Re: g_b Submissions open for The Queer Ink Anthology: ContemporaryLGBT Stories of India

[geldmann281]

6000 words, as clarified by Queer Ink.

Sx
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: Aditya Bondyopadhyay 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:08:17 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: g_b Submissions open for The Queer Ink Anthology: Contemporary
 LGBT Stories of India

What is the max word limit/size of the story one can submit?

On 4/10/11, Carrera  wrote:
> Just FYI for those interested...
>
> http://www.queer-ink.com/creative-corner.php
>
> "Queer Ink, India's first online bookstore for everything queer, invites you
> to submit to an exciting new anthology of diverse, contemporary LGBT/queer
> stories.
>
> Building on the work of other groundbreaking historical anthologies, we are
> seeking dynamic stories of people living in India today who identify as
> lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, hijra, kothi, queer, genderqueer, or
> other gender-non-conforming identities.
>
> Stories may be fiction or nonfiction. Writers may be of any gender identity
> as long as the story features a primary character who is queer. Rural or
> urban, gritty or sunny, Mills & Boon or Midnight's Children — all writing
> styles and experiences are invited. Diaspora writings are also welcome as
> long as there is a strong connection to India in the main character's life.
> Excerpts from longer works (novels, memoirs) are welcome but must be able to
> stand alone."
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Sent from my mobile device

-- 
ADITYA BONDYOPADHYAY
Development Sector Consultant
Advocate (Regd. No. F-218/192 of 1997, Bar Council of W.Bengal, India)

Website: http://adityabondyopadhyay.webs.com/

Notice to all recipients:
Communication not intended for you but reaching you inadvertently needs to
be treated as confidential and destroyed or deleted immediately. Use of such
communication in a manner prejudicial to the interest of Aditya
Bondyopadhyay and/or his principals, and/or his clients, and/or his agents
respectively, may attract legal proceedings which may be of a civil or
criminal nature.

Aditya Bondyopadhyay and/or his principals, and/or his clients, and/or his
agents respectively cannot be held liable or accountable for any and every
communication reaching out through this email account that is an unaltered
forward of another communication received by this email account, or a
referred source available on the internet and accessible to the public.





Email: modera...@gaybombay.in

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Yahoo! Groups Links








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Re: g_b TV9: NDTV coverage URL Attached..

[geldmann281]

You'll get a video on qam's fb page in the next cpl of days.

It's being compiled and edited.

Srini
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: "Deep" 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 08:13:57 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b TV9: NDTV coverage URL Attached..

Great work done by the whole group who protested!
  I understand that the Mumbai-TV9 protest was recorded on the mobile
cams of the protesters. Can we have someone post the entire recording on
YouTube?
Also, the video does not play on
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/outrage-over-tv-sting-on-gays/1918\
06
Is it just a bug on my browser or is it being faced by everyone? Has
someone uploaded the NDTV video on YouTube?
Regards,Deephttp://gaynotes.blogspot.com

--- In gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com, Aditya Bondyopadhyay 
wrote:
>
> The URL To the NDTV supportive Coverage against TV9 broadcast is
available
> online at:
>
>
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/outrage-over-tv-sting-on-gays/1918\
06
>
> felt good that they at the very end showed the letter that we sent
from
> Adhikaar and the name of Adhikaar was highlighted in that letter...
> :-)) I'm being vain a bit I think...
>
> Best,
> Aditya B
>

Re: g_b India's TV gay sex sting

[geldmann281]

Can we also forward Sibi's mail on qam abt Planetromeo's support and the 
protests in Hyderabad and Mumbai to these guys?

This is the fb-twitter  generation's kick-ass!
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: modera...@gaybombay.in
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:08:39 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b India's TV gay sex sting


India's TV gay sex sting 


International News  , By
JesseMatheson  , 24th
February, 2011 

http://www.samesame.com.au/news/international/6475/Indias-TV-gay-sex-sting.h
tm

 

An Indian TV news report titled Gay Culture Rampant In Hyderabad has
publicly outed several Indian gay men following a covert 'gay-sting'
operation.

The report from news channel TV9 Telugu shows people searching through gay
youths profiles on online dating/social networking website planetromeo.com.

The men found on the website were labeled 'deviants' and photos of them,
along with personal information such as names, were clearly displayed. 

Extremely private information about one user - including his penis size,
fetishes, and his preferred sexual position - was shown in the report.

The item continued with phone-call 'gay-stings' of two of the website's
users whose profiles and faces were also shown. During the calls an
investigator posed as a planetromeo.com user and the men are covertly asked
questions about their sexual lives and preferences.

Homosexual activity in India, while legalised in 2009, still remains a
cultural taboo within wider Indian society and government.

GAY COMMUNITY OUTRAGE

TV9 has been condemned by Indian Desi blog Gaysi, encouraging others to
"voice their opposition to TV9's blatant act of privacy and rights
violation."

The Gaysi article titled 'TV9s Homophobic Coverage' also goes on to list the
news report's broadcast violations of the News Broadcasters Association's
(NBA) Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards which, for example, "clearly
prohibits superstition (Section 2 Article 8) to be passed off as a fact"
citing the generalisation of gay men as 'deviant', used in the news report
as a reference.

Aditya Bondyopadhyay, advocate and Director of LGBT Human Rights Programs
for Delhi based LGBT community organisation Adhikaar, also issued a letter
to TV9's legal department.

His states that the channel "will be held solely responsible for any harm or
injury that is caused to any member of the LGBT community of Hyderabad or
anywhere else in India," and also points out that the news report "hunted
down private profiles of individuals." Not only were their names and
pictures broadcast but TV9's crew "called them up in a clear attempt at
entrapment and prodded them with leading questions about their private
sexual lives.

"As a rule channels must not intrude on private lives or personal affairs of
individuals, unless there is a clearly established larger and identifiable
public interest for such a broadcast," added Bondyopadhyay, who seeks an
apology "separately and specifically, to each and every individual who has
been maliciously and unethically targeted by your channel, as well as to air
a news article apologizing to the entire LGBT community of India whose
security, constitutionally protected liberties and freedoms, and fundamental
rights to a life of dignity, have been severely jeopardized by your
unscientific, prejudiced, unsubstantiated, malicious, and vicious content
and comments."

The full letter can be read here.

TV9 has yet to comment on the news report, but the video of the original
story has now been removed from TV9's YouTube channel. It has since been
uploaded by another YouTube user:

 
 An English transcript of
the report is here.

TV 'gay sting' tactics were used locally for a 7 News story last year outing
NSW MP David Campbell. 7's report was unfortunately OKed by Australia's
media watchdogs as being "in the public interest." 


Related Articles 


 

 

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h

Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

[geldmann281]

The dailymotion video is gone too!

So is the 2nd video on youtube.


Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: john ferns 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:08:15 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Cc: 
Subject: Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

can we PLEASE  have the  Dailymotion link?

U tube  has yanked out  the  video.





From: "geldmann...@yahoo.com" 
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, February 23, 2011 11:11:37 PM
Subject: Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

  
So has Dailymotion.

We're keeping a watch on these guys!

Sx. 
Sent via BlackBerry®


From: Ratish Dicunha  
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:54:59 -0800 (PST)
To: 
ReplyTo: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
Subject: Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad
  
you tube has removed this footage





From: "modera...@gaybombay.in" 
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, February 23, 2011 8:22:31 AM
Subject: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

  
 
From:vatsal 
Sent:23 February 2011 05:33
To: modera...@gaybombay.in
Subject: Protest Against TV9 Hydrabad
 
Hello GayBombay,
 
I am mailing to you with a lot of hope.
TV9 hydrabad has crossed all the limits of humanity and exposed some innocent 
gay guys very badly.
I, on behalf of all the gay guys in India, request you to please take an action 
against this TV channel.
Or atleast please let me know how do I go ahead and take an action against them.
Any help from you really really appreciated.
 
The footage is on the below link on youtube .
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2rLELlpI7I
 
- A hopeful gay
 




  

Re: : g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

[geldmann281]

The video has cropped up again on youtube.

Please flag it!

We need to do peaceful protests in all big cities!

Ndtv has already called it bad journalism. Indian express delhi is doing a 
piece soon.

Srini
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: Pujit Agarwal 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:22:08 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re:: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

All,

I found the whole thing very unethical. In the past many crusing places were 
shown on television but faces were blurred or black strip on the face hid their 
identity. Often we read that names are changed to conceal identity. There was a 
repeat telecast today afternoon.

Hyderabad is completely since yesterday due toTelenghana agitation. This way 
this channel is getting maximum viewers. The guy whose name is Rajesh tried to 
commit suicide last night. I was surprised to hear real names and other 
personal info. Faces were shown prominently and few of these guys are married, 
from respected families and from top management level in reputed IT companies.

Chennai dost mentioned that they are considering legal action.

If there are any lawyers in this forum then do suggest if defamation case can 
done . Also would like to know legal opinion on phone tapping.

Would appreciate response from legal experts.

Thanks

On Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:52 IST modera...@gaybombay.in wrote:

> 
>
>From: vatsal 
>
>Sent: 23 February 2011 05:33
>To: modera...@gaybombay.in
>Subject: Protest Against TV9 Hydrabad
>
> 
>
>Hello GayBombay,
>
> 
>
>I am mailing to you with a lot of hope.
>
>TV9 hydrabad has crossed all the limits of humanity and exposed some
>innocent gay guys very badly.
>
>I, on behalf of all the gay guys in India, request you to please take an
>action against this TV channel.
>
>Or atleast please let me know how do I go ahead and take an action against
>them.
>
>Any help from you really really appreciated.
>
> 
>
>The footage is on the below link on youtube .
>
> 
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2rLELlpI7I
>
> 
>
>- A hopeful gay
>
> 
>



  

Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

[geldmann281]

So has Dailymotion.

We're keeping a watch on these guys!

Sx.
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: Ratish Dicunha 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:54:59 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

you tube has removed this footage





From: "modera...@gaybombay.in" 
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, February 23, 2011 8:22:31 AM
Subject: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

  
 
From:vatsal 
Sent:23 February 2011 05:33
To: modera...@gaybombay.in
Subject: Protest Against TV9 Hydrabad
 
Hello GayBombay,
 
I am mailing to you with a lot of hope.
TV9 hydrabad has crossed all the limits of humanity and exposed some innocent 
gay guys very badly.
I, on behalf of all the gay guys in India, request you to please take an action 
against this TV channel.
Or atleast please let me know how do I go ahead and take an action against them.
Any help from you really really appreciated.
 
The footage is on the below link on youtube .
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2rLELlpI7I
 
- A hopeful gay
 



  

Re: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

[geldmann281]

Aditya B from Adhikaar has already drafted a legal note to their Legal 
coordinator asking for apologies and condemning the news broadcast.

This should sound it off to them that we can fight back.

Please declare the video on youtube as hate speech.

Sx
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: modera...@gaybombay.in
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:52:31 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b FW: Protest Against TV9 Hyderabad

 

From: vatsal 

Sent: 23 February 2011 05:33
To: modera...@gaybombay.in
Subject: Protest Against TV9 Hydrabad

 

Hello GayBombay,

 

I am mailing to you with a lot of hope.

TV9 hydrabad has crossed all the limits of humanity and exposed some
innocent gay guys very badly.

I, on behalf of all the gay guys in India, request you to please take an
action against this TV channel.

Or atleast please let me know how do I go ahead and take an action against
them.

Any help from you really really appreciated.

 

The footage is on the below link on youtube .

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2rLELlpI7I

 

- A hopeful gay

 

Re: g_b Lawyer - Anyone

[geldmann281]

And what exactly is the definition of harassment here? 

Sx 
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: Sexy Muscle 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:46:54 
To: ; 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b Lawyer - Anyone

Hi All,
 
One of my friend is harassed from his employer, i want some views on to protect 
my friend from harrassment, he is in mumbai 

 
anyone can help me
 
ansh 


 

TV dinner still cooling? 
Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.
http://tv.yahoo.com/

Re: g_b Re: GB Special Sunday Meet on Relationships on 6 February 2011

[geldmann281]

Aren't we doing just what you called 'chapar chapar' here online?

Let's not look at every attempt from the gay community with spite and cynicism. 
If you don't try, you'll never know the outcome.

Sx
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: sameer sawant 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 16:14:45 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: g_b Re: GB Special Sunday Meet on Relationships on 6 February 2011

Hi guys,

Do u think such meet is helping to gay world..I think its waste of time and 
only 2 or 3 guys only do chapar chapar..

So please do something different.




--- On Wed, 2/2/11, Deep  wrote:

From: Deep 
Subject: g_b Re: GB Special Sunday Meet on Relationships on 6 February 2011
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, 2 February, 2011, 11:15 AM







 



  



  
  
  A suggestion, ofcourse. Why would it be a complaint? We are all glad that 
events like these are being organized. 
I guess nobody thought of the appropriateness of hosting a 'Relationship Meet' 
just before Valentine's Day.
Deephttp://gaynotes.blogspot.com 

--- In gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com, "lukn_4_friend"  wrote:
>
> Dear gaymanproud...
> 
> what was that message about..a suggestion or complaint or what..??
> 
> 
> 
> --- In gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com, "Deep" gaymanproud31@ wrote:
> >
> > Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to host this event the day before
> > Valentine's Day (Sunday, Feb 13)?
> > More people are in the 'mood' of romance around that time!
> > I guess the venues have already been booked by now since, I believe, the
> > GB Film Fest is probably scheduled on Sunday, Feb 13.
> > Having said that, I will agree with folks on this forum who will shout
> > loud and clear that every day is Valentine's Day for the couples in
> > love
> > Deephttp://gaynotes.blogspot.com
> > 
> > 
> > --- In gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com, "GayBombay Events" 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > GB Special Sunday Meet on Relationships
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > What do gay guys mean when they say, I am looking for relationship?
> > >
> > > Sex?
> > >
> > > An affair till it doesn’t get boring?
> > >
> > > A trophy boyfriend to flaunt to the world?
> > >
> > > A partner to introduce to parents as life partner?
> > >
> > > A relationship of convenience, strictly to take care of loneliness and
> > old age?
> > >
> > > A big shot to enjoy expensive gifts and lifestyle?
> > >
> > > A cute boyfriend just for the heck, because a friend has one?
> > >
> > > An adorable guy to fall in love with and stay together and committed
> > till death?
> > >
> > > Gay relationships are complicated. Guys who desperately want a
> > relationship, have no clue what they want out it. Some want to take a
> > break from mindless, marathon sex. For some, seeking relationship is a
> > passing phase. Some guys just want to prove that they were not
> > responsible for their last break up.
> > >
> > > Some couples get very close and make room for doubts and insecurity.
> > Some give enough space and bond with infidelity. One partner wants to be
> > open about their polygamy; other partner wants to pretend monogamy. One
> > wants to stay closeted, other wants to do masters in PDA. One is married
> > to woman; his boyfriend is divorced to political correct friends.
> > >
> > > Now the good news is, there are some couples who have sailed over
> > these rough waters. Couples who have been in a rock solid, strong
> > relationship spanning 1 year to more than 20 years. Couples who are
> > going to share their stories, insights and experiences to address your
> > queries.
> > >
> > > Well, if you find all this boring, here is the fun quotient. A rapid
> > fire round to judge the most eligible guy for relationship,
> > compatibility test for couples and match fixing.
> > >
> > > Here is your chance to get an inside view of long-distance, open,
> > bisexual, short-term and whatnot relationships. Or meet guys who are
> > single and happy by choice.
> > >
> > > If you wish to attend this special meet as a couple or are interested
> > in contesting for Â"Most Eligible Guy for RelationshipÂ", pals
> > shoot an email to : umang73sheth@
> > >
> > >
> > > Day, Date & Time:
> > > Sunday, 6th February, 2011 between 3 pm and 6:30 pm.
> > >
> > > Cover:
> > > Free Entry.
> > >
> > > Venue:
> > > Roti Restaurant (formerly Zouk),
> > > Hotel Imperial Palace,
> > > Telli Galli,
> > > Andheri (East);
> > > Mumbai
> > >
> > > Directions:
> > > Hotel Imperial Palace is a 5 minute walk from Andheri station on the
> > East side. Walk up the Andheri Kurla Road (towards the Highway) and turn
> > right into Telli Galli. It’s the 3rd building on your right.
> > >
> > > But if youÂ're driving and taking the Andheri flyover, from West
> > to East, make a left turn at the signal at the end of the flyover. Or if
> > youÂ're driving on the highway make a left tu

Re: g_b Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India

[geldmann281]

Well dahling, the shocks aren't good enough to deal with doctors like Narula.

Guess this is all the sense we can offer non-queer, contra groups. Sad!

Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: Bloot Fontaine 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 12:25:48 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: g_b Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India

You fishing for hilarious answers dahling? Just give him an electric shock up 
the you-know-where, yar! Hahahahahahahaha!

--- On Wed, 2/2/11, geldmann...@yahoo.com  wrote:


From: geldmann...@yahoo.com 
Subject: Re: g_b Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India
To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, 2 February, 2011, 8:07 AM


  



Should we attempt at a dialogue with doctors or individuals like Narula? And 
how?

What does this forum think?

Srini


Sent via BlackBerry®


From: modera...@gaybombay.in 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 00:19:21 +0530
To: 
ReplyTo: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com 
Subject: g_b Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India

  



Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India
Rebecca Byerly | New Delhi, India  January 31, 2011 

Photo: VOA - R. Byerly 
Some gays have felt more comfortable 'coming out' about their sexuality since 
the Delhi High Court decriminalized consensual homosexual activity in 2009
Gay rights activists in India are seeking broader acceptance for homosexual 
men, lesbians and transgenders that goes beyond legal protection against 
criminal prosecution.  But change is slow to come. It was just in July 2009, 
when the Delhi High Court repealed Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the 
law that made same sex activity illegal in India. 

Homosexual men, lesbians and transgenders in New Delhi are marching to the beat 
of a new era. Since the Delhi High Court decriminalized consensual homosexual 
activity between adults, some gays have felt more comfortable "coming out" 
about their sexuality and attending functions like this gay pride parade in New 
Delhi late last year.  

For Sambhav Sharma, the repeal of the law gave him the courage to tell his 
grandmother that he is gay. To show their support, family members joined him in 
the parade. "This is the consequence of Article 377. Because of that, I was 
able to convince my family to come down here and celebrate my 'Azadi,' my 
freedom," he said.
Many gay men and women in India are not as comfortable as Sharma acknowledging 
their sexuality.  In a conservative society like India, homosexuality is still 
widely taboo. That is why these parade participants wear masks to hide their 
identities.

Anjali Gopalan is the founder and executive director of the Naz Foundation, a 
non-profit organization that works on HIV/AIDS and sexual health issues in New 
Delhi.  "I think the battle now is the battle for rights.  The battle has to be 
for the right to marriage, the right to adopt, the right to inherit - rights 
which citizens of this country take for granted. And when I say citizens of 
this country, obviously the people who are taking it for granted is the 
heterosexual community because gay people don't have these rights.  That's the 
long battle now."

Gopalan says that even in metropolitian areas, some parents think they can 
change their homosexual children - make them heterosexual - with electric shock 
treatments. Others believe homosexuality can be cured in some way.

That is what teacher Rajendra Narula believes. He attended a recent event in 
Delhi called "Gay Rights are Human Rights."  "I think it's possible to treat 
homosexuality. It's just a matter of taking some hormones or counseling and 
it's absolutely correctable," he said.

Gopalan says Narula and others who consider homosexuality an illness, or wrong, 
need to be taught that is not true. And both she and Sharma say as India 
develops they hope the government will give more rights to homosexuals.

"This is just the beginning. Everywhere we want our legal rights.  That can be 
achieved by the recognition that the government will give us. And it will 
happen."
 
 
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:

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http://gaybombay.wordpress.com

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/gaybombay

http://twitter.com/gayindia

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/gaybombay

http://www.facebook.com/gayindia
 

Re: g_b Difficult to find a Partner

[geldmann281]

I think you should try and attend the relationships meet on Sunday.

Maybe you'll find answers!


Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: Sameer Raj 
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 14:30:18 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b Difficult to find a Partner

Hi everyone,
well i am writing this not as someone who is new or fighting with the identity 
but as a person who has tried everything to find a correct soulmate our world.i 
have written many mails (subject : In search of a life partner) seeking for the 
person that i would be happy to spend my life with.
but all replies i get hovers around sex and only sex or i am married and so and 
so yrs old complete secrecy assured... sometimes they are so direct that it 
becomes hard for me to understand that does the gay world means just having one 
night stands or a hook up ..is there nothing called love in this 
world

well i believe that being gay is nothing wrong and one should be proud of it, i 
would like to say that the only things that matters is not a hook up or a night 
stand but love and commitment which would last forever because at the end this 
is wat we all have to live with. 

i would not like to write more as i am short of words about how sorry i feel 
for 
those who think that being gay is just about having a night stand..

Re: g_b Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India

[geldmann281]

Should we attempt at a dialogue with doctors or individuals like Narula? And 
how?

What does this forum think?

Srini


Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: modera...@gaybombay.in
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 00:19:21 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India


Homosexuals Seek Greater Acceptance in India


Rebecca Byerly | New Delhi, India  January 31, 2011 

Some gays have felt more comfortable 'coming out' about their sexuality
since the Delhi High Court decriminalized consensual homosexual activity in
2009


Photo: VOA - R. Byerly 


Some gays have felt more comfortable 'coming out' about their sexuality
since the Delhi High Court decriminalized consensual homosexual activity in
2009

Gay rights activists in India are seeking broader acceptance for homosexual
men, lesbians and transgenders that goes beyond legal protection against
criminal prosecution.  But change is slow to come. It was just in July 2009,
when the Delhi High Court repealed Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the
law that made same sex activity illegal in India. 

Homosexual men, lesbians and transgenders in New Delhi are marching to the
beat of a new era. Since the Delhi High Court decriminalized consensual
homosexual activity between adults, some gays have felt more comfortable
"coming out" about their sexuality and attending functions like this gay
pride parade in New Delhi late last year.  

For Sambhav Sharma, the repeal of the law gave him the courage to tell his
grandmother that he is gay. To show their support, family members joined him
in the parade. "This is the consequence of Article 377. Because of that, I
was able to convince my family to come down here and celebrate my 'Azadi,'
my freedom," he said.

Many gay men and women in India are not as comfortable as Sharma
acknowledging their sexuality.  In a conservative society like India,
homosexuality is still widely taboo. That is why these parade participants
wear masks to hide their identities.

Anjali Gopalan is the founder and executive director of the Naz Foundation,
a non-profit organization that works on HIV/AIDS and sexual health issues in
New Delhi.  "I think the battle now is the battle for rights.  The battle
has to be for the right to marriage, the right to adopt, the right to
inherit - rights which citizens of this country take for granted. And when I
say citizens of this country, obviously the people who are taking it for
granted is the heterosexual community because gay people don't have these
rights.  That's the long battle now."

Gopalan says that even in metropolitian areas, some parents think they can
change their homosexual children - make them heterosexual - with electric
shock treatments. Others believe homosexuality can be cured in some way.

That is what teacher Rajendra Narula believes. He attended a recent event in
Delhi called "Gay Rights are Human Rights."  "I think it's possible to treat
homosexuality. It's just a matter of taking some hormones or counseling and
it's absolutely correctable," he said.

Gopalan says Narula and others who consider homosexuality an illness, or
wrong, need to be taught that is not true. And both she and Sharma say as
India develops they hope the government will give more rights to
homosexuals.

"This is just the beginning. Everywhere we want our legal rights.  That can
be achieved by the recognition that the government will give us. And it will
happen."

 

 

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

 

Re: g_b The Digital Afterlife of the Queer

[geldmann281]

Nice article!

I think we're gonna see more such creative minds from the gay circles coming 
out bold soon!

Srini.
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: modera...@gaybombay.in
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 00:07:50 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b The Digital Afterlife of the Queer


The Digital Afterlife of the Queer


Posted: Mon Jan 31 2011, 02:53 hrs 

Krishna Kumar Venkitachalam

Krishna Kumar Venkitachalam

http://static.indianexpress.com/frontend/iep/images/discussion_bot_bg1.gif

It was in his early twenties that Madurai-born Shridhar Sadasivan typed the
keywords- connection, community, Queer Chennai on the Yahoo group MovenPick
(a non-sexual support space for lesbian/ gay/ bi/ transgendered (LGBT)
people in Chennai). What was he looking for? Confirmation that his sexuality
would not be an impediment in the larger social context, something that
MovenPick provided. As opposed to children from hipper, and less
conservative outposts, Sadasivan, now in his early 30s "suffered with shame
and guilt" all through his teen life. "I had no clue about homosexuality. I
had no one to reach out to. I tried to kill myself. I found Internet and it
helped me understand my sexuality, accept and be comfortable with who I am
and then come out to my friends and family", shares Sadasivan, who is now
currently based in New Jersey, United States, where he works in the IT
industry. 

 

Past the closet days, Sadasivan is now making a splash with his profound
stories that are published in the Tamil magazine Thinnai and Thendral. He is
also a member of the executive team of Orinam.net, a bilingual LGBT resource
website and is trying to create awareness in the mainstream about LGBT
issues through his writings. "Indian kids normally discuss attraction,
sexual feelings with friends. But kids with same-sex attraction can never
discuss with their friends, so there is no support system other than the
Internet as of now," rues Sadasivan. 

It is a common queer narrative. The rise of the Internet has kickstarted the
emergence of a worldwide queer support system. "The personal coming out
experience is certainly enhanced by the emergence of online communities. The
website lends them anonymity, as people do not give out their real names. If
you are anonymous, you can say whatever you want, people can't judge you,"
says MJ, Mumbai-based co-founder of the two-year-old portal gaysi.com, a
first-of-its kind initiative in India, where the desi-gay community comes
together and shares personal stories of their struggles and their coming out
narratives. Over the past two years, the website is seeing traffic from all
over the world,with about 500-600 hits a day of late. "Besides international
dating sites, there is no online platform where desis can come over and
connect. So we set it up pumping in money from our own pockets," said MJ.
Though still not a commercially viable project, she is wary of asking for
donations. "The advertising revenue is next to nothing, so we are looking
for other ways of marketing, including endorsements from corporates who are
not hesitant to support our cause," she says. 

24-year-old Agnivo Niyogi sees larger implications for the LGBT presence on
the web in the socio-media landscape. "Of late, the LGBT community is seen
as a good market to invest. It can prove commercially viable through right
marketing and niche products. We already have queer stores and queer
e-zones," said the Kolkata-based Niyogi, who is also a contributor to the
one-year-old monthly magazine Gaylaxy, an online LGBT magazine. Though there
are overseas niche websites such as TwoBrides.com, TwoGrooms.com - a
one-stop-shop for gay weddings that offers products, information, wedding
stories and ceremony topics - the scene in India is very nascent. "People
are not willing to come up with such ideas. There is a lack of initiative,"
rues Niyogi, who works as a content developer with New Age Knowledge
Solutions. 

There wasn't any internet in Thiruvananthapuram, when Krishna Kumar
Venkitachalam, now 31, came to grips with his sexuality. There was no one to
talk to either. In his early days, Venkitachalam, logged on to Yahoo groups
to "find friends online". Since then, he has moved base to Mumbai, where
Venkitachalam, who has a degree in Orthopedics, works in a KPO by the day
and slides into the musician avatar as Kris Bass and gigs by night. Bass is
also a popular blogger at www.engayinglife, a seven-year-old blog started in
Mumbai. It was through the blog that Venkitachalam chose to come out in
2007. "My sister and her husband first read the blog in 2003 and came to
know about my orientation, though I officially came out to my parents in
2008. My mother had known about it for sometime but chose to ignore it since
she thought I was too young. She is very supportive, though my Dad is still
shaky about it," shares Venkitachalam. His blog, about "a queer, amateur
songwriter and a bassist

Re: g_b Bandra store helps beat queer shopping stigma

[geldmann281]

Yay!

Kudos to Inder.

Sx.
Sent via BlackBerry®

-Original Message-
From: modera...@gaybombay.in
Sender: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 00:03:45 
To: 
Reply-To: gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com
Subject: g_b Bandra store helps beat queer shopping stigma

Bandra store helps beat queer shopping stigma

Published: Saturday, Jan 8, 2011, 23:26 IST 
By Uttarika Kumaran | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA 


Unhappy with the fit of skinny jeans available for men, 29-year-old visual
merchandiser Inder Vhatwar and his friends would often shop in the ladies
section, trying hard to ignore the stares and giggles. "We were once at a
shopping mall in Bandra and a friend went to the trial room to try on a pair
of women's jeans. Almost all of the sales staff on the floor was standing
outside to see him walk out," recalls Vhatwar.

After the Delhi high court ruling legalised homosexuality in July 2009, the
sudden explosion of visible queer expression, right from film festivals to
gay parades to the rise to prominence of gay rights activists seemingly bade
well for the queer community in the city, which was soon given the moniker
of being India's gay capital. In the same year, the launch of Queer Ink,
India's first online queer bookstore (despite its strictly virtual presence)
and Azaad Bazaar, India's first LGBT pride store in Bandra heralded a new
beginning. 

However, gay pride was one thing; fulfilling the more mundane needs of the
LGBT community in the city was another. Even today, commercial activity
targeting the day-to-day purchasing needs of the gay community has failed to
pick up. 

On December 25, Vhatwar launched D'kloset, the city's first queer
multi-designer store. "You might be able to find a good fit of jeans at one
store but you'll have to go to another to find that perfect t-shirt," says
Vhatwar, who wants his store to be a one-stop-shop for all the clothing
needs of gay men in the city. Besides V-neck t-shirts and denims in all
sizes, the store also features a colourful collection of jackets,
waistcoats, ties, suspenders, mufflers, shoes and accessories like bags,
earrings and neckpieces. 

And then, there are the special items. Pulling out an incomprehensibly long,
single piece of lycra, Vhatwar explains that he's holding a mankini, a male
version of the sling bikini. "Short shorts, thongs with floral prints and
sexy swimwear for men are non-existent even in hip Bandra stores," explains
Vhatwar. 
With affordable prices on surplus stock of designer brands, most of which
have been handpicked by Vhatwar from Bangkok, the store is already doing
brisk business.

"Our highest sale was Rs25,000 in a single visit and the customer was a
straight man," smiles Vhatwar, but admits that labelling D'kloset as a queer
store will likely affect footfall. However, Vhatwar says his primary
intention is make customers feel comfortable. He says, "I've had gay
customers in their 40s who tell me that they would have never tried out
these clothes in a regular store for fear of ridicule."

The gay community has responded positively to the store, with customers
coming from South Bombay to as far as Vashi. D'kloset, which also features
an outdoor seating area and will soon be serving coffee, shall also host
events in the run-up to the Queer Azaadi March on January 29.

D'kloset is located opposite Hawaiian Shack, 16th Road, Bandra (W).

 

 

Email:

modera...@gaybombay.in

E Groups:

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