For 28-year-old Sydney-based Kamalika Dasgupta, last few months have been a struggle.
“I was on a holiday with my girlfriend in Fiji in September when my family back in Kolkata came to know. They asked me and I had to tell them that I was gay and it all just went down from there,” she told SBS Hindi.
Ms Dasgupta was confronted by her family on a phone call while she was on a holiday two months ago.
“I tried to talk to my mother but she didn’t understand. She said I was a disgrace to my family and that they didn’t expect this from me.
“But I cant let them judge me like that. The conversation with them was a disaster but I fought for it. It is my life and I cant ignore a matter like this.”
She lives with her girlfriend in Sydney. She came to Australia in 2014 as a student to study at Macquarie University in Sydney.
She met her girlfriend on campus and they casually started dating in July that year.
“We got serious and then moved in together,” Ms Dasgupta told SBS Hindi.
The couple for last six months have devoted their time, money and efforts to campaign for the Yes campaign.
“I was involved in advocating and vocalising the issue. I have sent out emails to my friends, colleagues and so many other connections that were eligible to vote to garner a Yes vote,” she says.
“It was exhausting but I cant tell you how relieved I am today,” she said after learning that Australia had voted Yes for marriage equality.
A yes vote for her means she can now propose to her 23-year-old girlfriend.
“I have drawn up this picture in my head as to how will I propose her. I am ready,” she says.
Her girlfriend, a 23-year-old Australian girl, is yet to come out to her family.
“Maybe this yes vote will help her and so many others who are hiding their sexuality to come out and be proud of it,” she says.
For the haters and those who voted no, she confidently says, “they will come to a point where they will love us”.
