1) The document discusses the progress made in 2009 for gay rights in India, including the decriminalization of homosexuality and greater acceptance of gay pride parades and conventions. 2) It notes the role of the media, film industry, and government in helping to reduce the social stigma around homosexuality. However, some believe true acceptance will require more changes, like including homosexuality in school curriculums. 3) Interviews with gay rights activists express optimism about the steps taken but acknowledge that society is still only beginning to accept homosexuality. Overall, 2009 marked an important year of increased recognition and rights for India's gay population.

1. 24 GEN
HYDERABAD FRIDAY 1,
DC
i can
JANUARY 2010
I ASPIRE,
THEREFORE I AM
lifestyle
Out of the LUXE
ON LOAN
closet, finally
Rainbow
Forget the
old adage of
‘if you’ve got
parades, queer pride it, flaunt it’.
marches, decriminalisation of Now, if you
homosexuality — India has surely want to flaunt
stepped up for her gay population this year! it, you can
rent it!
GAYATRI REDDY its market. The recent Hero Honda ad which has a
guy asking his friend if he will sit behind him is
wo thousand and nine will a great example of a gay moment. A
T remain a special year for
our homosexual citi-
zens. After years of
being traumatised
by a largely homophobic society,
they finally watched the government send
reassuring sign of the gay communi-
ty being accepted has been that
humorous and affectionate jabs at
homosexual clichés are now as
common as parochial jokes
about accents or ethnic commu-
cheap
YATAN
CHIC
E
out a strong message of social evolution. nities in India. veryone today wants Louis Vuitton
Gay rights is no longer an impossible dream The evolution will not be com- on their arm and Manolo Blahnik at
with the decriminalisation of homosexuality plete without the destruction of their feet. This is the aspiration gen-
in the form of Article 377 and acceptance of certain myths — that being gay eration — they see style, they want it —
gay pride parades, gay conventions... this is genetic or that certain money is no object, even if they can’t
year demonstrated the reality of a great nature-nurture realities can afford it. So, if you must express your
future for gay people in our country. ‘turn someone gay’. Various media and activists are dis- attitude with what you wear — get your
Harish Iyer, a gay rights activist, is thrilled with seminating relevant information, but Shabana (not her real bags on rent, jeans on EMI and pay for
the outcome of things. He feels the media, film name, she fears ostracism from family and friends), a stu- your luxury in installments.
industry, UPA government and law are some of the dent and lesbian, believes it’s still early days, “People Getting ‘the look’ has never been this easy
factors responsible for removing the social stigma have not become wholly accepting. Society is just a bit and for a generation that thrives in their
and legal hassles homosexuals have had to endure. more tolerant of us today. As long as it is not their child, live-for-the-moment lifestyle, haute couture
“The media played a big role in bringing about this people really don’t care and are indifferent. Taking part is just rent-money away. Clothes travel from
change, it highlighted our issues and ensured they were in or being accepting of a gay parade doesn’t mean one aspiring fashionista to another, each
very in-your-face. You couldn’t ignore them. And with society has become liberal overnight. If this was the making her own statement.
ministers like Ghulab Nabi Azad speaking out in our case Article 377 would not just be passed by the The fantastic plastic lifestyle which made
favour, it was a great help,” he says. Delhi High Court.” Still, she is relieved about the haute-priced couture accessible faced
When Harish’s sister introduced him to her boyfriend significant steps forward but would like to see burnout this year. The recession made flash-
(now husband), there was no awkwardness over the fact homosexuality being part of sex-ed in schools ing your card a bit naff not to mention not
that her brother was gay. In fact his brother-in-law who hails and colleges. very sensible, but that didn’t stop the
from a conservative family told Bobby Darling is very optimistic and happy youngsters who live by the mantra, ‘All’s
him that he would look for a about the way things shaped up. She feels fair in this quest for labels’. Hopefully, it is
nice boy so that Harish gets people can now come out of the closet and a trend we will lose as it’s anything but
married next. And homosexuali- live their lives without apologies, “Gay rights healthy. Some youngsters sublimate their
ty is slowly permeating into are very important. It’s a good thing that we need for big labels with rip-offs. Easier on
mainstream culture. Big budget are being accepted in society and that the the wallet than on the conscience, a parallel
movies like Kal Ho Na Ho and government has decided to industry and subculture exists that thrives
Dostana highlighted the gay decriminalise homosexuality. on fake designer wear, watches and shoes.
issue, though it was done in a Tomorrow no gay person will be And if youngsters have the spunky attitude
non-serious way. forced into a heterosexual relation- to carry it off, nobody can tell!
Talking about his pro-gay-rights ship by his/her family.” Keeping the young guns fashionable was
stance, Tarun Mansukhani, director Sadly, not everyone has Bobby’s the huge market for customisation. Love a
Dostana, says, “Gay rights are of absolute confidence or is ready to accept the designer’s work, but can’t afford it? Get
importance mainly to give a community social and fact that what they want is more your local darzi to emulate it and make you
official recognition. People should not have to hide important than what the society an exclusive tailor-made creation. If you are
themselves due to the long standing societal preju- wants. An overnight change in a getting expensive designer wear copied and
dice. Decriminalisation has been the most pro- massive country like ours is not it doesn’t cost you a bomb, then why not?
gressive step forward in making the country possible, but 2009 is the year Luxury on loan is one thing that made this
understand the minds and thoughts of a com- that brought the realisation year so special. It brought fashion to the
munity. We all are made equal. Why should that a democracy owes all masses without taking away from the exclu-
our rights or our duties in our own coun- its citizens equal rights, sivity of it. And Gen I Can sure made the
try be different?” and India has stepped most of it.
Even the world of advertising is up for her gay The writer is a stylist
playing with gay undertones population.
and including all sections
of consumers into