Mandatory New Year Post.

I realized that I haven't made any new year post yet.  I'm 13 days late but I hope it's okay. I wasn't excited about this new year crap because for me it was just a change of day. I didn't make resolutions. I didn't do the overrated "new year, new life, new me" thingy because everything was the same. 

I would write a lot about 2013 but I don't remember much of it right now. Probably because of the exams. I'm so glad that 5th semester has finally ended because I was so annoyed of studying every now and then for tests and exams. I don't want to study now and I wish semester break was longer but it isn't. I would have written this new year post on 1st January but I was busy with exams. Well anyways, I'm pretty sure that not a lot of people wanna about my exams.

2013 was pretty weird. I didn't get mad at people like I used to. I ruined a friendship then fixed it, then ruined it again and now trying to fix it again. I stood silently in a corner as I watched my self esteem going down and then with time I build it up again on my own. I started liking/respecting the people I disliked and started disliking the ones I liked.

When my world seemed to be going up side down, a stranger knocked on my door and helped me see a different prespective of life. He is not my friend. I don't talk to him all the time. I haven't told him "everything" about my life. I don't even tell him about my problems but he still manages to make me feel better and show me the right path. He is a dreamer. I'm a dreamer. And may be that's why he knows.

My best friend has done a lot for me as well. Despite the distance, he has pretty much tried his best to be there for me. I gave him a hard time. I promised that I'd try my best not to repeat the same mistakes again. I also realized that I'm pretty much lost without him. I have chosen him. I can't trust anyone else even if I try to.

I voted this year. I showed interest in politics. I stood up against bullies for others, I stood first in the I.T. branch of my college(although this was the first time I ever got the first position in anything). I saved a life. I stood up for the LGBTQ community. I met a heck lot of new great people on twitter too. I think I can officially use "I have a lot of online friends" meme. Hold on a sec..

There you go. :')

Oh and you know, after a long time, I developed a strong crush on a person and he liked me too but sadly he lives 7000 miles away. I wish I could talk more to him but it's okay. I also met an actual real person who liked me, who teased me, who seemed interested. And this person has actually seen me the way I was, he has heard my voice, he has heard my laugh, he has seen me trying hard not to smile or blush, he has seen me in my good moods and bad moods. He just liked me. I'm not saying that I liked him too but it makes me feel better about myself.. Like WOW THERE'S A PERSON WHO LIKED ME FOR ME!!

In other news, I got recognized by others for my work. My blog, my doodles, my photography(I'm not too good), my academic achievements and other stuffs. That makes me feel better. This blog is no more a secret because a lot of people from my college read it. So I cannot really mention names here! 

Bad stuffs happened too, like my friends ending up in jail(they got bail too), my family being broke, and my parents' constant fights, pressure to perform best etc. 2013 wasn't a great year but I still have no complaints because I have a bad memory and I don't remember a lot of stuffs and most importantly, thinking about hurtful past is only going to hurt you! :P

Anyways, I hope you all have a great 2014 :)

Being gay is not a choice.

You know, I've known and met more gay/lesbian/bisexual/queer/transsexual people. Not in person but online. Many of them are my really good friends. And I know you would say that knowing someone from the internet is a complete different thing. To you, may be it is a different thing but to me it's not.

I was 16 when I came across the word "gay" and actually understand it. There was this guy. He was of 15. We met on this site name "myYearbook"(The site has been shut down) and we became friends after a couple of days. I told him about me and my secrets and he did the same. His biggest secret was that he was bisexual. I've known that person for 3 years now. We have a great time together. My mum knows about him. He is one of the closest friends. And he is amazing. 

He lives in a country where they don't accept gay people. Just like India. He hasn't told his family or friends yet because he is scared and he thinks of killing himself. But I don't let him too. I don't hate him. I love him because he is a wonderful person and believe it or not he has saved my life a lot of times. I bet there are more people like him in India too. It's sad that people think that homosexuality is a disease. It's freaking not. 

Do you have any idea with what they go through? Their thoughts, their fear of coming out to everyone, their feelings of dying, consequences after coming out and everything. Why do you forget that they are human too. Why bully them? Why hate them just because they are bisexual/gay/lesbian/queer/transsexual. 

I remember my mum and I were watching TV. And there was something about gay people I guess it was a episode of "My big decision or something" My mum was saying mean things about transsexual and gay people. Because she didn't know it. And I told her that what she is saying is pointless and mean and it's not their fault. Being gay is not a choice. And transsexual people are those people who never feel right about themselves as in, they feel like they're in wrong body. After explaining her everything. She was quiet and I was proud.

Does anyone remember Harish Iyer from Satyamev Jayate's episode of child sexual abuse? He visited my blog and read my blog post where I mentioned about getting sexually abused. He even offered me help which I denied for own personal reasons. He was so nice that he gave me his number. He is gay, right? He could have ignored me just because I am straight. Like some of you people ignore/hate/disown them just because they're homosexual/Transsexual. But he didn't do it.

The point behind telling you about my stories is that I don't want you to say that I am talking "crap" and I know "nothing". I've met them. I've talked to them. And I don't see any difference. It's not their fault that they are attracted to people of similar sex. They are created that way. They can never be attracted towards someone of opposite sex. By beating them up, disowning them, you cannot make them straight. They won't freaking rape you. They understand that you're straight and they always know that you won't fall in love with them or be attracted towards you. So why can't you just accept who they are?

I've been called gay/bisexual/lesbian. I freaking don't mind it because I don't find it offensive. Not even a single bit. But you button head people out there, stop calling everything and everyone "gay" just because they are bad/lame. If it's bad then say it's bad. If it's lame, just say that it's lame. Some guys marry guys. Some girls marry girls. Get over it.

I guess the basic reason why our society is so messed is the movies. They present it in wrong way most of the times. They do not dress in a girl way or talk like that. Real life is nothing like movies. But I am glad that it's changing a bit. Like this show "Suvreen Guggal: Topper of the year" There is this guy "Zorro". Ever tried to observe his character? That's what reality is. They are scared and broken. Their family disowns them. But they're still happy with their friends and they do anything for them. They may have a crush on you but they won't harm you or rape you because of sexual frustration.

Homophobia is not a fear. You are just an ignorant moron. Try watching documentaries and stuffs about coming out, accepting themselves and transsexualism. It will help you understand them better.

To do the least, don't hate your own brother, your own sister, your own son and daughter, and your own friends just because they came out to you. They are nothing different. They are the same person you've always known. I am really glad that there are people like Josh Hutcherson, Daniel Redcliffe, Anne Hathway and Zayn Malik and others.

I wish we had people like them in India too.

I support LGBTQ rights. And I am proud of it. If you're someone who is Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, please know that I am here for you. And I support you. Be proud of who you are. 

If you need anymore help, please check out this "List" of NGOs and contact details. There are different NGOs working in India for LGBTQ rights. 

The "Trikone" foundation is one such organisation. Trikone is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of South Asian descent. Founded in 1986 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Trikone is the first group of its kind in the world.

You can also contact "Mr. Harish Iyer". He has counselled several young men and women and help them 'come out' and deal with their sexual orientation in a healthy way.

Stay Strong. It's time for them to change.

I do not support gay marriage. I support marriage. And marriage is a union of two people who love each other. Stop bullying them. You will end up killing them.

"This post was written for 'iDiya' contest hosted by 'Indiblogger'"