Tag: gay india
Living on the Fringe
Despite decriminalistion of homosexuality, Delhi hasn’t become a safe city and crimes against gays keep happening. Dr. Himadri Roy writes about some cases that received wide media coverage Ever since homosexuality was decriminalized in 2009 by Delhi High Court, there has been some confusion pertaining to whether the ruling applies to the whole country or… Read more »
Koovagam, India’s Largest Transgender Festival, Opens
Ayush RankaHarani a transgender from Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu was crowned the first runner-up at the beauty pageant held a day before the Koovagam festival, April 30, 2012. Senthil Thomgon is a 36-year-old bellman at the Balaji, one of only a handful of air-conditioned hotels in the dusty city of Villupuram, 162 kilometers southwest… Read more »
Happy endings in Bali
We discover the best massages, meals and uncharted territories in the Island of the Gods – Bali GSN’s intrepid explorer Jean Paul feeds an elephant in Bali. A few friends, all the travel books and what little I know about the book Eat. Pray. Love suggested that the best of Bali was to be found… Read more »
Indian Psychiatric Association Journal Editorial on Homosexuality
The Indian Journal of Psychiatry, official publication of Indian Psychiatric Society, in its editorial ‘Homosexuality and India’ in its first quarter 2012 issue, Volume 54(1), written by TS Sathyanarayana Rao, the Journal’s Honorary Editor from JSS Medical College, Mysore, and KS Jacob, Christian Medical College, Vellore, state that “the argument that homosexuality is a stable… Read more »
Male nude photography exhibition shut-down in Delhi
Homoerotic exhibition at Alliance Francaise closed down after a complaint An exhibition in Delhi by Indian-born London-based photographer Sunil Gupta was shut-down by police this week after a complaint that it was obscene. The exhibition at the Indian capital’s Alliance Francaise opened last Friday and first the centre took down some of the photographs in… Read more »
Sexual Orientation Change Efforts by Medical Professionals in India
Even though for the past several years homosexuality is not considered a disorder by itself in medical circles around the world, some Indian medical professionals continue to be in the grips of homophobia, religious intolerance and outdated knowledge. In India, a very small percentage of medical malpractice cases come to light chiefly because of mass… Read more »
Gays Had Freedom in pre-British India
After remaining “shy” in revealing its stand on gay sex in the Supreme Court for over two years, the Union government now seems to have gone to the other extreme stating that homosexuals had far greater freedom to satisfy their “fancies” in India than the West where it today has taken the shape of a… Read more »
India’s attorney-general blames Victorian Britain for anti-gay laws
In an apparent change of heart from the position it adopted three years ago, the Indian government has said that homosexuality was tolerated in pre-colonial India, and it was only the British who imposed their Victorian values of morality on what was a largely liberal land. India’s chielf law officer GE Vahanvati told the Supreme… Read more »
India govt in favour of decriminalising gay sex
The India government said it fully accepts the Delhi high court landmark 2009 verdict, which decriminalised consensual gay sex between adults in private. The India government today clarified its stand on gay sex, telling the Supreme Court it is in favour of decriminalisation and does not object to the Delhi High Court verdict. Attorney General… Read more »
Govt. submits data on gay population
New Delhi – India has an estimated 25 lakh gay population and about 7 per cent (1.75 lakh) of them have HIV, the government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday. “The population of Men who have Sex with Men was estimated to be 25 lakh in India,” the government said in its affidavit filed in… Read more »
36% jump in HIV among Mumbai gays in 2 yrs: Study
Mumbai: A notable increase in the prevalence of HIV among men having sex with men (MSM) in the recently concluded HIV Sentinel Surveillance in the city has alarmed anti-HIV crusaders. The annual surveillance carried out by the National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) has pegged the prevalence at 12.5% in 2010-11 (April-March ) compared to 9.2%… Read more »
Homosexuality in India: A Literary History
Dubious (a poem by Vikram Seth): Some men like Jack and some like Jill; I’m glad I like them both; but still… In the strict ranks of Gay and Straight What is my status? Stray? or Great? When Vikram Seth wrote “Dubious” many years ago, he may not have realized how long his poem would… Read more »
HC verdict on gay sex has helped LGBT
New Delhi – There has been greater societal acceptance and decrease in police harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community after the Delhi High Court’s landmark verdict of banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, said a study. The research conducted over a period of six months, by Haryana-based Jindal Global Law… Read more »
Meet India’s first transgender pastor
Shunned and traumatized as a youngster, 25-year-old Bharathi now preaches to a congregation of 45 respectful parishioners, including 14 families, as India’s first transgender pastor. Bharathi, who completed her bachelor’s degree in theology last April, has been a pastor at the Evangelical Church of India (ECI) branch in Chengalpattu, on the outskirts of Chennai, for… Read more »
India’s Royal Supergay: Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil
When Jenni and I first researched the idea for Out & Around, I googled “Gay Around the World” and came up with a video clip of Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil speaking on Oprah in 2007 about gay life in India. We found Prince Manvendra’s story so compelling that we built our entire project around trying… Read more »
India unlikely hotspot for gay tourism
When Thomas Roth first visited India, he was often asked about his wife and children — questions he would try to evade. That was thirty years ago, when homosexuality was a criminal offence in India and for many the term “gay” only meant “happy.” Roth is again planning a trip to India, this time with… Read more »
Conservative India unlikely hotspot on gay tourism map
New Delhi (Reuters) – When Thomas Roth first visited India, he was often asked about his wife and children — questions he would try to evade. That was thirty years ago, when homosexuality was a criminal offence in India and for many the term “gay” only meant “happy.” Roth is again planning a trip to… Read more »
The Father of India’s Gay Rights Movement: Supergay Ashok Row Kavi
In a bursting country of billion people, it’s rare to be known as the “first” to do anything. Yet, journalist Ashok Row Kavi is well-known in India for being the first gay person to come out publicly in the country. His first coming out interview was in 1986 with Savvy Magazine, an Indian feminist magazine,… Read more »
Gay Leader Ashok Row Kavi Interview with Out & Around
In a bursting country of billion people, it’s rare to be known as the “first” to do anything. Yet, journalist Ashok Row Kavi is well-known in India for being the first gay person to come out publicly in the country. His first coming out interview was in 1986 with Savvy Magazine, an Indian feminist magazine,… Read more »
The Father of India’s Gay Rights Movement: Supergay Ashok Row Kavi
In a bursting country of billion people, it’s rare to be known as the “first” to do anything. Yet, journalist Ashok Row Kavi is well-known in India for being the first gay person to come out publicly in the country. His first coming out interview was in 1986 with Savvy Magazine, an Indian feminist magazine,… Read more »
India’s Supergay Attorney in Anti-Sodomy Law Case: Aditya Bondyopadhyay
In 2009 in a landmark case, the Delhi High Court challenged the constitutionality of India’s anti-sodomy law, Section 377. The results have catapulted India into a stronger gay rights movement. Out & Around met with Aditya Bondyopadhyay, a leading attorney on the legal team that constructed the case. Aditya now spends most of his time… Read more »
India’s Gay Attorney in High Court: Interview With Aditya Bondyopadhyay
In 2009 in a landmark case, the Delhi High Court challenged the constitutionality of India’s anti-sodomy law, Section 377. The results have catapulted India into a stronger gay rights movement. Out & Around met with Aditya Bondyopadhyay, a leading attorney on the legal team that constructed the case. Aditya now spends most of his time… Read more »
India’s Supergay Attorney in Anti-Sodomy Law Case: Aditya Bondyopadhyay
In 2009 in a landmark case, the Delhi High Court challenged the constitutionality of India’s anti-sodomy law, Section 377. The results have catapulted India into a stronger gay rights movement. Out & Around met with Aditya Bondyopadhyay, a leading attorney on the legal team that constructed the case. Aditya now spends most of his time… Read more »
Pune’s first Gay Pride parade inspires many people
Pune’s gay community held its first ever Gay Pride Parade in the city on Sunday. The community has previously hosted other such events. The second annual Queer Fest also took place over the weekend. The theme for this year’s Queer Fest is ‘Being seen, Being heard.’ The parade is expected to become an annual event… Read more »
Indian Transgender Rights Activists talk about Love and Relationships
Transgender rights activists from different parts of India speak candidly about their life, love and relationships. Produced and directed by Chennai based activist Kalki Subramaniam, as part of Project Kalki initiative. Source – Orinam.net
Accept us as we are, says LGBT community
Amidst the humdrum of the city, around 500 people – all clad in multicoloured robes, turbans and flags – came together to demand equality for the LGBT community at the 4th Delhi queer pride parade on Sunday. The parade, which began at 3pm from Barakhamba road and culminated at Jantar Mantar at 6pm, witnessed great… Read more »
An Open Letter to the Health Minister of India Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad
Dear Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Health Minister of India It appears you need a dose of enlightenment since your recent statements on homosexuality smack of either ignorance, misinformation or rank prejudice. I hope that this missive serves that purpose, although I am doubtful. On the other hand, I hope that it shames you. I know… Read more »
The Bible is Propaganda–Bring Me Science
Ya gotta love the old guy who said this: “We should not accept religious literature instead of scientific report.” The Delhi High Court bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah remarked in response to a Solicitor General who cited an article condemning gay sex by quoting the Bible. “These are not scientific reports. These… Read more »
Love Among the Ruins: USA, an Indian Prince, Love & HIV
Sydney, Australia – While America was limping from the loss of two important marriage-rights elections (New Jersey and Maine), across the globe in India there was a cause for celebration of sorts. Prince Manvendra Gohil, the famous ‘gay Prince’ from Rajpipla state in the western Gujarat area of India announced last night to an audience… Read more »
A Princely Gay Man – Manvendra Singh Gohil of India Comes Out
No question that rank carries privilege and privilege carries fame. This time it belongs to an Indian prince who came out as gay in 2005 and shocked his family and fascinated the Indian public. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of the Rajpipla region in the state of Gujarat, the westernmost state in India (Mahatma Gandhi was… Read more »
Leading Spiritual Teacher in India Discusses Being Gay as it Applies to Spirituality
Copenhagen, Denmark – Many years ago, I attended a couple of seminars offered by this “guru” when he was little known. Today he is one of India’s most respected spiritual teachers, and I came across an article about what he recently said about being gay. So much has been written about homosexuality since the Delhi… Read more »
Homosexuality not a Taboo in Jharkhand Tribe (India)
Well, here is some fine news, for a change, from the July 6, 2009 Hindustan Times, that is not full of oppression, homophobia, anti-gay sermons or discriminatory political statutes. Turns out that “among the Ho tribe of Jharkhand (a state in Eastern India ) homosexuality has always been socially accepted. Homosexual men are called Kothi… Read more »
Chennai’s First Transgender Talk-show host ‘Rose’ Gives a Voice to Sexual Minorities
When Rose speaks, Tamil Nadu stops to listen. Perhaps it is the air of nonchalant confidence that she exudes, or it is her perceptive mind that dissects tangled and tricky issues, making them straight and simple. Rose’s reasoning works. And the fact that she is not afraid to delve into any issue, be it workplace… Read more »