g_b At gay workshop, comic strips promote safe sex

[Moderator]

At gay workshop, comic strips promote safe sex



Georgina Maddox

Posted: Mar 21, 2009 at 0236 hrs ISTMumbai Sometimes it is easier to say
difficult things in a humorous way. This is why comic strips talking of safe
sex, HIV awareness and transparency with partners, are an easier way to get
the message through. Given that the first graphic novel came into being
because of some comic strips drawn for an NGO, graphic art has come full
circle. 

This Wednesday and Thursday, Delhi-based Sharad Sharma of World Comics India
conducted a three-day ‘Grassroots Comics’ workshop at The Humsafar Trust in
Vakola, an NGO that reaches out to gay, transgendered and MSM (Men who have
Sex with Men) groups in the city. The participants were encouraged to draw
their own comic strips and posters and spread the message. 

“Grassroots comics’ are drawn by the people themselves and not by the
artists. So drawing ability is not of primary concern. Participants can
share their stories, incidents or develop some story on information they
want to disseminate using comic posters,” says Sharma, who was in Mumbai to
attend a seminar at Ali Yavar Jung and to conduct this workshop at Humsafar.


At present, the creations are on view at the Humsafar office. “Booklets and
posters are efficient tools when we conduct sensitisation workshops with
people who are not part of the community,” says Urmi, a Trans Gender (TG)
person who works with Humsafar. 

The outreach workers who do projects like Josh, Gaurav and Sankalp, were
also part of the cartoon-making workshop. “These are separate units of
Humsafar, involved in various aspects of advocacy for safe sex practices and
outreach for homosexuals. These visuals will give them something concrete to
talk with,” says Girish, who manages the daily workings at the NGO. “There
is a hope that we will get sponsorship to turn these leaflets and posters
into a graphic novel,” he adds. 

The cartoons have been drawn in various naïve art styles, in some cases the
‘artists’ like Gagan have done this for the first time. “This story about a
man who is married but has a gay partner, brings out the fact that if we are
diagnosed with HIV, one should tell both partners,” says Gangan. “This one
talks about a TG who is a CSW (commercial sex worker). In the story, she
tells her customer to wear a condom, and when he refuses she says ‘Main
jawan hun lekin naadan nahi (I am young but not naïve),” says Urmi, with
much glee. 

Ravi is not sure if their stories will ever make it to a graphic novel, but
“we are happy to have done this much,” he says, indicating the posters
lovingly wrapped in cellophane and are ready for the display. 

(First names have been used to protect the identity of homosexuals) 

 

 

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Re: g_b shirish gajjar--- About Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages

[Aditya Bondyopadhyay]

Incidentally Gajjar Ji,

"specially before the arrival of Buddhism and Jainism" does not hold true
for the following examples you give:
1] Brahma vaivartaka,Padma,Shiv Puranas and other poetical works of Geet
Govind(Jaidev),shakuntala(Kalidas),.Kama Shastra(Vatsyan) {all post Jainism,
most post Buddhism -AB}
2] Mind Boggling temples of Khajuraho {Certainly post both Jainism and
Buddhism}

Incidentally also, jainism predates hindusim

Best,
Aditya B

2009/3/20 Moderator 

>
> ---Original Message---
>
> From: Shirish Gajjar
> Date: 17.03.2009 10:48:03 AM
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
> Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages
>
> Yes,I more or less agrees with Bob.In ancient India homosexuality or any
> form of sexuality was a part of the celebration called life.The glorious
> tradition of Tantra accepted all form of sexuality not only for the carnal
> enjoyment but for the spiritual or divine upliftment of the human
> soul.Mind-boggling temples of Khajurao,MP are mute evidence of this
> period.Tantra practice were widespread all over India,specially in
> Bengal,Assam and other adjoining area.This was true specially before the
> arrival of Buddhism and Jainism on the landscape of the religious
> India.Hindus were extremely liberal in all form of sexuality.For this,one
> should peep in the religious texts like Brahma vaivartaka,Padma,Shiv Puranas
> and other poetical works of Geet Govind(Jaidev),shakuntala(Kalidas),.Kama
> Shastra(Vatsyan) and many more .For example,there is description on
> man-to-man sex in the Kamasutra of Vatsyana and there are sculptures of
> man-to-man sex in temples of Khajurao.All forms of sexuality were accepted
> forms of enjoyment as well as of divine progress of the soul.
> From these mentality,there came drastic change after the arrival of
> Muslims(10-11th Century) and later British (Christian)(15-16th
> century).Entire spectrum of sexuality came under the field of sin and
> gradually Hindus too,were came under the influence of these anti-sex
> philosophies.Today's Hindus of India have forgotten their glorious past of
> liberal sexuality and came under the sway of alien anti-sex attitude.It is
> indeed regrettable.
>
> Shirish
>
> http://shirishgajjar.group.live.com
> MUMBAI
> ---Original Message---
>
> From: bob bess
> Date: 16.03.2009 11:31:33 AM
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
> Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages
>
> well well well... it seems like you all haven't read my whole message.
> Of course gay marriage is forbidden in some countries(so it doesn't take
> place so there is nothing legal or not legal regarding gay marriage in these
> countries). Its homsexuality which is illegal. Marriage is of course not evn
> an issue in these countries.
>
> Back to relegion. sure in many countries homsexuality is not accepted and
> these countries has relegions other than Hinduismthats the point--got it
> or still not--
> In many religions its forbidden to be homosexual, and in these countries
> many people dont want to oppose against their religion. But in many European
> countries its the Law which overrules this way of thinking and legalised
> homosexuality.
>
> In India its the other way around, its legal by Hinduism, but restricted by
> the law.
> never mind ..wishing you all great strengt in having it legalised.
> Greetz, Bob
>
> 
>



-- 
Do not print this mail unless really necessary.
Save paper, save trees..!!

If you loose your way while SCUBA diving, the safest direction to head for
is UP..!!!

Re: g_b shirish gajjar--- About Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages

[Aditya Bondyopadhyay]

WOW Carrot's BACK.
LET THE FUN TIME BEGIN.

2009/3/20 Moderator 

>
> ---Original Message---
>
> From: Shirish Gajjar
> Date: 17.03.2009 10:48:03 AM
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
> Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages
>
> Yes,I more or less agrees with Bob.In ancient India homosexuality or any
> form of sexuality was a part of the celebration called life.The glorious
> tradition of Tantra accepted all form of sexuality not only for the carnal
> enjoyment but for the spiritual or divine upliftment of the human
> soul.Mind-boggling temples of Khajurao,MP are mute evidence of this
> period.Tantra practice were widespread all over India,specially in
> Bengal,Assam and other adjoining area.This was true specially before the
> arrival of Buddhism and Jainism on the landscape of the religious
> India.Hindus were extremely liberal in all form of sexuality.For this,one
> should peep in the religious texts like Brahma vaivartaka,Padma,Shiv Puranas
> and other poetical works of Geet Govind(Jaidev),shakuntala(Kalidas),.Kama
> Shastra(Vatsyan) and many more .For example,there is description on
> man-to-man sex in the Kamasutra of Vatsyana and there are sculptures of
> man-to-man sex in temples of Khajurao.All forms of sexuality were accepted
> forms of enjoyment as well as of divine progress of the soul.
> From these mentality,there came drastic change after the arrival of
> Muslims(10-11th Century) and later British (Christian)(15-16th
> century).Entire spectrum of sexuality came under the field of sin and
> gradually Hindus too,were came under the influence of these anti-sex
> philosophies.Today's Hindus of India have forgotten their glorious past of
> liberal sexuality and came under the sway of alien anti-sex attitude.It is
> indeed regrettable.
>
> Shirish
>
> http://shirishgajjar.group.live.com
> MUMBAI
> ---Original Message---
>
> From: bob bess
> Date: 16.03.2009 11:31:33 AM
> To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
> Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages
>
> well well well... it seems like you all haven't read my whole message.
> Of course gay marriage is forbidden in some countries(so it doesn't take
> place so there is nothing legal or not legal regarding gay marriage in these
> countries). Its homsexuality which is illegal. Marriage is of course not evn
> an issue in these countries.
>
> Back to relegion. sure in many countries homsexuality is not accepted and
> these countries has relegions other than Hinduismthats the point--got it
> or still not--
> In many religions its forbidden to be homosexual, and in these countries
> many people dont want to oppose against their religion. But in many European
> countries its the Law which overrules this way of thinking and legalised
> homosexuality.
>
> In India its the other way around, its legal by Hinduism, but restricted by
> the law.
> never mind ..wishing you all great strengt in having it legalised.
> Greetz, Bob
>
> 
>



-- 
Do not print this mail unless really necessary.
Save paper, save trees..!!

If you loose your way while SCUBA diving, the safest direction to head for
is UP..!!!

Re: g_b shirish gajjar--- About Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages

[asfan]

Oh my God,  he's back!!

--- On Fri, 20/3/09, Moderator  wrote:


From: Moderator 
Subject: g_b shirish gajjar--- About Gays in India share fear of blackmail, 
unhappy marriages
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, 20 March, 2009, 1:19 PM







---Original Message- -- 

From: Shirish Gajjar 
Date: 17.03.2009 10:48:03 AM 
To: gay_bom...@yahoogro ups.com 
Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages 

Yes,I more or less agrees with Bob.In ancient India homosexuality or any form 
of sexuality was a part of the celebration called life.The glorious tradition 
of Tantra accepted all form of sexuality not only for the carnal enjoyment but 
for the spiritual or divine upliftment of the human soul.Mind-boggling temples 
of Khajurao,MP are mute evidence of this period.Tantra practice were widespread 
all over India,specially in Bengal,Assam and other adjoining area.This was true 
specially before the arrival of Buddhism and Jainism on the landscape of the 
religious India.Hindus were extremely liberal in all form of sexuality.For 
this,one should peep in the religious texts like Brahma vaivartaka,Padma, Shiv 
Puranas and other poetical works of Geet Govind(Jaidev) ,shakuntala( Kalidas), 
.Kama Shastra(Vatsyan) and many more .For example,there is description on 
man-to-man sex in the Kamasutra of Vatsyana and there are sculptures of 
man-to-man sex in temples of
 Khajurao.All forms of sexuality were accepted forms of enjoyment as well as of 
divine progress of the soul. 
>From these mentality,there came drastic change after the arrival of 
>Muslims(10-11th Century) and later British (Christian)( 15-16th 
>century).Entire spectrum of sexuality came under the field of sin and 
>gradually Hindus too,were came under the influence of these anti-sex 
>philosophies. Today's Hindus of India have forgotten their glorious past of 
>liberal sexuality and came under the sway of alien anti-sex attitude.It is 
>indeed regrettable. 

Shirish 

http://shirishgajja r.group.live. com 
MUMBAI 
---Original Message- -- 

From: bob bess 
Date: 16.03.2009 11:31:33 AM 
To: gay_bom...@yahoogro ups.com 
Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages 





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g_b shirish gajjar--- About Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages

[Moderator]

---Original Message---


From: Shirish Gajjar
Date: 17.03.2009 10:48:03 AM
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages

Yes,I more or less agrees with Bob.In ancient India homosexuality or any form 
of sexuality was a part of the celebration called life.The glorious tradition 
of Tantra accepted all form of sexuality not only for the carnal enjoyment but 
for the spiritual or divine upliftment of the human soul.Mind-boggling temples 
of Khajurao,MP are mute evidence of this period.Tantra practice were widespread 
all over India,specially in Bengal,Assam and other adjoining area.This was true 
specially before the arrival of Buddhism and Jainism on the landscape of the 
religious India.Hindus were extremely liberal in all form of sexuality.For 
this,one should peep in the religious texts like Brahma vaivartaka,Padma,Shiv 
Puranas and other poetical works of Geet 
Govind(Jaidev),shakuntala(Kalidas),.Kama Shastra(Vatsyan) and many more .For 
example,there is description on man-to-man sex in the Kamasutra of Vatsyana and 
there are sculptures of man-to-man sex in temples of Khajurao.All forms of 
sexuality were accepted forms of enjoyment as well as of divine progress of the 
soul.
>From these mentality,there came drastic change after the arrival of 
>Muslims(10-11th Century) and later British (Christian)(15-16th century).Entire 
>spectrum of sexuality came under the field of sin and gradually Hindus 
>too,were came under the influence of these anti-sex philosophies.Today's 
>Hindus of India have forgotten their glorious past of liberal sexuality and 
>came under the sway of alien anti-sex attitude.It is indeed regrettable.

Shirish


http://shirishgajjar.group.live.com
MUMBAI
---Original Message---


From: bob bess
Date: 16.03.2009 11:31:33 AM
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: g_b Gays in India share fear of blackmail, unhappy marriages


well well well... it seems like you all haven't read my whole message.
Of course gay marriage is forbidden in some countries(so it doesn't take place 
so there is nothing legal or not legal regarding gay marriage in these 
countries). Its homsexuality which is illegal. Marriage is of course not evn an 
issue in these countries.

Back to relegion. sure in many countries homsexuality is not accepted and these 
countries has relegions other than Hinduismthats the point--got it or still 
not--
In many religions its forbidden to be homosexual, and in these countries many 
people dont want to oppose against their religion. But in many European 
countries its the Law which overrules this way of thinking and legalised 
homosexuality.

In India its the other way around, its legal by Hinduism, but restricted by the 
law.
never mind ..wishing you all great strengt in having it legalised.
Greetz, Bob

g_b Dictionary Redefines 'Marriage' to Include Same-Sex Couples

[Aditya Bondyopadhyay]

http://christianpost.com/Education/General/2009/03/dictionary-redefines-marriage-to-include-same-sex-couples-19/

Dictionary Redefines 'Marriage' to Include Same-Sex Couples

 By Elena Garcia
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Mar. 19 2009 07:27 PM EDT


One major dictionary company has defined marriage in broader terms than the
U.S. government.

Similar to the definition of marriage under federal law, Merriam-Webster
states marriage as "the state of being united to a person of the opposite
sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship
recognized by law." Every state in the nation recognizes marriage on similar
terms except for Connecticut and Massachusetts.

But the dictionary runs askew from legal recognition of marriage by the
federal government and almost all the states by tacking on a secondary
definition that counts unions between same-sex couples as "marriage."

Merriam-Webster added the secondary meaning for marriage in 2003, even
before gay marriage was legalized anywhere in the country. Whereas the
company's dictionary editions prior to 2003 stated no mention of same-sex
marriage, the latest version now defines marriage also as "the state of
being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a
traditional marriage."

The change went unnoticed until WorldNetDaily recently reported on a YouTube
video calling attention to the marriage "redefinition."

The video prompted heated responses including one from a forum participant
who charged gay rights activists with trying to control the definition of
marriage in an effort to push their agenda.

"The word 'marriage' has never been synonymous with same sex relationships,"
said the forum participant, according to WorldNetDaily. "What is happening
is the meaning is being changed to trigger it becoming synonymous, not the
other way round."

Kory Stamper, an associate editor at Merriam-Webster, denied any "social or
political agenda" behind the decision to change how the dictionary defines
marriage, according to WND.

"We hear such criticism from all parts of the political spectrum. We're
genuinely sorry when an entry in – or an omission from – one of our
dictionaries is found to be offensive or upsetting, but we can't allow such
considerations to deflect us from our primary job as lexicographers," stated
Stamper.

The Springfield, Mass.-based company issued a statement Wednesday claiming
that the secondary definition was added to reflect the frequency of
"same-sex marriage" and "gay marriage" in publications.

"In recent years, this sense of 'marriage' has appeared frequently and
consistently through a broad spectrum of carefully edited publications, and
is often used in phrases such as 'same-sex marriage' and 'gay marriage' by
proponents and opponents alike," the statement read, according to the
Associated Press. "Its inclusion was a simple matter of providing dictionary
users with accurate information about all of the word's current uses."

Merriam-Webster spokesman Arthur Bicknell noted that the company was one of
the last major dictionary publishers to revise the definition of marriage to
include homosexual unions.

The controversy over gay marriage is expected to heat up once again since
the Obama administration has said it will seek the full repeal of the 1996
Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and
woman for all purposes of federal law and protects states from being forced
to recognized same-sex marriages from other states.

Many states, in the meantime, are still wrangling over the legal issue of
gay marriage. The California Supreme Court is expected to soon issue its
ruling on a gay marriage ban approved by voters in November. Earlier this
week, Vermont became the latest state to introduce legislation to legalize
same-sex marriage.

Despite what dictionaries may call marriage, many religious leaders have
said that changing the definition of marriage will not necessarily change
its meaning.

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called
redefining marriage to include same-sex couples was "moral insanity," when
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary announced in 2003 that it was changing the
definition of marriage to read "the legal or religious union of two people."


"We did not invent marriage; it is the God-ordained covenant that unites a
man and a woman in the monogamous marital union, establishes a new
household, and liberates the married couple to enjoy all the benefits - and
bear all the responsibilities - of married life and parenthood," stated
Mohler on his blog. "Homosexual activists may win in the courts and in the
dictionary, but they cannot reverse reality."

g_b Happy new year

[asfan]

Wishing  Jamshedi Navroze mubarak to all Zoroastrian GLBTs and also to  the 
whole wide world .  

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year
that will relegate 377 to the limbo.
 
Asfan.


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