Indian non-binary activist stars on cover of bridal magazine
A bridal magazine in India has divided readers after making the bold decision to feature a dress-wearing non-binary model on their April cover.
Brides Today, an English-language magazine, shared three digital covers featuring non-binary trans activist and comedian Alok Vaid-Menon posing in various dresses on Instagram.
The publication, which belongs to the India Today newsgroup, shared on their social media that they released the cover “in support of the right to love and dignity for all.”
Meanwhile, Alok promoted the cover on their own Instagram account with quotes from their interview with the magazine.
It comes as India’s Supreme Court prepares to rule on marriage equality for India’s LGBTQ+ community.
Indian bridal publication Brides Today, which belongs to newsgroup India Today, took a stand for marriage equality by featuring non-binary trans activist and comedian Alok Vaid-Menon on three different digital covers shared on Instagram
While many readers supported Alok’s covers, others accused them of encroaching on women’s spaces and called Brides Today “ridiculous.”
One of the three covers shows Alok wearing a gold dress with a plunging neckline that shows off their hairy chest.
The bearded activist wears a bold red lip and eyeliner along with lavish bridal jewelry on both their forearms and chest.
On the second cover, the comedian poses in a draped mint green saree that shows off his midriff and a gold hairpiece adorned with multicolored jewels and a row of eye-catching rings.
On the third cover, they see a two-piece half lehenga in electric blue and gold, rocking a choker and a floral hairpiece.
In their cover interview, the activist, who admitted to being bullied because of their identity, said they hoped for more inclusive spaces in India.
“I wish I could walk down the street — and exist in public — without fear of being attacked.
“I wish I could post a picture of myself online without being inundated with hate mail,” they said.
Alok added that they believe everyone is worthy of love and that relationships should not be hierarchical based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
“This case is crucial,” the activist said of India’s Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.
Another cover shows Alok wearing a blue and gold half lehenga with a choker and a long floral hair piece
The activist also wore a mint green saree and jewelry on a third digital cover shared by Brides Today
“The denial of legal recognition of same-sex marriage is a form of institutionalized discrimination that must be addressed,” they added.
The covers received a mixed response online, with many followers of Alok and Brides Today hailing the publication’s decision to feature a non-binary personality on their cover.
“You have such an elegant way of seeing things,” one person told Alok in the comments.
“It makes me hopeful and free.”
‘All wonderful. You. Your beliefs. Your power. I love you,” said another.
“Really, if people were sure of themselves, they wouldn’t mind so much how other people exist. I love you, beautiful pictures,’ said another.
Many readers favored the covers shared online and Alok’s non-binary gender identity
“I love Alok so very much. They came to speak at my school and their stories and poems were so inspiring.
“I wish people would stop hating and start educating themselves,” said another.
Queerness is as beautiful as you let it be, and it’s disheartening to see so many people shooting non-binary and genderqueer people. So much hatred from people who claim to love,” they added.
However, some people felt differently about the cover, saying they were “shocked” by Alok’s non-binary identity.
Others felt Alok’s starring role on the cover was “obliterating” what they called “real women” and “horrifying”
‘No. I will pass Brides of Today. Ridiculous,” said one.
“This man is disturbing, more inside than out. If that’s possible,’ said another.
“Stop erasing real women,” said one disgruntled reader.
“Articles like this are horrifying… utter nonsense,” said one.
The tipping point comes as India waits to hear whether the Supreme Court will legalize marriage between men and women this year.
India in 2018 scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex in a landmark verdict that activists at the time hoped would uphold the right to equality.
Gay sex used to carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Now India is waiting to see whether same-sex marriage will become legal across the country.
India’s Supreme Court heard arguments for the same-sex marriage ruling on April 18 and has yet to make a decision on what would mark another milestone for India’s LGBTQ+ community.