Having said that, I must acknowledge that the sheer enormity of this verdict meant that words like landmark verdict and milestone were well-deserved to describe it. One year on though, we recognise that so much needs to be done using this 'victory' as a torch illumining the path ahead for us.

Although there is a sense of euphoria within the community, queer persons are becoming impatient (and rightly so), for their other rights to be realised. We as a collective have been blindsided in Parliament with the Trans Bill being passed, which is transphobic in its wording. We have been voiceless in the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) guidelines for adoption and surrogacy bill. The LGBTQ community cannot adopt, and is ineligible for surrogacy. We need to be aware of decisions about our lives being made without consultation with us and respond to these strongly.

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Corporate cool

On the work front, post the decriminalisation, I see increasing number of companies are 'coming out' and are interested in working with the community. More companies are aware of this as a lucrative market but also as an inclusion agenda that needs to be urgently tackled. When we, at Godrej Culture Labs, launched our Manifesto for Trans Inclusion, we had over 300 business heads and policy makers in the room, so people are definitely interested. We just need to make sure the conversation doesn't end at superficialities. Intent has to translate into action. Companies are posting inclusivity and diversity in policy on social media but there is more to this than the 'Cool Company' factor. All those 'likes' and 'shares' on social media are one aspect, but in the end, we have to separate the noise from the real work being done.

Hopefully, more companies will invest in products and services catering to the community. I hope to also see more opportunities for skilling and employment for the community. We need business leaders at big corporates to internalise what the judgment has meant to us all and wish for inclusive futures in love, living and work.

People who were and are against equal rights seemed taken aback when Section 377 was decriminalised, tut-tutting that this will spur the community towards fighting for more rights, such as marriage equality. Why should we not ask for our rights? It is not about asking for more, it is about equality and that is the fundamental truth. So, today, we will take a moment to celebrate, but then hunker down to work. The good fight must go on.

Parmesh Shahani is Head of Godrej India Culture Lab, a public culture space in Mumbai. He is the author of Gay Bombay: Globalization Love and Belonging in Contemporary India (2008).

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