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Gay India News & Reports 2002
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1
Two Gay Judges Urge Liberalisation of Gay Sex Laws In India 1/02
2 Glitter and Gumboots: Delhi University Wakes Up To Same Sex Love
2/02
3 Govt seeks time to reply on PIL making gay relations legal 4/02
4 'Muggy Night' Raises the Curtain on South Asian Gay Issues
6/02
5 International Judges Preach Gay Rights in India (2002)
6 India Looks At Abolishing Anti-Gay Laws 6/02
7 Smashing India's sexual taboos through art 10/02
8 Activist Ashok Row Kavi comes out in India (which believes "gay" is
a western aberration) 10/02
9 International Lesbian & Gay conference in Mumbai 10/02
10 Advice to Gay Travellers (Lonely Planet Posting) 12/02
11 Transsexuals In India Strip In Train Protest 11/02
12 India's First Gay Civil Union 12/02
Gay.com
U.K.
http://uk.gay.com/news/4668
9 January 2002
1
Two Gay Judges Urge Liberalisation of Gay Sex Laws In India
Two gay judges, from South Africa and Australia respectively, are lobbying
the Indian government to liberalise the country's laws on homosexuality,
where gay sex is still a criminal offence. Justice Michael Kirby from
Australia and Justice Edwin Cameron of the Supreme Court of Appeal
of South Africa have been meeting with judges in India in a bid to
get them to recognise that the laws need changing.
The Indian Lawyers' Collective, a group of social activists in the
legal profession, have already filed a petition to the Delhi high court,
demanding that homosexuality be decriminalised as it violates the country's
consititution which is built on equality.
Indian Express, Dekhi
http://www.indian-express.com/ie20020202/top10.html
February 2, 2002
2
Glitter and Gumboots: Delhi University Wakes Up To Same Sex Love
Students of Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College hosted a gay and lesbian
festival in an attempt to 'challenge gender stereotypes' Madhavi Singh
New Delhi - Delhi's Lady Shri Ram college has scored a first of sorts. With Glitter
and Gumboots, it becomes the first DU college to host a gay and lesbian
festival, featuring three Indian and three foreign films dealing with
gender/sexuality issues.
Especially since last year St Stephens had approached filmmaker Nishit
Saran for his celluloid 'outing', Summer in My Veins, but backed out
from showing it at the last minute. The film, instead, was shown this
year at the LSR festival. It's taken gay activists by pleasant surprise.
Says Salim Kidwai, author of Same Sex Love, ''I think it's very good.
I'm surprised it happened as I didn't think DU was ready for it. But
I'm glad as these are alternate channels for education.'' LSR student
Richa Burman, who heads the Womens Developement Cell, was responsible
for putting together the festival. Already involved with issues of
sexual violence and self defence she explains the motivation behind
it, ''I think it's an important issue which needs to be dealt with
openly, with a little more sensitivity, and in a less homophobic fashion.''
How did she manage to get college authorities to agree, considering
LSR is part of Delhi University, the epitome of stuffiness. ''My staff
advisor, Prabha Rani and the principal didn't have a problem at all,''
she insists. So is this a sign that DU is finally willing to recognise
these issues? Proctor DU, Prof S.B. Menon would rather not say.
''All details about what happens in individual colleges don't come
to us. It is not necessary for them to take permission for each and
every function or event they have,'' he says, adding however that as
far as DU's stand on these issues is concerned, Menon, ''is not at
liberty to say.'' Rani, staff advisor at LSR is careful to say, ''
It didn't start as a gay and lesbian film festival.
What we were trying to do was challenge gender stereotype.'' She adds,
'' It turned out that these were predominantly sexual stereotypes but
it wasn't intended that way.'' In college hostels lesbians are still
referred to as L's or lesbos. Burman says she was attempting to create
''a forum for talking openly. To question gender roles with the focus
on sexual minorities issues.'' In a discussion moderated by members
of Sangini, a helpline for lesbian and bisexual women that attempts
to help women ''who are confused about their sexuality," reactions
were varied. One student walked out of the screening of Butch Femme
after a lovemaking scene between two women.
Another student courageously admitted that at 20 she was confused about
her sexuality. But predominantly one got the impression that some of
these young women were trying very hard not to appear homophobic, although
they weren't certain how they actually felt about the issue. Which
just demonstrates that it's about time educational institutions talked
openly about sensitive issues instead of pretending they don't exist.
Hindustan Times (India)
http://www.hindustantimes.com
April 23, 2002
3
Govt seeks time to reply on PIL making gay relations legal
New Delhi - Government
on Tuesday sought more time in Delhi High Court to file reply on
a petition seeking legislation of homosexuality
between
consenting adults and consequent amendment to Section 377 of Indian
Penal Code (IPC), which makes such a relationship a criminal offence.
"
We (Centre) are not only examining the legal issue but also the social
and ethical issues connected with it," Government counsel told
a Bench comprising Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice S Mukherjee and
sought six weeks time to file reply on the issue.
The Bench, however, dismissed a petition by a Kannur-based social
organisation Joint Action Council (JAC), which has opposed the
petition saying that
the court was not the right forum to decide the issue. But the
Court granted liberty to JAC to become intervener petitioner in
the issue
and fixed August 26 as next date of hearing.
The Court which had taken cognizance of a Public Interest Litigation
(PIL) in December last had issued notice to the Union Government,
the Ministry of Social Welfare, Delhi Government, Delhi Police
Commissioner and National AIDS Council, asking them to file their
replies.
The court during the last hearing in January had sought assistance
of Attorney General on the issue stating that Constitutional validity
of Section 377 of the IPC has been challenged by the petitioner.
Additional Solicitor General Mukul Rohtagi appeared for the Centre
and National
AIDS council.
Asian Week, San Francisco, CA ( http://www.asianweek.com )
June 20-26, 2002
4
'Muggy Night' Raises the Curtain on South Asian Gay Issues
by Avy Mallik, Special to AsianWeek
As the lights come up, the audience slowly discerns the outline
of a couple lying in bed. As intimate and melodious sounds of
Chopin slowly envelope the senses, there is the import witnessing
(or
perhaps
intruding
into) a tender moment between two people in love. The man, however,
blocks the view of his partner. But as he lifts himself from
the bed, the audience realizes that his partner is not what it
might
expect
- viewers come face-to-face with a middle-aged, overweight, balding
male.
It soon becomes apparent that this Indian man - an affluent member
of Bombay's haute couture - is paying a lowly security guard
for sex. This shocking start sets the tone for 'On a Muggy Night
in
Mumbai', a highly unorthodox and startling play written by Mahesh
Dattani,
one
of India's foremost playwrights.
On a Muggy Night played two sold-out performances in San Francisco
at the Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts on June 14 and
15. Dattani has a strong message that he wishes to convey to
his audience.
But
instead of falling into the trap of having someone in the play
preach this message, the playwright creates a believable set
of characters
going through real-life problems.
Dattani hopes that his plea for acceptance and understanding
of India's "queer
culture" is made clear with the characters' stories. This is certainly
the case. The story unfolds primarily in one place: the living room
of Kamlesh, an affluent fashion designer living in Mumbai.
One night,
Kamlesh invites his friends over to his house and asks them
for help. He confesses to still be in love with Prakash, one of his
old flames.
Prakash, however, has denounced their relationship as the work
of the devil and moved on to become a straight man. Kamlesh's friends,
who
are all gay, represent the many facets of homosexual culture.
There is Sharad, the flamboyant one with no worries about how
the world views him; Bunny, the closet homosexual who plays
a happily
married
father on a television sitcom; and Dipali, the levelheaded
lesbian, whose common sense implies, even in gay culture, that
it is the
woman who is sensible. Kamlesh and his friends have complex
personalities and deep bonds with each other.
For example, the kinship between Dipali and Kamlesh simply
cannot be overlooked. At one point, Dipali says to her best
friend, "If
you were a woman, we would be in love." Kamlesh answers contritely, "If
you were a man, we would be in love." After a short pause, Dipali
retorts good-naturedly, "If we were heterosexual, we would be
married . Eeeek!" Dattani, who is the only English-writing playwright
to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi, India's most prestigious award for
literature, adds some interesting twists toward the end of the first
act.
When Kiran, Kamlesh's sister, comes to visit him, a shocking
revelation unfolds: She is about to wed Prakash, Kamlesh's
former lover. From
then on, Dattani's characters face even more issues. Should
Kamlesh tell his sister about Prakash's sexuality, something
that could
end Kiran's short-lived happiness? Is it possible for gays
and lesbians
to change their sexuality? And finally, is homosexuality an
unnatural aberration of human society? While On a Muggy Night
in Mumbai
doesn't profess to have all the answers, it at least poses
the questions.
The San Francisco production of 'On A Muggy Night in Mumba'i
did not come easily. It was largely the brainchild of Ed Groff,
the
assistant director of the Jon Sims Center, and Vidhu Singh,
the director of
On
a Muggy Night in Mumbai. Singh was approached by Groff and
asked if she would organize the play and have it performed
for the
National Queer Arts Festival. "We had no funding, very little resources
and a nonprofessional cast," Singh said. "But we had a lot
of fun. We did this play for the love of theater. Hopefully, we can
find a producer and have a proper run."
Singh believes that On a Muggy Night in Mumbai is evidence
of a greater awakening of different cultures and lifestyles
throughout
the world. "The
play was a huge commercial success in Mumbai. It raised serious issues
about society in general. The primary audience was comprised of both
gay and straight people; most were from the middle class." Singh
had other reasons for wanting to do the play in the United States: "It
was important to do a play about contemporary Indian culture. Not only
was this a celebration of gay life, but it also had desi themes of
family values and friendship." Singh is not alone in thinking
that a proper run of On a Muggy Night in Mumbai would be a hit in the
United States.
In a panel discussion about the play, several scholars and
South Asian community members gave insight on how the United
States
is reacting
to alternate cultures. Gayatri Gopinath, a professor of women
and gender studies at UC Davis, said, "South Asian culture has a new visibility
in the West. With movies such as Lagaan and Monsoon Wedding, India
is becoming part of Western society. This is also coinciding with a
new interest in gay life.
South Asian queer culture is slowly coming out of the closet." Gopinath
believes that this recent surge of interest in gay and South Asian
culture is a mixed blessing. "What is India striving for? Will
we have our own Will & Grace or Ellen? And if we do, is that it?
Is that the measure of success for the gay community?" . Contact
Avy Mallik at avy@hotmail.com.
GayWired.com News; World Entertainment News Network
2002
5
International Judges Preach Gay Rights in India
Two gay judges are advising sexual minorities in India, where
homosexuality is considered a crime.
Justice Michael Kirby, from Australia, and Justice Edwin
Cameron, of South Africa, are in Mumbai to raise awareness
about homosexuality.
They suggested to a public conference that an Indian soap
opera should include a gay couple to further the community's
cause.
The Times of India reports gay and lesbian activists have
been protesting against the misuse of Section 377 of the
Indian
Penal Code. The section
refers to "carnal acts against the order of nature."
Justice Kirby said, "Australia had similar rules to the ones in
India. When I was a boy, the fact that I was gay was to be kept a deep,
dark secret." The judges talked about "coming out" and
the threat of HIV and AIDS.
Justice Cameron has publicly disclosed that he is HIV-positive.
Gay.com UK
25 June 2002
6
India Looks At Abolishing Anti-Gay Laws
The Indian government has confirmed that it is looking at
the legal, social and ethical aspects of decriminalising
homosexual
acts among
consenting adults. Under Indian law homosexual acts are
punishable by prison terms up to ten years.
The laws are being challenged by Naz Foundation, a gays
rights group which was charged with prostitution offences
after
handing out safe-sex
brochures in Northern India last year. Lawyers said the
antiquated laws violate the right to liberty in the country's
constitution.
The government made the statement during Naz Foundation's
court challenge to the laws. Solicitor-General Mukul Rohtagi,
said
he will have a
decision in six weeks. The court adjourned the case pending
the government's decision on repealing the anti-gay laws
which date
back to colonial
times.
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2372697.stm
October 29, 2002
7
Smashing India's sexual taboos
Bhupen Khakhar is one of India's most famous contemporary
painters but he is little known outside the subcontinent.
As his first
European retrospective opened at Salford's Lowry Centre,
he explained to
the BBC World Service's Arts In Action programme, why
he has struggled to gain a wider reputation. "My interest is something which is
around me, something which is part of my life, the things that I see," he
explained. "Most artists don't do these subjects
as they are taboo, and I think, let me do it."
Sexuality
Bhupen Khakhar has always tackled difficult and taboo subjects
in his work, whether the Hindu/ Muslim conflict within
India or his
own homosexuality.
Over a decade ago he started to produce works based on
his experiences of being a gay man in India. "I did not announce it verbally,
but there were paintings that related to gay subjects," he explained. "At
first the galleries didn't like them. Some removed my work from their
walls saying that young people would see and they would get bad ideas
about sex." Refusing to allow them to display the rest of the
show unless they included all of his work, Khakhar fought for the paintings
to be seen. Looking back he recalled how it was a difficult time for
a gay man in India. "Now I feel amused, but at that time I felt
very pressurised because in India there are hardly any painters doing
gay subjects," he said. "I felt ostracised
and even my friends advised me to see a doctor."
Kitsch
In 1962, Bhupen Khakhar abandoned a career in chartered
accountancy and enrolled in art school in the state of
Gujarat. Drawing
on the Indian popular culture that surrounded him, his
early work
was inspired
by cinema posters and street kitsch. In his 40s and following
the death of his mother, Khakhar travelled to London.
Here, not limited
to Indian
scenes, he began to reflect on his new surroundings.
British writer Tariq Ali is the owner of Man In A Pub, one of Khakhar's
paintings
from this period. "It is very much an Indian painter's view of
an English pub," Ali explained. "Khakhar told me that what
used to shock him, what was so unlike India, was that you could go
into a pub in England and there was someone sitting at the bar alone,
drinking the whole evening, without saying a word and then leaving." The
Bhupen Khakhar retrospective takes place at the Lowry
Centre in Salford, Greater Manchester, until 5 January.
Melbourne Star (glbt), Melbourne, Victoria 3121, Australia
(http://www.melbournestar.net.au)
17 October, 2002
8
Our Bombay friend Indian journalist Ashok Row Kavi
caused a furore by coming out in a country which believes "gay" is
a western aberration.
He says India is a country where gay sex is described
as "mischief":
something that takes place along with marriage, but never
in the place of it. The Western gay ideal of two men
going off together to make
a life for themselves doesn't exist in India, says Ashok
Row Kavi, or indeed in any other eastern country with
an orthodox culture. On
the other hand, he says, sexuality is integrated into
life in eastern cultures far more than it is in western
countries with a Christian
ethos. And he says that western gays need to liberate
themselves from the life-defying ethos of modern Christianity,
as personified by the
Pope pontificating on life from Rome.
Ashok edits the Bombay Dost ('Bombay Friend'), India's
only gay magazine. He is also an activist in the Indian
AIDS struggle
and established
India's only drop-in centre for gay men in Bombay.
In a recent interview, he told Perry Brass (author
of 'How
to
Survive
Your Own Gay Life')
that there was no official construction of gay identity
in India. "Most
people simply deny that gay men and lesbians exist. Homosexuality is
illegal, a holdover from the British raj days; it is forbidden by Section
377 of the Indian penal code which condemns 'sex against the Order
of Nature'. However, this section, as a Brit holdover, is generally
laughed at, and the usual fine for homosexual behaviour, such as in
a public park, is 15 rupees - roughly 50 cents." In
fact, says Ashok, India does not take gay sexuality very
seriously at all.
"
The Indian term for gay sex is 'musti' or mischief. Our term for elephants
in heat is 'must', and young Indian boys who engage in gay sex are
often joked about as being 'elephants', that is, playful. Musti is
considered something that takes place along with marriage, but never
in the place of it. It is never serious - and the deeper, romantic
feelings that western gay men often have about their relationships
are alien to Indian culture." Ashok was training to be a monk
when he realised he was gay. He says his counsellor, Swami Harshananda,
gave him sensible counselling: "Accept it as natural. Whatever
occurs in nature is natural, though it may not be common." For
all the drawbacks of being gay in an eastern country, he says there
are also advantages. Ashok says India's culture exhibits a clear "gay" and "queer" slant.
The film magazines are full of the homosexual adventures
of the male stars; an openly lesbian film star flaunts
her dykish
secretary
at
parties; another openly lesbian editor runs a vicious
newspaper supplement more poisonous than a dozen cobras
put together." And he describes
Christianity as the "cult of corpse worshippers", with lust
an obstacle to be overcome on the path to purity, and Christ's message
of love forgotten. "To see sex as a barrier from God, as Christianity
does, is a deviation from the human enterprise. I consider Christianity's
central meaning and the communion ritual the most homophobic and cancerous
rite to the soul itself. "When you worship 'death' you detest
sex, the creative force. If homosexuals in the western wilderness,
inhabited by the white and black tribes, are to become free they MUST
liberate themselves from present-day Christianity." He says attitudes
are different in Hinduism and other Indic religious. "In Hinduism,
Buddhism, our spiritual enterprise is to see and study how our gods
lived, not died. "When the golden deer comes to tempt Rama in
the jungle during his exile, his brother Lakshmana remarks: "Not
possible, Rama, a Golden Deer is just not possible". At this,
Rama snaps back: "So you claim to understand nature?
Everything that is possible exists in nature."
"
What a wonderful possibility for us gay, bisexual and transgendered
people!" SIDE BAR: Human Rights Ashok Row Kavi
will be the keynote speaker at this month's Amnesty
International's
global human rights
conference, being run in conjunction with the 2002
Gay Games. The focus of the conference is sexuality
rights,
with special reference to the
Asia Pacific region. For most westerners, there has
never been a safer time in history to be gay, but there
are
still many countries where
gays and lesbians risk imprisonment, torture and murder.
The conference aims to bring individuals and groups together to raise public awareness of human rights violations of GLIBT people, and to mobilise support for them at a local and international level. Other international speakers include, Julian Jayaseela, a Malaysian film producer, and Ashamu Mayowa Fatal, president of the Student Counsellors Association of Nigeria. Local speakers include Justice Michael Kirby, Australian Medical Association president Dr Kerryn Phelps, and Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby president Rodney Croome. . Amnesty International's Global Human Rights Conference, Sydney October 30 - November 1. For more information or to register, telephone: + 61-2-9217-7670. E-mail: mailto:globalhrconference@amnesty.org.au
Sify News (India),
http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?art
icle_oid=12016734&category_oid=-20611&page_no=1
October 11, 2002
9
International Lesbian & Gay conference in Mumbai
The first International Lesbian and Gay Association
(ILGA) Asia Regional Conference will be held here
from October
11. The three-day
conference
titled ''A to Z - The Other Asia'' aims to enhance
visibility and ''empower the groups and organise
them into a meaningful
social
force that remains
rooted in the local culture and traditions,'' said
a joint statement from Hamsafar Trust and Aanchal.
Various issues
concerning the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people
will be discussed in
the conference, the statement said.
The conference would also explore various aspects
of Asian LGBT life and highlight the areas that
affect them the
most in their
daily
lives. Some of the Asian issues in the conference
are
- heritage and culture
of sexualities in Asia, religious oppression of
sexuality and gender, women's sexual health and
patriarchal
culture, laws
and policies
of sexuality, AIDS, male sexual strength and its
impact on women. More
than 80 participants would attend the conference,
the press release stated adding that financial
support for the meet
comes from
IGLA World, HIVOS, UNAIDS, UNIFEM, UNDP, International
AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the MacAurther Foundation.
The ILGA founded in 1978, is an international federation
of local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights
for lesbians, gays,
bisexuals and
transgender people worldwide and it has now more
than 350 member
organisations from 80 countries. The last world
summit of the organisation had decided
to emphasise on developing Asian region and assisting
communities.
From Lonely Planet Thorn Tree--India Branch ( http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=35)
December 2002
10
Advice to Gay Travellers
Homosexuality is not generally open or accepted
in India, and "carnal
intercourse against the order of nature"(anal intercourse) is
an offence under article 377 of the penal code, while laws against "obscene
behaviour" are used to arrest gay men for cruising
or liaising anywhere that could be considered a public
place. The same law could
in theory be used against lesbians, but that is unlikely
as lesbian liaisons are much more clandestine. Physical
contact between members
of the same sex, such as holding hands, is commonplace
in India and should not necessarily be taken as sexual.
On the other hand, as in
many countries where heterosexual contact outside of
marriage is difficult, homosexual behaviour is frequent
among people who do not consider themselves
gay, and a surprising number of Indian men are bisexual.
For this reason, however, one-offs are much more
likely than long-term relationships. For lesbians,
making
contacts will
be rather difficult:
the Sakhi resource centre in Delhi (details below)
is the only public face of a very hidden scene.
For gay
men, a
network exists in most
big cities, especially Bombay, where gay parties
are a regular event.
Contact
the Khush Club, PO Box 573551,
Bombay
400058
- which does
not have fixed premises - for details of forthcoming
social activities in the city. Cruising areas
are strictly defined
by time and
place, with police harassment frequent and
sometimes brutal. Male prostitution
also exists, but robberies are common. Some
Indian gay male couples make their relationship acceptable
by one
of them
becoming
a
eunuch (eunuchs are semi-accepted as a kind
of "third sex"),
but such a step would probably be a little drastic for
most Western visitors.
Gay Westerners contemplating a relationship
should be aware that they will not be able
to bring
their lovers home with
them.
Contacts (write in advance for information
- most addresses are PO boxes):
-Bombay Dost, 105A Veena-Beena Shopping Centre,
Bandra Station Rd, Bandra (West), Bombay 400050.
Publish
a newsletter
and have contacts
nationwide.
-Shakhi, PO Box 3526, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi
110065. Lesbian guest house and resource centre.
-Arambh, c/o Aalok, PO Box 9522, New Delhi 110095.
-The Counsel Club, PO Bag 10237, Calcutta 700016.
-Pravartak, PO Box 10237, Calcutta 700 019.
Publish a newsletter.
-Friends of India, PO Box 59, Mahanagar, Lucknow
226006, 0522/247009.
-Sneha Sangama, PO Box 3250, Bangalore 560032.
Gay men's group. Gay Info Centre, c/o Owais,
PO Box
1662, Secunderabad
HPO
500003, Andhra
Pradesh.
-Good As You (GAY), 201 Samraksha, 2nd Floor
Royal Corner, 1+2 Lalbang Rd, Bangalore. Gay
support
group. goodasyou@hotmail.com
sabrang@mailcity.com
-Saathi, PO Box 571, Putlibowli PO, Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh. Udaan, `Box Holder' (do not
address to
Udaan), PO Box 6793
-Sion, Bombay.
Working class gay support group.
-Men India Movement, PO Box 885, Kochi 682005,
Kerala
Gay.com U.K.
http://uk.gay.com/news/7292
November 6, 2002
11
Transsexuals In India Strip In Train Protest
Transsexuals in India have stripped in protest
at not being allowed to travel in the women's
compartments on trains.
They sat on
the Calcutta-New Delhi railway line and stripped
off
their saris to
prove they do not
have male sexual organs.
They were quickly dispersed by police. A
spokesperson for the railway told Khabar
Akhon TV news the
ban on transsexuals
had
been placed
after complaints from women. In India transsexuals
tend to live on the fringes
of society, making a living from singing
and dancing.
365Gay.com
http://365gay.com/NewsContent/123102IndiaWedding.htm
December 31, 2002
12
India's First Gay Civil Union
The first gay civil union ceremony in India has been held under a glare of media attention. Indian fashion designer Wendel Rodricks and his partner, identified in Indian press only as Jerome, a French citizen exchanged vows their villa in Goa. Gay unions are not only illegal in India, but gay sex is punishable by imprisonment.
The ceremony was conducted by a senior consular official from the French government. Gay civil unions are legal in France, and since Jerome is French, the union is considered legal. The couple signed an official French partnership register flown in for the occasion. Some of the biggest names in the Indian entertainment industry were on hand for the ceremony. The couple, who have been together for more than 20 years, spend their time between Paris and Goa. But, while the union is recognized in France, it is not in it is not in India. Government officials refused comment, but the public act and the publicity that accompanied it puts increased pressure on the government to strike down the anti-gay laws which date back to the days of the British Empire.