In New Zealand, I often feel the weight of my identity pressing upon those around me. I am seen as radical, too progressive and always asking for too much. The contributions I offer are often overshadowed by stereotypes that breathe life into narratives society continues to write about people like me and who we are destined to be.
But here, in India, those perceptions tied to the color of my skin and the curve of my nose seem to wash away. I become aware of my privilege—privilege that allows me to navigate spaces that many who call this nation home may never experience. I’ve had the means to visit “tourist attractions,” to fly between cities, to see an India that remains out of reach for many. Maaori culture is even something people cherish here. From our haka and moko to our creation stories, whenever New Zealand is mentioned, it is usually the Maaori culture (… though cricket and sheep are tough competitors!) that captures everyone’s attention.
In saying this the privilege I have here comes with a responsibility to use the platform I have to share stories and advocate for the beautiful community that has embraced me since the moment I landed.
The LGBTQ+ community here welcomed me with open arms. Over the last couple weeks I have been working with GAURAV organisation (a Mumbai-based organization supporting the health and rights of LGBTQ+ communities) to learn and experience “the community” life first hand and to support and uplift this marginalised group. Through them, I’ve glimpsed an unseen resilience and love, hidden behind the veil of stereotypes they too are burdened with: being labeled radical, too progressive, and demanding too much.
I’ve listened to stories of immense hardship and triumph—of barriers overcome and the strength it takes to live with love and kindness despite everything. I’ve danced in spaces this community has fought relentlessly to create. My new friends have taught me salsa, Hijra movements, and traditional Gujarati folk dances, filling small rooms with laughter and joy. In return, I’ve shared waiata, diving straight into “Nga Puawai o Nga Puhi” as I had to show off a little bit of Ngaa Puhi when I could, and had a sitting party for Hana Rawhiti’s haka in parliament.
Even with a language barrier, communication has never been a problem—broken sentences and a smile are often enough. I even bring all of my other PMSA scholars along with me to work somedays to get a pamper at the TRANSformation salon!
I’ve also learned about the rich history of transgender people in India and their significant place in Hindu culture. Pre-colonial India regarded them as highly spiritual, capable of bestowing blessings, and invited them to weddings as symbols of fertility and health. This resonates with the pre-colonial worldviews of Maaori and other Pacific peoples, where gender was fluid. Maatauranga Maaori speaks of no rigid gender binary, and those identifying as LGBTQ+ were often seen as spiritually gifted with the ability to see the world through both male and female lenses. Similarly, Native Americans honor Two-Spirit people, Samoans have Fa’afafine, and Tongans have Fakaleiti. This community throughout the globe is an old one that pre-dates colonialsm. Stigma against the LGBTQ+ community is a regime which has never belonged to indigenous communities.
The people I’ve met here are truly inspiring. To anyone reading this—ask yourself: is difference really so frightening? So often, we fear what we do not understand. But as the saying or song goes,
“If you walk in the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew.”
To be unapologetically and unconditionally yourself is one of the bravest things a person can do. The right to choose happiness, to choose your identity, is a fundamental one. Every day I spend with this community reminds me of the power in being strong in your identity, in reclaiming your narrative, and in the beauty of choosing who you want to be.
I would love to express my gratitude to “The Community” who have made me feel nothing but love, and the GAURAV organisation who has taught me so much and welcomed me as their own on this 6-week internship haerenga advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in India.
From Manurewa to Mumbai to Mumbai to Manurewa — home is just around the corner!
