The Othering directed by Harshit Patil and Veechika Durga Pingali

The Othering: A Documentary on the LGBTQ Community and How They’re Treated

The Othering is a documentary that looks closely at how people from the LGBTQ community are often treated as outsiders. The film talks about how they are left out, judged, and even mistreated just because of their identity. It shows how unfair systems, social pressure, and old beliefs make it hard for LGBTQ individuals to feel accepted in everyday life. By sharing their stories, the documentary hopes to help more people understand what this community goes through and to encourage equal treatment for everyone—no matter their gender or who they love.

Making The Othering came with its own set of challenges. One of the toughest parts was finding people from the LGBTQ community who were willing to speak on camera. For many, talking about their past meant bringing up painful memories. It wasn’t easy for them to open up, and we understood that. We made sure to respect their space and only moved forward when they felt ready.

Challenges

Another challenge was deciding what parts of their stories to show. There were so many different experiences—some about family, others about school, work, or public spaces. It was hard to pick just a few to focus on because everything felt important. But we wanted to make sure that the message of the film was clear and could connect with viewers who may not have thought much about these issues before.