Everyone in the LGBTQ community should follow Geet’s mantra - “main apni favourite hoon.”

In my journey of ups and downs, I have had someone who has seen me from zero, whom I met on social media. He has been my constant for more than four years.

After finishing my school in Banaras, I came to Bombay for fashion designing with the support of my mother around six years ago. Everyone was opposed to it since I was a science student, but I was firm in my decision.

“Meri life mein sabse badi support system humesha se (meri mom) rahi hain.”

Then COVID hit, and given my cultural roots in UP, everyone started talking about my marriage since nothing else was going on at the moment. My dad had no idea about my sexuality and sent a photo of me to my relatives, saying, “ki iske liye ladki-wadki dhoondho.”

When I opposed the idea of getting married, my dad checked my phone when I was fast asleep and he understood. My relationship with him deteriorated from that point on. We had serious differences for almost two and a half years, where he indirectly argued with me about my orientation and his difference of opinion.

I came out to my mom with the help of my sister, and she told my dad. He was very supportive as he had mentally prepared himself for this revelation over the last two years. I was so taken aback that I cried.

I was bullied and ostracised for being a feminine, gender nonconforming guy like every queer person, but I was also seen as entertaining and influential.

When I came out to my straight friends, they were shocked that my parents didn’t figure out who I was. I was used to seeing myself as normal all this while and I only figured out that I was different when I began to see myself through the eyes of others. But I explored myself and concluded that I am not wrong, I am special. Everyone in the LGBTQ community should follow Geet’s mantra - “main apni favourite hoon.”

I have faced ups and downs in my life and I have come out of them. We are very talented in every sector. We are already equal to heterosexual people, so why demand equality? We need to try to be resilient and do better. Our struggles will never go away, so we need to influence people in a positive way, i.e., how to get out of it and do better.

I worked for Manish and gained a lot of respect in my family. Now I’m working for an Italian export house for Dior, Valentino, Gucci, Prada, and so on, and people receive me more positively than they did before.

My colleague urged me to do it, and even though I was hesitant owing to the abuse of young men on social media, I have been making content since the end of January. I got very positive responses from the beginning. I love the limelight and media exposure and I believe I am charming enough to create content. With thousands of followers today, I get a lot of encouraging messages from my viewers saying that I am doing really well, and the comment sections praise me for being positive. They inspire me and I feel satisfied.

We don’t have a lot of out-and-loud Indian queer influencers as being shamed and ridiculed ensures everyone stays in the closet.

Whatever happens, be there for yourself. Don’t expect others to be there. We as a community tend to get depressed whenever things don’t go our way, but that should never be the case. We must always hope for the best. Love is not everything, and a good relationship is coming your way. We all must focus on our careers. When we are doing good in life, people’s opinions change about us and we get a lot of respect. When you do good, people will eventually start to listen to you. We are a part of society and we are not going anywhere, spreading the message of love as far as the eye can see.