INDIA: Fashion Ad Stars Lesbian Couple

Ad Week reports:

An Indian clothing company is out with an ad that news reports are billing as the socially conservative country's first to feature a lesbian couple. Anouk and Ogilvy & Mather Bangalore created the spot, in which the couple get ready to meet—and, the ad suggests, come out to—the parents of one of the women. Three and a half minutes long, the spot aims for a casual tone, showing the women in their apartment, putting on makeup and chatting about clothing, hairstyles and their relationship. The tagline, "Bold is beautiful," risks conflating putting on a bright-colored dress with being open about one's sexuality in a highly hostile environment. But the brand deserves credit for aligning itself with a progressive message—the ad seems to be mainly garnering support on YouTube (where it has more than 1.6 million views), even if the spirit of it is lost on the obligatory bigots yelling in all caps in the comments section of articles.

Two years ago the Indian Supreme Court reinstated the criminalization of homosexuality.

INDIA: Mother Places "Seeking Groom" Matrimonial Ad For Her Gay Activist Son

Via Gay Star News:

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."

INDIA: Parents March In Solidarity With LGBT Children At Mumbai Pride 2015

DNA India reports:

Bigger, bolder and more politically assertive. The gay pride march was all these things as Mumbai kept its annual date with the Rainbow on Saturday. The streets were bursting with colours and the energy was palpable. Among the nearly 5,000 that walked, a substantial chunk was formed by the parents of members of the LGBTQ community, who came to support their children and each other. Several others from different parts of the world also flew down to be a part of this fast-growing movement. Pradip Divgikar, whose actor, VJ, and choreographer son Sushant represented India at the Mr Gay World competition last year, grinned as he told dna, "He's gay and I'm happy." Sushant, the industrial psychology post-grad, hugged his dad as he said, "I want all parents of LGBTQ children to be like him.

This weekend's march was also a protest of Section 377, India's recently reinstated criminalization of homosexuality.

INDIA: Hundreds Attend First Pride Event Since Homosexuality Was Recriminalized

Via Reuters:

Hundreds of people danced, sang and cheered in a gay pride parade in India's capital on Sunday, the first since the country's top court reinstated a ban on gay sex in the world's largest democracy. Multi-coloured balloons, masquerade masks and wigs, a huge rainbow flag and a St Bernard dog ushered in the seventh Delhi Queer Pride parade, with many shaking their hips to drum beats. Participants chanting "Azaadi" (freedom) and shouting slogans such as "I'm gay, that's OK" carried banners and placards demanding their right to love. In December, India's Supreme Court threw out a 2009 ruling by a lower court that had decriminalised gay sex, saying only parliament could repeal Section 377 of India's penal code which bans sex against the order of nature. The British colonial-era law is widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex, and can be punished with up to 10 years in jail. Many choose to hide their sexuality for fear of discrimination.

INDIA: Bollywood Star Might Face Charges For Promoting Homosexuality

Last month Bollywood actor and LGBT ally Aamir Khan hosted a nationally televised forum which examined the plights of gays and transgender people in a nation which recently saw homosexuality recriminalized. The show went viral on YouTube, where it was posted both in Hindi and with English subtitles. And here come the haters:

A court in Chandigarh issued a legal notice to Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, seeking his response by 19 December on a petition alleging that he promoted homosexuality on his popular TV show 'Satyamev Jayate'. Admitting the petition by advocate Mandeep Kaur, the court of civil judge Jaswinder Singh had on Friday issued a notice to Aamir Khan to file his reply by 19 December. In her petition, Kaur alleged that Aamir Khan's conduct on his show 'Satyamev Jayate' was a violation of the Supreme Court order on homosexuality, upholding Section 377 which criminalises homosexual acts. Through the petition, she sought the court's intervention to declare Khan's act a contempt of court.

Kaur has demanded a public apology from Khan but says she has gotten no response.

INDIA: Man Charged Under Anti-Gay Law After Wife Catches Him On Spycam

An 32 year-old Infosys engineer has charged under India's infamous Section 377 after his wife used a spycam to catch him having sex with another man. The arrest has earned national headlines in India. Via the Times Of India:

John's marriage was arranged to Lisa (name changed) in November 2013, but the couple lived and worked apart for the first six months. While the techie was posted in the Mysore branch of Infosys, his 31-year-old wife was practicing at a clinic in Bangalore. It was only in May 2014 that John sought a transfer to Bangalore and the couple rented a house together in Malleswaram. Though they had been married for a good six months, John allegedly refused to touch Lisa and did not initiate any physical contact with her. The two even slept in separate rooms, according to the dentist.

"It was the pink lip gloss that first roused my suspicions. He used it every day without fail, and if it smudged even a little, he would touch it up immediately. His mannerisms and interests were also feminine, and whenever I questioned him, he always gave dodgy responses," said Lisa, speaking to Bangalore Mirror. Each time she tried probing, John would silence her by saying the men were interested in discussing 'business'. Numerous suggestions by Lisa that they should visit a marriage counsellor or a psychiatrist went in vain.

"I first spoke to John and advised him to get a medical test done, thinking he did not want to get intimate with me because he was impotent. However, he flatly refused; so I had no option but to approach his parents. Imagine my utter shock when they blamed me for their son not being attracted to me, saying he was 'perfect' and that I was flawed in some way. They also harshly told me to divorce my husband if I couldn't handle him," Lisa recalled.

The man's parents have also been charged, apparently for deceiving the wife. Last December the Indian Supreme Court shocked the world when it reinstituted Section 377, which had been overturned by a lower court four years earlier.

INDIA: Chat Show Examines LGBT Issues

This weekend popular Indian chat show host Aamir Khan broadcast an examination of the issues LGBT Indians face in a country whose highest court recently recriminalized homosexuality. The first segment (in Hindi) is below, but you'll probably want to watch the non-embeddable version here, which is subtitled in English. Khan, who appears to be an ally, opened the show by warning the home audience that children should leave the room. Most audience members are not very supportive of the interviewees.

UPDATE: JMG reader Luis found the English-subtitled version on YouTube and I've replaced the original Hindi clip. More about the show from Gay Star News:

Guests included transgender woman Gazal Dhaliwal and her parents, popular psychologist Deepak Kashyap and LGBTI activists. Khan listened sympathetically as his LGBTI guests told their coming out stories. Several stressed the importance of parental relationships in shaping their lives and fighting depression and suicidal thoughts. Khan said LGBTI people should not feel fear or shame in accepting their sexual orientation, which they were born with. Doctors explained that homosexuality was not a disease and could not be cured with yoga while lawyers explained the colonial origins of Section 377 of the penal code, which criminalizes gay sex. The show has a reach of 129.6 million and had a massive impact on viewers. The hashtag #FreedomForLGBT became the top trending topic globally on Twitter and 1.7 million missed calls were made to a hotline set up by the show to protest the anti-gay law.

(Tipped by JMG reader Krupa)

INDIA: Anti-Gay Hindu Nationalist Party Takes Power In Landslide Election

The right wing Hindu nationalist party that supported India's recent recriminalization of homosexuality has swept to power in a landslide election.

Via the Independent:

India's ruling Congress party admitted defeat this morning as the Narendra Modi wave washed over the country in a scale few had predicted. Initial counting in the country’s general election pointed to a massive victory for his opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the worst ever performance for the Congress. As noisy victory celebrations involving drums and horns broke out outside the BJP’s headquarters in the centre of Delhi where 100,000 traditional Indian sweets had been ordered in preparation, a few streets away at the Congress’s offices, the mood was grey. “We accept defeat. We are ready to sit in the opposition,” Congress party spokesman Rajeev Shukla told reporters. “Modi promised the moon and stars to the people. People bought that dream.”

From the Associated Press:

Modi's singular message on the economy has helped him ignore or beat back criticism of his personal life -- including his strong links to a right-wing Hindu nationalist group, as well as his four-decade marriage to a retired school teacher he had never mentioned publicly until last month. Born in 1950, Modi will be India's first prime minister born after the country's violent 1947 partition and independence from imperial Britain. His rise marks a paradigm shift for the secular democracy after decades of welfare policies that have emphasized lifting the country's impoverished. Modi has extolled the merits of trickle-down economics through industrialization. He also has maintained strong links with the conservative, paramilitary Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, which some describe as neo-fascist.

From the Voice Of America:

The right-wing Hindu nationalist party will return to its leadership role after 10 years, as the ruling Congress Party conceded defeat Friday. Modi’s critics remain uneasy about how the Hindu nationalist leader will govern a diverse nation with many religious minorities. As governor of Gujarat state, he was criticized for his handling of Hindu-Muslim rioting that killed more than 1,000 people in 2002. India’s Supreme Court cleared Modi of charges that he incited the violence.

(Tipped by JMG reader Jamie)

Trans Indians: Wear Your Seatbelts

1.7M views already. Quite the unusual PSA.

UN Posts Video For Indian LGBT Rights

Via press release:

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday launched the first ever Bollywood-style UN music video at a press conference in Mumbai to promote its Free & Equal campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

The two-and-a-half minute video, called “The Welcome”, stars actress and former Miss India Celina Jaitly. Jaitly, who was last year nominated by the High Commissioner as a “UN equality champion” in recognition of her support for LGBT equality, makes her musical debut in the video, singing a new version of the 1979 Bollywood classic, Uthe Sab Ke Kadam. The song was recomposed and remixed by Neeraj Shreedhar of the Bombay Vikings, and produced in association with the music company Saregama India. The dance moves in the video were choreographed by Longi – the choreographer for Slumdog Millionaire – who worked on the project pro bono, as did the entire cast. The concept for the video was developed by creative agency Curry Nation.

“It is an honour to partner with the United Nations on the incredibly timely and important Free & Equal campaign,” said Celina Jaitly. “I have been working for LGBT rights for many years, and I am honoured to contribute my musical debut to such a good cause. Music is a universal language. It can engage people’s passion, and that's when good things happen."

INDIA: Supreme Court To Reconsider Ruling Upholding Anti-Sodomy Legislation

India's Supreme Court announced today that it will reconsider its recent ruling which upheld anti-sodomy legislation enacted under British rule. J. Lester Feder reports at Buzzfeed:

This is LGBTI rights’ advocates last chance to toss out the decision, which was a harsh blow after a 12-year litigation process. In January, a two judge panel (which included one of the judges who issued the original ruling) rejected their first attempt to have the case reconsidered, what is known as a review petition. The current motion, known as a curative petition, still faces long odds, because the five-judge panel that will consider it includes the two judges who rejected the review petition. The other judges on the panel will be the three most senior judges on the court. But the lawyers in this case got a major boost last week when a different two-judge Supreme Court panel issued a sweeping verdict recognizing broad rights for transgender people. Though the judges in the transgender rights case were careful to explicitly say they were not offering an opinion on the 377 case, their ruling reads almost like a point-by-point rebuttal to the ruling.

A date for the rehearing will be announced next week.

INDIA: Supreme Court Recognizes Trans People As Third Gender

In what is being hailed as a landmark ruling, today the Indian Supreme Court recognized transgender people as a third gender. Via the BBC:

"It is the right of every human being to choose their gender," it said in granting rights to those who identify themselves as neither male nor female. It ordered the government to provide transgender people with quotas in jobs and education in line with other minorities, as well as key amenities. According to one estimate, India has about two million transgender people. In India, a common term used to describe transgender people, transsexuals, cross-dressers, eunuchs and transvestites is hijra. Campaigners say they live on the fringes of society, often in poverty, ostracised because of their gender identity. Most make a living by singing and dancing or by begging and prostitution. Rights groups say they often face huge discrimination and that sometimes hospitals refuse to admit them. They have been forced to choose either male or female as their gender in most public spheres.

The BBC notes that India is the third nation to recognize a third gender. Nepal did so in 2009 and Bangladesh followed last year. The Times Of India has more on today's news:

The apex court also said states and the Centre will devise social welfare schemes for third gender community and run a public awareness campaign to erase social stigma. The SC said the states must construct special public toilets and departments to look into their special medical issues. The SC also added that if a person surgically changes his/her sex, then he or she is entitled to her changed sex and can not be discriminated. The apex court expressed concern over transgenders being harasssed and discriminated in the society and passed a slew of directions for their social welfare. The apex court said that trangenders were respected earlier in the society but situation has changed and they now face discrimination and harassment. It said that section 377 of IPC is being misused by police and other authorities against them and their social and economic condition is far from satisfactory.

INDIA: Law Criminalizing Homosexuality May Be Years From Being Repealed

The Independent reports:

When [in 2009] the Delhi High Court suspended the draconian Section 377 of the Indian penal code which dated from the days of British rule, India’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community thought there was no turning back. Five years on the euphoria has gone. In December, the country’s highest court overturned the lower court’s ruling, once again making gay sex a crime punishable by up to ten years in jail and putting tens of millions of Indians at risk of prosecution or harassment. Last month, that court – which had said gay people in India were just a “minuscule minority” – upheld its decision against an appeal and said it was up to the government to change the law. But there is little chance for that. While senior figures of the ruling Congress party supported repealing Section 377, the leadership of the main opposition party, which most analysts believe is set to secure power in an upcoming election, do not. As it was, the current parliament held its last session on Friday; it could be years before a new parliament amends the law.

With a population of more than 1.3 billion, India has at least 65 million LGBT citizens, if one uses the 5% estimate. That is HARDLY a "minuscule minority." In fact, using the 5% figure, the LGBT community in India is larger than the entire populations of more than 200 nations. Only 20 countries have populations greater than 65 million. Even if you cut the 5% estimate in half, the LGBT community in India is larger than the entire population of Canada.

Queer Nation Sends Valentine's Day Love Out To The World's LGBT People

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Responds After Some Papers Refuse To Run Comics

Yesterday's Dilbert comic strip outed the long-running Indian intern character Asok in panels that criticized India's recent recriminaliztion of homosexuality. As several JMG readers noted, the gay-themed strip did not appear in some newspapers around the country, where older strips were rerun. The Sandusky Register yesterday wrote about the substitution:

Today and Saturday, the syndicate distributing “Dilbert” — in an unusual move — sent the Register two sets of comic strips. The main strip, intended for publication, features topics such as homosexuality, war and politics. The alternative strips exclude any talk of these matters. A two-day series essentially mocks a recent Indian Supreme Court decision to make homosexual behavior illegal. The Register decided to print the strips with controversial themes — the ones Adams and others intended for publication.

Adams wrote about the flap on his blog:

Today Asok the intern came out. Tomorrow he’ll have some things to say about the so-called government of India. Cue the inevitable cries of “Stop being political! You’re ruining Dilbert!” Allow me to address that right now. It’s only political if there’s someone on the other side of the debate. In this case, no one favors a government deciding which sexual acts among consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes are allowed and which are punishable by jail. If I am wrong, and you favor the government restricting what kind of sex you can have with another consenting adult, please proudly state your case. I’m listening. Cue cricket sounds…

Here is today's follow-up strip.

Dilbert Mocks Indian Anti-Gay Law

Today's Dilbert comic strip mocks India's recent recriminalization of homosexuality via the strip's Indian intern character Asok, who first appeared in 1996 and is now, apparently, openly gay. (Tipped by JMG reader Mike)

INDIA: Record Crowd For Mumbai Pride

Unswayed by the Indian Supreme Court's refusal last month to reconsider its recriminalization of homosexuality, a record crowd turned out for Mumbai's gay pride events this weekend.

In its seventh edition, Mumbai’s Gay Pride got bigger and bolder, attracting crowds from across the globe. Colourful costumes, innovative headgear and a multitude of balloons in rainbow colours only added to the atmosphere charged with slogans, chanting, singing and waving of whacky, tongue-in-cheek banners and posters which left many chortling and some agape. “Ideally, the march is about taking pride in what you are. But this year’s upsurge in numbers is a reflection of the community’s anger and hurt over being recriminalised,” said one of India’s gay rights pioneer Ashok Row Kavi. “If courts think they can brush us off and treat us like sub-humans they need to see how they have ended up giving the movement a shot in the arm instead. This movement will grow and succeed.”

INDIA: Supreme Court Refuses To Review Ruling That Criminalized Homosexuality

The Indian Supreme Court today refused to reconsider its December decision to reinstate the criminalization of homosexuality. Many had expected the Court to do so after major Indian and international leaders denounced the ruling.

Judges dismissed petitions from the government and rights activists who say the order was wrong. The Supreme Court judgement last month overturned a landmark 2009 Delhi High Court ruling decriminalising gay sex. The ruling is seen as a huge blow to gay rights and has been criticised by activists and government ministers. The Delhi High Court had described Section 377 - the colonial-era law which says a same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offence" and punishable by a 10-year jail term - as discriminatory and said gay sex between consenting adults should not be treated as a crime. But in its order of 11 December, the Supreme Court said it was up to parliament to change the law and the courts did not have the mandate to rule on it. The Supreme Court's order was criticised by gay rights activists who called it "retrograde" and "disappointing" and on 20 December, the government asked the court to review its order saying it believed it "violated the principle of equality".

Today's decision was welcomed by religious and anti-gay groups.

Christopher Doyle: Western Gays Are The Reason Other Gays Face Stoning To Death

"Anti-gay laws in countries like Uganda, Nigeria, India, and Russia are not being created in a vacuum. I would argue that they are also not in direct response to indigenous gay rights movements. These countries are enacting laws as a response to gay activists’ intolerance towards traditional views on marriage and sexuality, and their attempts to silence the speech and beliefs of those who disagree with them. These activists are largely succeeding with their goals in Western countries, and are now importing their Communist strategies into other non-Western countries to achieve global dominance. Perhaps you should question whether these laws are the result of anti-gay countries, or gay activist’s intolerance of opposing views and disrespect for the religious values of billions of people around the globe?" - "Ex-gay" lunatic Christopher Doyle, essentially saying that YOU are the reason those gay men are about to be stoned to death in Nigeria.

Indian Satirist Takes On Homophobia

Via First Post Bollywood:

The controversy around Section 377 of IPC raised a lot of questions about gay people, gay sex and homophobia. What is this whole 'gay' thing, anyway, said a large swathe of Indian society. And why is everyone making such a big fuss about it? Actor Imran Khan has taken it upon himself to disabuse these people from their mistaken notions of homosexuality in a new satire video. Imran Khan poses as a sort of gay version of a sex advice columnist. In the video, Khan sits behind a laptop while viewers email in their questions.

You'll enjoy this. Not office-friendly.