INDIA: Mother Places "Seeking Groom" Matrimonial Ad For Her Gay Activist Son
An Indian mother has placed what may be the country's first gay matrimonial ad on behalf of her LGBTI activist son Harish Iyer. Thousands of ads are posted in the weekly matrimonial sections of Indian newspapers. But the Times of India, the Hindustan Times and the DNA website all rejected Iyer's ad. The Times of India told him that their "legal department said that it was illegal' – India recriminalized gay sex in 2013. My mom worries about me too much," he told the paper. "She is constantly thinking that I am getting old, will be alone, and all those concerns a mother has. So, she and I had a discussion last week and decided to go ahead with placing a matrimonial ad looking for a gay person."More from the Times Of India:
Looks like the ad has elicited a good response. "My mum called me this morning saying three people have responded so far. She asked me what to do next, how to proceed, so I told her, 'proceed like you would have if you were looking for a girl for me'," says Harish. "I will take my time before I give my nod. I am an animal lover and would want my partner to be one. And I am going to have the last word in who I choose because I am going to be living with him, not my mother. Having said that, it is my mom who has led me into finding someone for myself.According to Wikipedia, Iyer is a common surname used by the "Iyer caste of Hindu Brahmin communities of Tamil origin."
Labels: India, LGBT rights, newspapers, parenting
