Anandaroopa and his partner Bryan Dalton, who was Chief of the Consular Section at the US Consulate in Chennai from 2008-2011, were among those who catalyzed the city’s first Rainbow Pride march in 2009.

Some of their contributions to visibility of LGBT issues in Chennai included:

• A public screening of the Oscar-winning film Milk on June 22, 2009,  in partnership with  U.S. Consulate General-Chennai, the Madras Film Society and the Indo-Cine Appreciation Foundation.
• Bringing gay visibility to the readers of The Hindu through an article on Pet Care in the MetroPlus (June 10, 2009) and an op-ed by Bryan Dalton ‘A Matter of Pride’  (July 10, 2010)
• Film screenings, panel discussions, and other events at the US Consulate in connection with LGBT Pride Month June 2010 and 2011.
• A contingent from GLFAA at Chennai Pride 2011.
• Their support of local community organization Sahodaran and its events.

but
when you
gather me
effortlessly
in your embrace
and we make
confident
tender
fierce
love

it’s so
utterly
gloriously
powerfully
unmistakably

Queer

that
exploitative
male gaze
falters
then
withers
dejected
into
detumescent
nothingness

and
we have
our world
all to
ourselves

at long last

(c) 1999 desinorse/jaya from the khush list. Reproduced with permission

Dear Queerdom

The Gossip Fund raiser party was held last night in Metro Lounge in Oshiwara. Gossip had a QAM fundraiser wherein every entry contributed Rs.100 towards QAM. The party had revved up enough numbers and people seemed comfortable in the disc area and the terrace above. At 11.45pm Vivek and I were about to leave the party when Sibi mentioned that there was an issue downstairs.

As we walked towards the exit we had venue staff telling us that we could not leave since there were police outside. A guy with a ponytail, beard, kohl-eyed and wearing a vest was standing there instructing the police to go and check on the party. He said his name was Haji Ahmed Sahab Bawa (HASB) and he claimed to be a member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He also was showing videos that he had clicked inside the party. He was threatening the venue staff that he would raise complaints against them and that seemed to have freaked them. There was confusion for some time as to whether we could leave or not. Some of us stood at the gate asking the cops what was the exact reason that they were there for. The cops mentioned that they were checking on the venue’s permissions and seeing if everything was in order . Although the cops were not being very aggressive, HASB was giving directions to the cops as to what they should do . He kept talking incessantly on the phone shouting “Media Ko Bulao”.

Sibi tried to speak to the cops and HASB by mentioning that we are doing nothing illegal and that section 377 reading down clearly states so. HASB mentioned that his party has ordered a stay in the Supreme Court against reading down of section 377 (factually incorrect). He kept threatening the police and the venue staff.

Vivek and I tried to understand from the police , what exactly was the issue and we were not getting any clear answers. We asked the police that we would like to address the issue at the police station and understand what is the reason that the party is being stopped. They mentioned that they were from Oshiwara Police Station. We ensured that all party goers be safely allowed to leave the venue and police co-operated. As we walked out there was a huge crowd that had collected on the street outside. HASB came out and I yelled out to him that we want to see him in the police station and understand his issues. He did not hear me out and ran towards the car as I ran behind him yelling at him to come to Oshiwara Police station. He was accompanied by a guy who held me and pushed me away, I asked him if he was police , since he was in plainclothes. I told him that he has no proof that he is the police. He pushed me away again, I told him that he has no business touching me. This guy also dashed along with HASB to the car and said that they were going to the police station. I told him that I do not believe that he is going to the police station and what if he gets away. I went close to his car and started taking pics of HASB. By this time a crowd of 10-15 had collected from the party and had surrounded HASB’s car and refused to let him drive away. We took more pictures. We finally let him drive away when we were assured by the uniformed police that the guy with him in the car was a policeman.

We went to the Oshiwara police station and saw HASB’s car waiting outside. A huge crowd from the party of 30 people collected outside Oshiwara Police station. Vivek, Praful, Sibi and me were allowed inside to talk to the police station. It was a long wait , HASB sat with the police inspector Shirsat of Oshiwara Police Station and gave his complaint in written. While HASB was with the police , the policeman in plainsclothes got into an argument with us. He said that he will make an official complaint that he was attacked by the partygoers. We calmed him down and explained that we were all homosexual men and we see nothing wrong with that. We have a Pride March on the 28th which has valid police permissions and we are only fundraising for it. Post that he calmed down and said that he was on duty and we are free to present our point of view to the police inspector.Post That the police discussed the issue with the Venue manager and asked him to kill the issue. The manager was extremely worried about his venue being in trouble and did not wish to make a big issue about this. He kept on asking us to back out. We refused saying that it was not about the venue but an issue about our identities being attacked and due care would be taken that the venue does not face any problems. We insisted that we speak to the inspector Shirsath. Sibi, Vivek and I presented ourselves to Shirsat’s table and we discussed the issue. Shirsat mentioned that he had no problems against the party and there is no illegality with being gay. He quoted HASB and mentioned that he has asked HASB to produce documentary evidence that says that gay parties are illegal. Shirsath mentioned that ideally when a  party is being organized there needs to be an intimation to the local police station about the party , they did not have it and hence they were obliged to act on a complaint by HASB. On the whole Shisrath was very cordial and apologized if on behalf of his police team there was any inconvenience caused to anyone.

Shirsath mentioned that there would be a meeting in Oshiwara Police station on Saturday along with HASB and someone either Vivek or me maybe called to present our point of view. HASB has filed an NC of damage to his car.

We left asking Shirsath how we can file a complaint against HASB , he mentioned that he would give us his details and we could do the needful.

Outide the crowds were yet on the street till 2.30 am . We went out and apprised them of our conversations with the Police. Mid Day and Time Now. Reporters were outside for the story and the crowd of 30 faced cameras to say that we are fundraising here and we are not scared anymore, we will fight this harassment and ensure that QAM 2012 is a success!

Back in Vivek’s house and I could not sleep until I wrote this out!

without any window of His own, directed by Tanvir Alim and Arifur Rahman, was prepared for the third annual ‘Under the Rainbow III’ festival held in Dhaka in November 2011. The festival was organized by Goethe-Institut, in partnership with local organizations including Srishti Cultural Centre, Bandhu Social Welfare Society, Boys of Bangladesh, and Swaprovo. Coverage of this event by The Independent is here.

We thank Tanvir Alim for sharing this video and express solidarity with our LGBT comrades in Bangladesh!

Click to enlarge

Concept: Shri          Cartoons: Gireesh

Sexual and physical violence against women is on the rise in India, as elsewhere in the world. Law enforcement and so-called moral police of Indian society are blaming women for the way they dress, the way they talk, and the way they carry themselves in public. Earlier in January 2011,  the head of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment at Bangalore University made an outrageous statement asking women to wear long-sleeve blouses and follow a 6pm curfew to protect themselves from rape. This sort of ‘victim blaming’ has triggered protests and movements such as the Slut Walk (Besharmi Morcha) across the country.

We at Orinam strongly condemn violence against women of all orientations, and the attempts to blame attire and behavior for the violence perpetrated against them and some of us.

More cartoons:

• Dhotis and Pants Only
• Indecent Exposure

Click to enlarge

Concept: Shri          Cartoons: Gireesh

Sexual and physical violence against women is on the rise in India, as elsewhere in the world. Law enforcement and so-called moral police of Indian society are blaming women for the way they dress, the way they talk, and the way they carry themselves in public. Earlier in January 2011,  the head of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment at Bangalore University made an outrageous statement asking women to wear long-sleeve blouses and follow a 6pm curfew to protect themselves from rape. This sort of ‘victim blaming’ has triggered protests and movements such as the Slut Walk (Besharmi Morcha) across the country.

We at Orinam strongly condemn violence against women of all orientations, and the attempts to blame attire and behavior for the violence perpetrated against them and some of us.

More Cartoons:

• Dhotis and Pants Only
• 6 PM Curfew

Click to enlarge

Concept: Shri          Cartoons: Gireesh

Sexual and physical violence against women is on the rise in India, as elsewhere in the world. Law enforcement and so-called moral police of Indian society are blaming women for the way they dress, the way they talk, and the way they carry themselves in public. Earlier in January 2011,  the head of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment at Bangalore University made an outrageous statement asking women to wear long-sleeve blouses and follow a 6pm curfew to protect themselves from rape. This sort of ‘victim blaming’ has triggered protests and movements such as the Slut Walk (Besharmi Morcha) across the country.

We at Orinam strongly condemn violence against women of all orientations, and the attempts to blame attire and behavior for the violence perpetrated against them and some of us.

More Cartoons:

• Indecent Exposure
• 6 PM Curfew

Looking back, I am unable to trace my path. I did not realise the moment I became an ardent feminist, because it did not come rushing into me suddenly one fine day. When did I become one?

Was it at times when my mother used to make compromises on her career, ambitions and health to fit exactly into the role of a mother or wife?

Was it at times when my insensitive father remained free and did not have any such pressures to fit into his roles?

Or was it at those times when my neighbours around my place praised my father for our education, growth etc., while the truth was that my father had contributed nothing towards our  (my sister’s and my) growth?

Did I realise that my father was stealing all the credit that should have gone to my mother? Did my father consciously steal it or it was the privilege he was enjoying for being a man? Why wouldn’t even the society atleast try to think that my mother’s role also would have been an important factor for our growth? Why does it go unacknowledged, even when she was the only person to work hard for her children’s growth? Didn’t my mother earn equally as my father? Then why does the society praise my father alone? Isn’t that the height of injustice?

Why should I have my father’s initial before my name? Why can’t it be my mother’s? What right does the society or law have to force me? Why should I be identified as my father’s son always and why not my mother’s?

Why do the application forms, be it for any purpose – opening a bank account, election card, college application form or any such government procedures –  always ask for the the name of the applicant’s husband or father?What  injustice is this? Why can’t it ask for a wife’s name?

Is a woman merely a man’s possession through her lifetime? So do they mean to say that woman is property  transferred from father to husband once she is married?

Shouldn’t the government and society be ashamed of these rules and expectations?

All these questions got me thinking. I started thinking from the age of eight or nine. I observed gender discrimination in each and everything. Everywhere! As a child I was totally inspired and fascinated by Bharathiyar’s “Puthumai Penn” song while all the other children around me were familiar with “Odi vilayadu paapa”.  I still can’t remember where I picked up the song when we were not taught at the school! Did I, at that early stage, go in for a search to find something that defies general social norms?

As I stepped into adolescence I started to become more aggressive in speaking out. I was teased by my friends for arguing against the general set up of the society, because they found it odd for a man to speak on feminism. I remember once in my college, I delivered a speech on “Women as successful enterpreneurs” and I made a statement criticising the general stereotypes that are being forced on women. And just as I ended, the whole class broke into heavy laughter and applauded trying to ridicule me. “Oh God! what a pity!”, I thought. My thought process was never disturbed by these awful creatures called men.  I used to wonder what made them not realise or not to think! But now I know the truth.  It is because they do not want to think.

They do not want to let go of the privileges they have been enjoying in the society so far. They are threatened by women’s growth. And so to feel secure, these men oppress, harass, abuse and some pig-headed men go in for moral policing too. I have a classmate who goes around campaigning to all my class mates who are girls about the right womanly behaviour. He advises them not to sit crosslegged in front of men and lectures on how submissive they should be. He says only this kind of behaviour would bring them a good life! And do you know what a ‘good life’ means for him? Obviously, it is nothing other than marriage! And he was born and brought up in Chennai Metropolis, and has had enough exposure to the modern world. So, why does he refuse to accept? It is because this uncouth creature doesn’t want to think! Oh sick creatures!

Sexism, discrimination and chauvinism! These are the key personality traits for Indian men, no matter who they are or where they are! Oppression and oppression! Wherever you go! Everywhere around you! In colleges, in schools, in corporate world, in media, within the four walls of the so-called homes, on the streets, in the buses, in the law and justice system…

Shouldn’t women live as individuals? Is this too much to ask for?

An unintended statement, perhaps?