Free love is coming to tradition bound India at last. Hundreds of people in colourful clothes marched the streets of Delhi on Sunday in the Indian capital’s third Gay Pride Festival. The event being the first since the Delhi High Court legalised gay sex in July 2009. Approximately 2000 participants celebrated while dancing and cheering ‘Long live Delhi High Court!’ to the cacophany of drums and whistles.
By Aletta Andre
“I want to live freely with my love, no matter if she is a girl,” says 19-year-old student Pooja. “ I want to stand up and raise my head in front of parents and my society. I’m not doing anything wrong. That’s why I’m here”. Pooja feels that she can be this open about her sexuality because of the Delhi High Court verdict, saying, “I am not afraid of talking about the subject anymore.”
Many participants came in support of their friends and family, waving placards with texts such as ‘My best friend is gay’ and ‘I’m blessed with a gay son’.
“He ho, homophobia’s got to go!” Bharat (30) shouted as he waved a rainbow flag. “After the High Court ruling last year, there is acceptance in society, but not much. It’ s difficult for the common man to understand homosexuality. They say it’s something from western culture.”
Clandestine lives
India’s gay, lesbian and transgender community is still by and large afraid to come out openly in all corners of society. While some progressive families may accept their family member’s sexuality, there are an untold number of gay people in India still conforming to society and agreeing to arranged marriages and living clandestine lives.
Pooja is planning to move to Canada in a few years. “Indian society is not at all comfortable with homosexuality, and I think there are many years to come. It just got legalised, but this is just a first step. I’ve got just one life, so I’ll be moving out soon.”
Many participants were wearing colourful masks. Some even covered their entire face with a shawl. “I’m scared that people will make fun of me”, said one participant who did not want to be named. Some people did not want to speak to this reporter at all. “It’s too risky for me”, one girl said.
“At the first Gay Pride I was wearing a mask”, says Bharat, who is part of the organising committee. “It was illegal then and I had some fear. But I felt really bad about myself. If people don’t accept me, let them not accept me.” More people are comfortable to show their face now, he says: “Last year we distributed 800 masks, but this year we needed only 300.”
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It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!
Folks please - let's keep it civil.
We here at RNW encourage critical debate, and love nothing better than getting feedback from our listeners and readers, but I urge you to respect other's differences as you would wish them to respect yours.
Jafar, please read the following article: "Many new HIV infections among Dutch gays
RNW
Nearly 850 gay men in the Netherlands have been diagnosed with HIV in the past year. That number is higher than during the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the Netherlands HIV Monitoring Foundation SHM reports.
SHM Director Frank de Wolf says he was shocked by the new figures which he believes show that HIV prevention is still a major issue. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people in the Netherlands are not aware they have been infected. Mr De Wolf argues that educational campaigns regarding prevention through the use of condoms, changing risky behaviour and HIV testing are to be directed primarily at this group.
The total number of 1,200 new infections were registered between 1 June 2009 and 1 June 2010. A total of 13,000 cases of HIV infections have been registered. That number has been increasing for years. Partly because of the increased life expectancy of HIV-positive people, but also because of the increase in the number of new infections.
Jafar, HIV is not selective in who it chooses to infect; therefore, all humans need to be proactive in avoiding it. Some people like to say "Ignore him" but I would say don't ignore the fact that HIV is dangerous to one's health and one should know that certain types of behaviours are magnets for HIV. Now, if 8, 000 to 10, 000 are unaware of their infection, one can see how fast HIV can spread throughout a city like Amsterdam, the netherlands, and the world at large. Just one encounter between two people travelling through Amsterdam (one with HIV) who are not proactive in preventing the spread of the HIV can affect hundreds or thousands of people in a few years.
I am agree with JW on this. There is a big leap between how you presented the facts and the moral preaching you often advocate here on this site. Sadly, you also often twisted some facts to fit your purposes.
Sorry, Hiram. I misconstrued your earlier remark as suggesting that HIV/AIDS is a primarily a disease of homosexuals. Religious right wingers tend to do that.
But perhaps you're simply promoting safe sex, and discouraging promiscuity. If that's the case, your statements don't relate very well to the RNW article. The article is about a minority group in India throwing off the shackles of oppression.
"Free love is coming to tradition bound India at last.".......This type of "free love" has caused the demise of millions since the 1970's and is the cause of the rise of HIV in Amsterdam. As to "It’ s difficult for the common man to understand homosexuality." Is it really? Free love has destroyed the lives of many and when you watch someone you love die from the result, do you really think it was free?
"the rise of HIV in Amsterdam"???? do you have any statistic or scientific evidences to support your statement? The latest world-scale statistic of HIV/AIDS in 2008 says adult prevalence in the African continent is 5,2% while (only) 0,3% in western Europe.
Ignore him. I suspect that Hiram understands epidemiology about as well as he understands the Christian values of tolerance and understanding. Which is to say, not at all.
JW, I see you still lack the empathy for humans who are adversely affected by behaviours of others. Oh, I almost forgot. Another perspective of Christianity is: "Go and sin no more"! This does not apply to those who are not Christians are call themselves Christians; but anyone, like those in this article about India, who do call themselves Christians and live a lifestyle of homosexuality at the same time are fooling themselves. Christians do not participate in the sin. They should never fall back into the cycle from whence they came. It is not a difficult concept. You are right when you stated "Which is to say, not at all." As a Christian one should not be tolerant and understanding of behaviours/sins that affect one's spiritual life. For He stated "If, you love me, obey my commandments." JW, humans have a right to live as they please. It is all about choice. And, I would again say to those who say they are Christian and do not obey Yeshua's commandments: "Don't fool yourself"!
I have empathy for you Hiram, but not for statements of a discriminatory nature. If Jesus did disapprove of homosexuality, I would forgive him too, for he was only human. I don't think that he did, though. His lack of input on the subject has been famously misinterpreted.
JW, you are right about Yeshua when you stated he was human but you lack the insight to understand what He was spiritually. He stated and I believe and personally know for a fact that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you ( and I hope He does) He will guide you into all Truth. One more truth: You stated "I don't think that he did, though." He is "...and the darkness comprehended Him not." If you have empathy for me because of my believe and faith in Yeshua, please don't. His empathy for me is all I need. He took me from a state of Darkness to Light and I am not going to turn off the light switch. It is all about choice, my friend.
Being born gay is not a choice, Hiram. It is a gift from God, Buddha, Krishna, Allah, Odin, Yemaya, Yeshua, etc. It's too bad you only seem to honor selected "godly" gifts, specifically those of the Old Testament or Koran. You attack every story on this site that has anything to do with gay people. Such unabashed hatred for your fellow humans! Where's your "godly" acceptance, Hiram? Must you always be a Christian Nazi?
"Being born gay is not a choice, Hiram."....Sure it is. Are you telling me that gay people aren't capable of making choices? They (not all) make choices all the time. They choose with whom they want to have a sexual affair. That is their right to do so. Are they machines that don't make any decisions on their own. Yourcomment is a cop-out for your behaviour. I think you know and therefore you say it to make you feel better and to justify your behaviour. All you need to say is: " I am whom I am because I am a human who has a free will to make choices." Stop making excuses and be who you are.
Well, we're all trying to be who we are, and that's "gay", but we continue to be harassed and denied our civil rights by people like you who continue to believe that being gay is a choice. Believe me, it's not. Period. End of story. Poof, be gone...
Believe me, being gay is a choice; otherwise, gay people would have had received their gay DNA from gay monkeys. I don't think that is the case because I believe all humans (except for one person) are capable of making choices. From reading your post, and if your theory is true, you never evolved. Believe me, even you are capable of making choice. Now, if you want to live the gay "lifestyle", go ahead; but, don't make excuses. Just as you have a right to determine what is or isn't right, so do I and people who like me. "Poof be gone" is mighty strong language. Did you say because it is part of your DNA or did you say because that is part of your acquired learning experiences. I bet you learned that expression as a child. Did mum get on you for being naughty and that is how you avoided facing reality? Have a good day my friend and please don't devolve anymore than you have.
Apparently, Hiram's mastery of genetic science and psychology also match his levels of tolerance.
Have a good day, Hiram, and try not to think about homosexuality too much. We wouldn't want you to make any wrong choices. And please try to avoid airport restrooms.
JW, it sounds you know quiet a bit about airport restrooms. Thanks for your professional opinion!
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