orientation is the most disgraceful thing that mankind can ever promote. But sadly
it is being done and the only way out to shun the practice it to make the society understand
that we fall in love with people, not genders. As we celebrate Pride month this June, he talks
to TMM about his take on the trend, his web series All About 377, and much more…
You had been quite vocal about your orientation. Was the acceptance and coming out of the closet easy?
I don’t believe that there is a closet in my life in the first place. There shouldn’t be a state of
secrecy for any individual in the world. I am free to love whom I want. The reasons,
therefore, are very personal, and I feel that the word orientation is very overrated. It’s got
much more importance in society than it should have been given. We fall in love with
people, not genders, the most beautiful things in life are genderless including god which is a
source of positivity and hope for many. I have been vocal about my individuality. I don’t
think people need to come out as an event, how many straight people come out as straight?
Amit Khanna,Your production All About 377 talks about the taboo attached with Homosexuality in
small pockets of India. How did this happen?
When we don’t like something happening in the environment around us, we need to do
something about it, rather than hoping for miracles. I was extremely concerned about
homophobia and thought to enlighten people around through my body of work, that’s how
All About Section 377 stemmed. It dealt with homophobia first in the urban areas of India
and then the rural pockets. I decided to educate and enlighten masses on the concept of
LGBTQ and the idea of generalizing someone based on orientation is baseless as each one
of us is unique and special in our own ways. I was supported by an equally compassionate
team, which made it an easy project.
Amit Khanna,The second season of your web series also talks about the plight of a transgender. Throw some light on their conditions in India.
Unfortunately, the transgender community in India is treated miserably by society and
their very own families, their entire life is reduced merely on their orientation and their
talent, emotions, desires to lead a regular life is completely overlooked, even by the
government and the society. Due to all this, the only job they are left with is begging and
prostitution. The transgender in my show was a poet who was talented, empathetic,
compassionate, and intelligent. I wanted to convey through this character that there is
much more to a transgender than what many perceive them to be. This society shuns them
off, as well as seeks blessings from them, it’s plain hypocrisy.
Amit Khanna,You work closely with the entertainment and fashion industry. How do both the industries treat people from the LGBTQ community?
Art flows freely. A true artist they say is like flowing water, molding itself as the path takes
it. I don’t think the entertainment or fashion industry can be generalized as treating LGBTQ
in a certain way, though I do feel cinema has a huge impact on the society and it must
showcase LGBTQ correctly and not just as comedians or people to laugh at. Time has
changed and we have some great mainstream portrayals of LGBTQ characters. Fashion has
always been extremely liberal, I would like to re-state that its prejudices and not a
particular industry.
The month of June is celebrated as Pride Month. Do you think it’s making any difference in India?
It’s a start from no celebration to a larger celebration so it’s great. It’s a platform to create
awareness about LGBTQ and kudos to anything that has a genuine intention, we might not
be able to see immediate results but I am sure it will manifest beautifully in years to come
and when we look back we shall be proud of our efforts.
The only way out is not to think it’s not a part of society, not to emphasize and label it so
much that on one hand we are trying to enable it but in turn labeling it furthermore. We
have to stop thinking that LGBTQ is a different category and it needs a special place in
society. LGBTQ is as normal as straight this society is, this world is made up of everything,
all types, and kinds of humans, living and non-living things etc. LGBTQ is already a part of
it, in my opinion, people just need to accept it.
The post We fall in love with people, not gender: Amit Khanna, fashion photographer appeared first on TMM.