Interesting Facts About Lavender Marriage: What Is It And How Does It Work?

Comprehending Lavender Unions and Their Consequences
In many nations, including India, complete social acceptance of homosexuality is still elusive despite notable global advances in LGBTQ+ rights. Decades ago, the idea of lavender marriages originated as a way to deal with social rejection. In the early 1900s, a large number of famous gay and bisexual people took up this habit to maintain their social position and jobs.

Meaning: Explaining Lavender Unions
A marriage of convenience (MoC) that hides one or both partners' sexual orientation is known as a lavender marriage. This custom, which was first applied to some celebrity marriages in the early 1900s, has been adopted by people from a variety of backgrounds. These days, one can even discover spouses for these kinds of marriages on websites.

Context: Evolution's Origins
In 2017, the BBC reported that many people who got married in lavender did so because of social constraints and expectations from their families. Through these marriages, they were able to keep up a socially acceptable façade while secretly pursuing their genuine sexual orientation.

Recent Example: Indian Lavender Marriages and "Badhaai Do"
The idea of lavender marriages became popular in India with the release of the 2022 film Badhaai Do, starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar. To avoid pressure from his family, Rao's homosexual police officer character marries Pednekar's lesbian physical education teacher character in the movie. The narrative highlights societal issues and family reactions as it examines their struggles and eventual disclosure of their sexualities.

Additional Onscreen Illustrations
Other TV shows and movies have also featured lavender marriages. Fashion shows a gay designer, under duress from his family, proposing to his female model companion. To avoid an arranged marriage, a homosexual man marries a heterosexual woman in the film Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. The online series Made in Heaven follows a gay landlord who is forced into a convenient marriage.

Consent and Mutual Awareness of One Another
A lavender marriage, according to queer-identifying social worker Sumedha Mandal, requires mutual awareness and consent between the parties. It is not a lavender marriage if one spouse is ignorant of the other's sexual orientation.

Difficulties: The Problems with Lavender Matrimonials
Mandal cautions against lavender marriages, even though they could appear like an acceptable answer in a culture that enforces restrictions. The patriarchal nature of marriage and the expectations of delivery among other social constraints can lead to serious stress. Gender stereotypes, decreased independence, and heightened pressure to procreate put women at a disadvantage.