*SILENT PROTEST OUTSIDE LOKMAT AMRAVATI OFFICE* MONDAY 19 AUGUST 10AM TO 1PM
At :Lokmat Divisional Office, Divisional Sports Complex, Morshi Road, Amravati, Maharashtra The Marathi daily Lokmat (Lokmat Nagpur/Hello Amravati Amravati) has published 5 articles targetting the MSM/TG/LGBQ community and programs/intervention in the district of Amravati between 11th and 14th August. The articles go on to confuse sexuality and sex work and speak of the community and HIV interventions in a deploarable fashion.Although Lokmat had been requested to advise restraint before publishing potentially harmful articles they have yet gone ahead without considering community concerns. Mr Ganesh Deshmukh (Reporter/Editor) has previously written similar sensationalist articles on MSM and FSW projects. Here is a link to English Translations of the articles https://www.facebook.com/notes/humsafar-trust/lokmat-nagpuramravati-homophobic-articles-translation-from-marathi/1383443708549927 We fear that articles of this nature may cause violence on the sites and will push community further underground directly affecting HIV/AIDS program. We also realise that these one sided homophobic articles have made the environment in Amravati further difficult for LGBT to come out. In light of these incidents, we have fixed an appointment with Mr Ganesh Deshmukh on 19th August at the Lokmat Amravati office at 10:00 am to dialogue with him and bring an understanding of the HIV interventions/programs. Community based organisations will be silently gathering outside the office with banners to stand up against this blatant homophobia. Please spread the word!
