Thread by @saliltripathi

Companies in India have been at the forefront of socially-relevant advertising that affirms respect for minorities and human rights. A noteworthy, commendable practice that companies from elsewhere should follow. 1/n @ihrb @lawsofrule @hkaur0304 @houdart @ARamasastry

https://twitter.com/StarbucksIndia/status/1656133960924012545

True, there has been backlash, as Tanishq and others have faced, and self-righteous socially conservative jingoist groups have called for 'boycotts,' as @IndiaStarbucks @StarbucksIndia is now facing. But it must persevere. 2/n

Through concepts such as ardhanarishwara, social acceptance of trans community, even veneration, are as much part of Indian traditions, as is the opposition to trans communities, including violation of rights. India has always lived with extreme contrasts. 3/n

Its traditions revere a warrior goddess like Kali and at the same time its social order discriminates against women; it is the land where opposite contrasts coexist, confounding those who want to make easy generalisations. 4/n

In 2018, I had done a podcast with Laya Vasudevan on the transgender rights case in India, which you can listen here: voices.ihrb.org/episodes/podca… 5/n

The report I cowrote with @charles_rad and @houdart on business responsibilities towards #LGBTQI+ rights for @UNHumanRights can be read here: unfe.org/standards 6/6