Mumbai is India's gay capital *By:* TEAM MiD DAY *Date:* 2010-07-01 *Place:* Mumbai
*Rocking party scene, nightclub, support groups, magazine... homosexuals here have a host of choices vis-a-vis other cities* A year after Section 377 was decriminalised, Mumbai is emerging as India's gay capital. A comparison across four cities -- Pune, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai -- has revealed this. *OUT OF THE CLOSET:* By far, life's far better for gays and lesbians across India after the reading-down of section 377, and going by figures and what gay activists have to say, Mumbai is the country's gay capital. *PIC FOR REPRESENTATION* For instance, in the last two months, there were more than 20 parties organised only in Mumbai. While Delhi hosted 15, 10 were held in Bangalore and there weren't any in Pune. While Mumbai has nearly half a dozen active gay support groups, it's not so in Delhi, Bangalore and Pune. While the city has a magazine for gays -- Bombay Dost, Pune has two -- PUCK and The Queer Chronicle. By far, India's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) world is buzzing. However, going by figures and what gay activists say, Mumbai is India's gay capital. Here are a few counts on which Mumbai overshadows Bangalore, Delhi and Pune. Voodoos, a gay club in the city, has already made its mark. On Saturday nights, gays in Mumbai have a number of parties to choose from. "Being a cosmopolitan city, we are more accepting than any other city," says Nitin Karani of Bombay Dost Trust. "The number of parties, conferences, film festivals are more than in other cities." To add on to Mumbai's pride is the country's first and only LGBT shop -- Azad Bazaar. *Party-pooper Bangalore* "The number of parties in Bangalore has risen from one a month to 10," says Abhishek Aggarwal, event manager of Pink Nation, a Bangalore-based gay group. "In recent times though, we have had difficulty finding a venue." He said hotels are not open to letting out their space to hold gay parties. "Until recently, I was convinced Bangalore was gay-friendly," said Aggarwal. "But now, I feel otherwise." *Pune's warming up* In Pune, it's not conducive for gays to come out of the closet. "Last year, 55 of us started off as a group. Today, we have 200 members," said Apphia K of a Pune-based LGBT group, Birds of a Feather. "We have straight friends in favour of equal human rights." *Delhi party hots up* Though there are no confirmed statistics on the rise of queer-related events in the capital, Mohnish Malhotra, an active member of queer activities, says, "Earlier, we had one party a week, but now at least four are held. Participation has also increased." *Looking down south* Girish Kumar of Humsafar Trust stresses on why Mumbai, not Delhi, is the gay capital. "Mumbai's outlook is more open than Delhi's. Bangalore is progressive, but has not yet reached the mark. So Mumbai is the the undisputed champion," says Kumar. However, Vikram Doctor, founder of Gay Bombay, a support group for LGBT persons, feels Mumbai ranks next to Chennai in terms of facilities towards the community. "Tamil Nadu has policies for the LGBT community and has even offered houses and free medical supervision," he said. *(Inputs by Varun Singh, Prachi Sibal, Debarati Palit and Shaivya Chauhan)* *Dummy's guide to a gay party* So your girlfriend's best friend is gay and she wants you to tag along with him for a gay party. Or maybe a close friend just came out to you, and wants your support at the Gay Bombay bash in town. If you get the jitters or develop cold feet, worry not. Gay gyaani gives you a few tips to having a rocking time at a gay bash without feeling like the odd man out! *>>* Treat it like another Saturday night out, except be ready to see more dudes than chicks on the dance floor. *>>* Just because it's a gay party it doesn't mean you will be groped, frisked or 'man- handled'. Flirtatious glances and friendly smiles are all you will be welcomed with. *>>* Girls, a gay party is the safest place to hang out. No worrying about bad pick-up lines or a serpentine queue outside the washroom. *>>* If approached, don't get defensive. A polite, "Sorry, but I'm straight" line should do the trick. *>>* Compared to a straight party, the damages are pretty low (Rs 400-650). That leaves you enough reserve to spend on food and transport. *>>* If you are a dude taking your girl to a gay bash, take comfort in the fact that she will have eyes only for you (or maybe the pretty girl in the mini skirt!). *Dating scene Mumbai: *6,900* *Delhi: *6,500 *Bangalore: *5,793 *Number of people online at any point of time on a popular gay site *Gay parties Mumbai: *20 per month* Bangalore: *10 per month -- Email: modera...@gaybombay.in E Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay http://groups.google.com/group/Gaybombay http://groups.google.com/group/GayIndia Public archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay%40yahoogroups.com/maillist.html Rss feed: http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com/maillist.xml GB Internet Radio at http://www.gaybombay.in/gbradio Web Sites: www.gaybombay.in www.gayindia.org Orkut: http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Profile?uid=15084918632470824129 Blogs: http://gaybombay.blogspot.com http://gaybombay.wordpress.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/gaybombay http://twitter.com/gayindia Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gaybombay http://www.facebook.com/gayindia
