‘Aren’t you the lesbian who filed the case, a lawyer said’

Ritu Dalmia, 46, chef and CEO, Riga Foods, was one of the petitioners who challenged the 2013 decision to recriminalise homosexuality

After 2009, I saw many people come out. When the Supreme Court overturned the Delhi HC verdict, it was scary. I was complaining about it and someone told me that if you are so upset, why don’t you do something rather than complain.



When lawyer and dear friend Menaka Guruswamy asked me if I wanted to be one of the petitioners, I didn’t hesitate in saying yes. It hasn’t been easy. I was told by other lawyers that I might get into trouble by openly declaring myself to be a criminal. Once, a lawyer said ‘aap to woh lesbian ho na jisne case file kara hai’. It was humiliating but you have to laugh it away. When I got hate mails, I began to have doubts.

But there were also wonderful emails from strangers and people in the closet. The solidarity — not just among lawyers and petitioners, but also the straight community, parents and friends — restores your faith.

Being a petitioner taught me a lot about myself. I’ve always been a cynical person but this changed things. I was there for the hearings. After seeing the sensitivity of the judges, who had researched the topic well, I started believing in the system again.

We were unlucky in 2013 but I believe there is a lot more sensitivity now. Any functional democracy needs human rights, freedom of press and personal choices. Any functional democracy has to accept LGBT rights because it is part of the freedom to choose. For me, the change in the law is the first step towards fighting social prejudice. It means we are a democracy not only in theory but also in reality. I don’t need to be ashamed. I am a law-abiding citizen. I have brought fame to the country with my skills. I don’t want to be treated like a criminal and labelled a second-class citizen.

With the repeal of 377, I feel I have given something back to a country from which I have taken a lot.

As told to Sonam Joshi