Gaysi: The Gay Desi - Yes, we're legal!

If you are living in India and words like free society, 21^st Century, democracy….mean next to nothing. But what does stay, and kicks us hard up in the arse is a 150 year old IPC Act – 377. No…nah it doesn’t matter at all if the Brits who originally handed us this tragedy of an ACT have themselves long forgotten about it, we Indians continue ahead with the loyalty program. Ah! Such is our love for them and the desi-gays can continue to rot in hell jail.

In case you are wondering why I am in such a glorious mood, here is the gem of a reason…

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said there was need for debate and consensus. “I can simply say that there should be more debate — public debate, Parliament debate. There has to be a consensus. The negative and positive has to be evaluated and then a conclusion should be evolved,” Azad said.

“Not only the Government but other political parties should also be in line with it. If you are going to be bringing in a legislation of this nature, there has to be a broad consensus,” he said. Azad said while certain issues were related to the country’s culture, others pertained to diseases associated with homosexuality. “There should be a general debate where our heritage as well as diseases are considered,” he said. [Link]

Debate, ya rite, which in simple words means “Me, my party members, your government…collectively are bunch of good for nothing morons. We rather suck up to the filth that goes around in the name of religion, culture, heritage, values…then allow some folks their basic human rights. So go on suckers, wait another 150 years”.

Sorry call me a pessimist but I don’t see no light at the end of this shit-hole tunnel.

* Note : Contains Explicit Sexual Content

Zarina woke up with a dull headache. She had spent a late night researching marketing opportunities for her company Zylo and smoked way too many cigarettes. Given the recession, revenues had slowed down considerably and the bills just kept piling up. She looked at the clock. 5.45 am and just under three hours of sleep. She thought of Mallika. Her head hurt again. It had been six months since they had broken up. But imagining Mallika’s face – her long eyelashes, the gentle fluttering of them while she slept – still made the bottom fall out of Zarina’s stomach. Fuck! Mallika was seeing someone else. How could she? After all they had shared?

Zarina forced herself out of bed, chanting her Buddhist chant. Buddhism had helped her recover some of the self-esteem she had lost after the break-up. She had always considered herself to be beautiful, smart, successful. Any man or woman would give an arm and a leg to be with her. But Mallika changed everything from the moment she walked through the door. Until that moment, Zarina didn’t know what love could feel like. She had always been the strong one. But Mallika’s delicate features, her sexy smile…God! What Zarina wouldn’t do to taste Mallika in her mouth again. That sweet salty taste of paradise.

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Delhi Queer Pride ‘09

Queer Pride is a celebration. It is about loving who we are, whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, hijra or straight, and affirming everyone’s right to be respected.

The Queer Pride is organized by the LGBT community for the LGBT community and allies, and not by any organizations, and we hope that it can continue to be entirely funded by individual donations from queer and queer friendly people from India and elsewhere. To find out how you can donate and contribute to Queer Pride ‘09, please email : finance.delhipride@gmail.com.

Day: Sunday, 28^th June 2009

Time: 5:30pm

Place: Corner of Barakhamba Road and Tolstoy Marg.

Kindly gather up at corner of Barakhamba Road and Tolstoy Marg at 5:00 pm. The Parade commences at 5:30, down Tolstoy Marg to Jantar Mantar, where all the action begins.

[For detailed information, jump here]

Chennai Queer Pride ‘09

Chennai Pride events are supported by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals, straight allies including families and friends; and a host of community groups and non-governmental organizations including Sahodaran, Sangama, Lotus Sangam, Center for Counselling, Shakti Center, Sahodari Foundation, SIAAP, SAATHII, Nalamdana, SWAM, South India Positive Network, Alliance Francaise of Madras, and Human Rights Watch.

Day: Sunday, 28^th June 2009

Time: 4:00 pm

Place: Marina Beach from the Triumph of Labour statue to the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

[For detailed information, jump here]

Last year we saw over 600 people attend the vibrant Bengaluru Pride March. But this year the fantastic folks managing the march are back with much bigger and brighter plans.

Ladies and Ladies (Gents, if any) presenting to you, the Karnataka Queer Habba.

This year we as individuals and organisations, under the banner of Campaign for Sex-workers and Sexual Minorities Rights (CSMR), have decided to extend the festivities to a week beginning with a cricket match on June 21st and culminating with the pride march on June 28th.  Come celebrate along with us as Bangalore’s LGBTQ community paints the town pink on the 28th June 2009.  [….]

For the list of events and other important details, kindly hop on here.

The bottom line as I see it is this: Gay or not, doesn’t really matter. Show a little respect, some support and make this world a breathable space, for all.

(* Pic courteousy : Bengaluru Pride March Blog)

It happens very rarely that you get to feast on such a fantastic line of work. So if you are in Mumbai on 23^rd June this IS the place where you just have to be.

Why?

Because…..

Lesbians and Bisexuals in Action (LABIA) & Goethe-Institute / Max Mueller Bhavan are celebrating the long-awaited release of SCRIPTS, issue no. 12 (the queer zine published by LABIA) in an entertaining and highly informative fashion.

The list goes something like this:

The release of the Human Rights Watch report An Alien Legacy in Hindi, titled Ek Parayi Virasat by its author, lawyer and activist Alok Gupta. This report is about how laws in over three dozen countries, from India to Uganda and from Nigeria to Papua New Guinea, derive from a single law on homosexual conduct that British colonial rulers imposed on India in 1860.

A brief talk by Bishakha Datta, well-known feminist activist and filmmaker on the topic of censorship in current times.

*Censorship also happens to be the theme of Script’s latest edition, which includes; range of queer writings on the theme accompanied by select readings on censorship that is done by the state, others and LABIA team members.

Followed by the screening of Saba Dewan’s fascinating documentary, The Other Song (Hindi, Urdu & English with English subtitles). This is the final take in Saba’s trilogy focusing on stigmatized women performers; the film brings us face to face with the enigmatic figure of the tawaif, courtesan, baiji and the contested terrain of her art practice and lifestyle.

So no two thoughts just get your lame arse down there.

June 23, 2009. K. Dubash Marg, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai 400 001. 06:30 PM onwards.

For further details call: +91 (22) 22 02 77 10