New Delhi Pride Draws 2000

The Times of India reports that 2000 LGBT Indians turned out to celebrate to first Delhi Queer Parade since the Indian government struck down the law that made homosexuality a crime. The Times reports, "As Bharat, a lawyer who came out of the closet last year, said, 'Last year, we had ordered 1,000 masks which most participants wore. This year, we got only 300. No one wanted to hide behind a mask.'"

More from The Times of India:
The change was more than apparent at the parade where not only members of LGBT community participated but a huge number of supporters also turned up for the annual event. Said Rati, "I have come here today to support my friends, several of whom are homosexuals. Acceptance is the need of the hour."

Acceptance, in fact, was the buzzword on the street as the colourful parade moved down to Jantar Mantar with several passersby joining in. Said Raman Shukla, who had come to CP to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon with his wife but decided to join the parade. "We don't know anyone here at the parade but still decided to join as we strongly feel for the cause. Also, it is fun to see so much colour and excitement among the people,"he said. People could be seen dancing on the beats of the 'dhol' even as participants put their best foot forward for all the amateur and professional photographers.

Said Mohnish, one of the speakers at the parade, "Originally, the word queer was a slur for those deviating from society's definition of sexually normal behaviour. This parade though has reclaimed the word to empower, celebrate and unite who are marginalised because of their gender identity."

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Bollywood Actor Disowned by Parents for Playing Gay

The reports out of India last year of the decriminalization of homosexuality might lead you to believe that things have gotten better for LGBT Indians. No so fast. Just like here in the good ole USA, attitudes can't be legislated or changed by a court case.

The Times of India is reporting that popular Indian actor Yuvraaj Parasher, who recently starred in a film that's been called Bollywood's Brokeback Mountain, has been thrown out of his parents' home and disowned not for actually being gay, but for playing gay on screen.

TOI reports:

Worse, his father is ready to go to court and officially cut off ties with his son. Seen as India's answer to Ang Lee's sensitive drama Brokeback Mountain that boasts of remarkable acting from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, Dunno Y ... Na Jaane Kyun sees Yuvraaj partner with actor Kapil Sharma to breathe life into their bold characters. Yuvraaj's father Satish Parasher told BT, "I feel what he has done is against the culture and tradition of our country and it challenges the purity of the relationship between a man and a woman. He kept us in the dark right from when he signed the film and told us that he is acting with a girl. When we heard about the poster and the things he has done in the film, we were shocked, hurt and humiliated. People will make fun of us and we won't be able to live peacefully ever again."

Satish believes Yuvraaj will never get a girl to marry him. "His mother is totally devastated," said the aggrieved father. "We are a respected family and I'm appalled that he is playing a gay man's role. We're finished. All the dreams and hopes we had built around him are over. For just a film role, he has lost out on his blood ties. We don't want to see his face ever... not even when we are dying." Interestingly, Yuvraaj's act with Kapil fetched them an award from Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal for their sensitive portrayal of gay men. For the actor's family, however, such accolades mean nothing.

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This Queer Little Planet: India's Trans Voters get Separate Gender Status

In a major step forward in recognizing the uniqueness of its transgender community, the Indian government announced Friday that it will now allow them to select O for "other" when identifying their gender on voter registration forms.

India's hidras (sometimes spelled hijiras or hijras), translated as "eunuchs" in English, have a difficult and often contradictory role in society. Rejected by their families, but prized as entertainers at weddings and other celebrations, they often cannot get work in mainstream society and resort to prostitution just to survive.

AFP reports:

The formal recognition, confirmed by the Election Commission, answers a longstanding demand by the eunuch and transgender community, known as hijiras here, who are believed to number up to six million.

"The inclusion of eunuchs and transgenders as 'others' gives us a separate identity which is what we have always wanted," said Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a prominent eunuch activist and founder of campaign group Astitva.

"This is a sign of a true democracy."

Read more here.

This Queer Little Planet: Don't mess with an Indian transwoman

From Thaindian.com:

Chennai transgenders learning karate for self-defense

Chennai, Oct. 28 (ANI): Many transgenders in Chennai are undergoing karate training to improve their self-confidence and health so that they can land a good job.

In the six-day training session apart from karate, transgenders are also undergo other kinds of physical strength exercise like yoga, meditation and a personality development session.

Under the programme, ‘The Kara’ Gender Capsule’, some 100 odd members of transgender community are being trained by Reshma Sharma, a qualified instructor.

“This is just not karate or meditation or yoga. This is a complete rehabilitation camp. Out of 100 people who have undergone training, we are getting jobs for ten people. They are going to be appointed as security officers in four five-star hotels and six corporate organisations,” Sharma said.

“The training was just part of it, preparing them to face the jobs ahead since they are not used to doing working. They are used to doing only begging and sex work. So, this is a compete rehabilitation programme. I hope it will bring in a lot of change in not only this group but a lot of transgenders,” she added.

Transgenders undergoing the training say it will help them lead a better and respectable life in society.
“We (transgenders) face a lot of problems. We are not doing any kind of jobs despite being educated. A number of transgenders are involved in sex work, driven by their circumstances. At times, we are attacked by violent and rowdy people, this karate training will help us to defend ourselves,” said Selvi, a transgender undergoing the karate training.

The training is jointly organized by Dojo Chakra and Mythri Educational and Charitable Trust with the assistance of the Tamil Nadu Aids Control Society and the G7 Group of companies. (AN)

This Queer Little Planet: Transgender Indians get their own beauty shop

The first beauty salon catering to India's Transgendered Community has opened for business in Dehli.

(From The Times of India)

"Welcome to Queer Beauty Parlour, probably the first beauty treatment centre run exclusively for transgenders in and around the capital. And by the looks of it, this unique centre which gives gays not only beauty solutions but also their own free space, is a runaway hit with the community.

When NGO, Pahal Foundation, which works with gay men under a community initiative to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS in Faridabad, started the parlour in April this year, it expected just a few clients from within Faridabad. But within six months, Simmy -- a transgender himself -- and his support staff have their hands full.

"Transgenders who wanted a feminine appearance found it almost impossible to get any beauty treatment anywhere. The parlours for women just did not take them and those meant for men would make them a subject of ridicule. Hence the concept of a beauty parlour for transgenders found favour and the initiative started as a self help group effort in April," says Yadavendra Singh, who heads the Pahal centre in Faridabad.

Pahal's centre in Ashoka Enclave's main market in sector 35, where the parlour is located, had become a quiet refuge for the community which came to seek solace from the trauma they faced in society. In this community space, Pahal then decided to add a single beauty counter with all the basic paraphernalia required to make a parlour tick.

"It was felt that awareness was not enough. It was important to create economic opportunities for the community as well. The idea was put up before the community and beauty found mention in the discussions. Many members expressed the need for beauty parlours for transgenders," says Singh.

Pahal Foundation is an outreach initiative for gays in Faridabad as part of a project on HIV supported by the Haryana State AIDS Control Society.

Simmy, 24, who has trained under a renowned beauty expert who also happens to be a transgender, was the first to join the initiative. Simmy says he is more comfortable working at Queer Beauty parlour than he was at the other places. "This is our space and we don't have to follow the rules set by society for behaviour expected of men or women. Around seven to eight clients come every day," he says.

In fact, Simmy is now training others through regular classes at the centre. The course fee has been kept low at Rs 1,000.

At the parlour, a variety of beauty products are lined along a large mirror. But unlike other parlours, pasted on the wall are stories about the worldwide gay and lesbian movement through pictures and collages. On the counter where combs and clips lie scattered, small pamphlets on safe sex and HIV/AIDs can be seen placed neatly in one corner.

As Simmy works on a hairstyle for Kali, a transgender who comes regularly from Madangir area for beauty treatment, he says the parlour is doing reasonably well. Checking his hair in the mirror, Kali nods in agreement. "I like it here. It is comfortable," he says."

This Queer Little Planet: Indian Gov't Won't Challenge Court Ruling on Homosexuality

(From The Hindustan Times)
"The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to play it safe on the issue of supporting the Delhi High Court judgment legalising homosexual acts between consenting adults, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Not willing to be seen as being “pro-active” on the issue involving religious sensitivities, the cabinet is learnt to have agreed not to oppose the judgment, but left it to the Supreme Court to take a final decision on the controversial matter.

A report, jointly prepared on behalf of the Home, Health and Law ministries, was discussed at the meeting. The report had endorsed the July 2 judgment of the Delhi High Court, saying it had merely legalised consensual activity among adult homosexuals.

“The High Court has merely read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to the extent of decriminalising consensual gay sex, and has not struck it down,” the report stated.

“The Cabinet decided to ask the Attorney General to assist the Supreme Court in every way desired by it in arriving at an opinion on the correctness of the judgment of the High Court,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said after the meeting.

The watering down of the government’s stance was reportedly forced by some ministers, who were of the view that there was no need for the government to take an independent view and it should be left to the Supreme Court.

Most of the ministers agreed with Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy's reported contention that the government should wait till the Supreme Court gives its decision.

Reddy is learnt to have said the Court might take a view contrary to the proposed government stand, which could annoy a section of the society.

Another minister, Farooq Abdullah also raised his objections on legalising consensual gay sex, stating it will have adverse impact on society as whole, a source said.

The high court verdict has been challenged in the Supreme Court by various religious groups representing Christians, Muslims and a section of Hindus.

Similar concerns have been raised by Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which has also filed the petition in the apex court against the judgment.

The court will hear the matter on October 1."