LIFE360
LGBT
CHENNAI
Exclusive Interview
Onir
Being gay is not the only identity I have, but it’s not an identity I am ashamed of
Gaming
Virtual is more Inclusive than Real life
Cinema
Why LGBT is voiceless in Kollywood
Culture
Changing minds through poetry: Denice Frohman
The
“We at 360 are all for being gay (pun intended) ;)” - Rucha Dani, Official Pho-
tea
m!
“I love that we as a society have opened ourselves creatively to homosexuality and can celebrate love through art”- Usha Rani
tographer
Das, Art Director
“Being called “different isn’t so bad. You get to act weird in public without people blinking an eye. LOL”- Disney Tom,
“Love should be without boundaries, race, caste or gender. That’s what Life 360 is about- love and equality!”-
Tech Columnist
“A platform for giving a voice to queer folk in Chennai, and across the country” - Angikaar Choudhury,
Simar Bhasin, Editor
Writer
“We aim to celebrate the LGBT community as part of the mosaic of diversity”- Kabani Mary Alex, Social media manager.
“Life 360 is about staying hip, staying young and most importantly, staying true to yourself!”-Shriya Sharma,Features Editor
LIFE 360 All that matters All the latest updates in brief including India’s first transgender mayor
05
Digitally Queer Gamers’ guide to virtual reality specially its ability to be all inclusive
6
When fashion speaks louder than words...
007
A lowdown on the fashionable pride parades and what their fashion means to them
Onir unplugged
08
10
The multi talented director getting candid about his sexuality and his everyday struggles
No entry for LGBT community in Kollywood Tamil cinema`s stereotypical portrayal of the LGBT community revealed
Power of Conviction
11
A review of award winning poet, lyricist and Slam Jam star Denice Frohman
In Focus: Shilpa Raj
An encounter with photographer Shilpa Raj and her unique projects with transgenders
4 Gay comment: Goa CM knocks ‘ignorant’ minister A flood of criticism from India and across the globe has forced the Goa
Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, to cover up for the controversy flashed by
Here’s why Umashankar must be stopped. Photo Courtesy: Pink Pages
Tamil Nadu IAS officer wants homosexuals killed Goa government denies anti-LGBT remark. Photo Courtesy: YouTube
government to deny any plans to "cure" the LGBT youth. The Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday claimed he was misquoted on the issue.
Tawadkar's claim, said alternative sexual orientation was a "natural thing", accusing his cabinet colleague for "ignorance".
According to reports an IAS officer from Tamil Nadu, C Umashankar, has his name displayed in antigay posters put up by an evangelical Christian group in Kanyakumari. ‘Kill those who indulge in homosexuality’- the billboard
stated, quoting a Biblical verse to support it. The boarding was unveiled at a public square in Kanyakumari and was put up by the ‘Tamil Nadu Christian Progressive Federation’.
All That Matters: Across The Nation Dalit transgender wins Raigarh mayoral election A Dalit transexual made history on 4th January by winning a direct mayoral election in Chhattisgarh and is geared up to become the mayor of Raigarh. "People voted for me as promises made by BJP and Congress were never fulfilled. My victory is a reflection of peoples' love and blessings," said Madhu after her surprise victory. Madhu Kinnar (35) contested as an independent candidate and defeated her rival BJP's Mahaveer Guruji by a margin of 4,537 votes.
This is the first time a member of the LGBT community has won a major election. n
Madhu Kinnar used to earn a living by singing in HowrahMumbai trains. n
She defeated her rival by more than 4000 votes. n
Madhu Kinnar is garlanded by supporters after her unexpected victory over the BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji. Picture: Huffington Post
5
DIGITALLY QUEER When gaming portals became a medium of love Celebrating your sexual identity in India a crime under Article 377 of Indian Constitution. Hence, walking off the closet in India is literally impossible. In this scenario, Games, Apps and Social networking and dating websites is liberating the LGBT community at the least in the virtual world. Games which offer virtual reality allows the user to pursue a life of his/her sexual preference virtually.
Virtual reality of ‘The Sims’; a picture far from reality.
There is not a single game launched in India
Also to launch games like The Sims or
But UNESCO is holding a game design
representing the LGBT community. According
Dragon Age scale, India has a virtual
competition in India where designers have been
to uprising gamers though the scope is good,
non-existent console/PC development scene
asked to pitch games with a social cause. He is
but it runs the risk of being banned soon after
and it's not possible without huge capital
hoping that some of the games will take up
its launch.
investment and a large team.
LGBT causes.
“The young-adults as well as mature
“The only games that currently target the
“India is still very conflicted when it comes
audiences will appreciate games based on
Indian audience specifically are Bollywood and
to freedom of speech and expression. Unless
sensitive issues, but the orthodox population
mythological
Diptoman
the laws protecting the same are improved, I
will do everything they can to "protect the
Mukherjee, geme developer and co-founder of
don't think India will be able to host creativity
Indian culture". Our fight, in essence, is similar
Zombies Indie House.
very well,” said Vishesh.
to that of the LGBT community,” said Vishesh
games”,
said
He also added that this would be a risky
Chopra, writer at Seven Summits, game
project, and no one would take that risk to tailor
designing house in India.
make it for the Indian audience.
DISNEY TOM USHA RANI DAS
Gaming with a difference
Dragon Age lets the user play as any character with any sexual preference. The plot of the game is not based around this but the gamer can choose the protagonist to have relationships with any other character irrespective of gender. The depiction of same sex scenes is one among the major reasons which got Dragon Age banned in India.
The Sims is not story driven. It allows the gamer to simulate everyday life. Characters are created within the game and the gamer can assign these characters to perform tasks, mostly routine life events. The characters can marry or date any other charecter irrespective of gender.
Gone home,on the other hand, bases its story completely around homosexuality, where the protagonist is assigned a task to find out the reason for his sister's disappearance. The whole driving point of the game ultimately unfolds to be her sexual preference and the pressure from her family due to her lesbianism.
6
When fashion speaks louder than words...
Photo Courtesy: indiatoday.intoday.com
Pride Marches are a fashion lovers’ paradise. Our Features Editor and fashion enthusiast Shriya Sharma tells you how fighting for a cause can do wonders to your wardrobe.
Pride Parade’s across the counry are an explosion of colours, feathers, funky headgear, sequence and a lot more!
P
ride Parades have a lot to teach us about fashion. From glittery queens to feathered peacocks, the hundreds of people who take over the streets would put the runway models at the Paris Fashion Week to shame.
Parades have become almost synonymous with expressing yourself
Bursting with energy and colour, pride marches in the country have
emotions inside us and fashion brings out these emotions through colour
come a long way since the first Parade back in 2003. With growing
and glitter”, says Prateeq Kumar, graphic designer and fashion
awareness and openness towards homosexuality, Pride Parades in India
enthusiast.
have helped people in all walks of life come together for a common cause. “ Fashion and Pride are deeply linked. Pride is an expression of who we are, the same as fashion. There are so many people who are afraid
through what you wear. “Pride is all about letting our feelings out. We have this plethora of
The fashion at Pride Marches adds fuel to the atmosphere that is filled with an unmatched energy in the midst of slogans, singing, banners and posters fighting against homophobia and the draconian law that is section 377.
to be who they really are on a day to day basis, Pride gives these people
“Fashion at Pride is about people using clothes and accessories to
a chance to be themselves and more importantly, dress the way they
express themselves. Everything has colour, and the same way we show
want. To me, Pride is like a large scale fashion show, which over the
our colours at Pride through what we wear”, says Punit Juseja, owner
years has become a celebration for the entire city rather than restricted
and designer at 2nd Floor Studio, New Delhi.
to only the LGBT community”, says Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej India Colour Lab and Editor at Large of Verve Magazine. From colourful headgear to masks, message tees, and glitter, Pride
Pride Parades are a fashion lovers’ paradise. The next time you find yourself bored with what is in your closet, make yourself a date with the rainbow flag and get inspired!
7
ONIR UNPLUGGED Director, producer, editor and writer Onir talks to Angikaar Choudhury about the Indian film industry, being ‘different’, and loving yourself When did you first discover your sexuality?
is a lot like the government, they’re only
I was around 19 then....and I grew up in
interested in making money. If making LGBT
men who may also be gay. I have a problem with
Bhutan, which has a very different culture. I was
movies was profitable, everyone would be
a stereotyped portrayal, which is based just on
gay men are the best, they are quite a few nasty
never traumatised by my
that gay identity. It becomes
sexuality. I first told my
a complete mockery.
sister, my brother and then
What would your advice
my mother. I was very
be to those wanting to
fortunate as I come from a
come out but are fearful?
non-judgemental family. I
You must love and respect
never thought I was ‘brave’
yourself for what you are. It
or anything, it was just
is very important to be
another thing I shared with
independent before coming
my sister.
out, so that you are not
Was it scary to ‘come
relying on anyone. Also,
out’ in a repressive society
always remember, you are
like ours?
not forced to come out to
I never thought I was
anyone. Remember, that it is
different just because I am
your own identity and if you
gay. It’s the same as
want to keep it private, it is
speaking
different
as much your choice as
language, does that make
a
coming out is. But, ensure
you
different?
I
have
that by keeping private you
choices,
that
do not lie to anyone or that
doesn’t make me any
anyone gets hurt by your
different from anyone else.
lies.
different
At the end, being gay is
Finally, is it difficult
not the only identity I have,
being openly 'gay' in a
but it’s not an identity I am ashamed of.
nation
“”You must love and respect yourself”
What do you think are the chances of decriminalizing Section 377?
making such movies. The industry is not homophobic, it just doesn’t believe there’s any
that
has
criminalized homosexuality? Yes. Very difficult. I recently visited the Berlin
am very pessimistic about it. The government
money involved in LGBT cinema. So, we are
Parade where thousands of people of all ages
have not even mentioned a word about it. Obama
still stuck at just introducing LGBT characters in
were walking. It is so important to expose
is so vocal about LGBT rights in the US, and yet
our movies to make a mockery of them.
children to these things at a young age, before
in his visit he didn’t touch upon the topic. In the end it’s all about money and nothing else. Do you feel your work has been judged differently, after coming out? I’d answer that by saying that the film industry Photographer: Francois Matthys
What is your stance on the recent
they could make judgements. It is a sad fact that
controversy over ‘I’ in which a transgender
in India two people in a consensual homosexual
was portayed as a villain? I have no issues with a gay character being portrayed as a villain. After all, it’s not like all
relationship cannot walk hand-in-hand with each other.
‘Filmmaker Shanker in a soup! LGBT files complaint against his movie ‘I’ for portraying them negatively Photo courtesy: Wikimedia
‘NO ENTRY’ FOR LGBT CHARACTERS IN KOLLYWOOD With a controversy raging over the depiction of a transgender character in Shankar’s ‘I’, LGBT360 looks into how LGBT community has been depicted in Tamil cinema over the years. The results, as we found, weren’t too positive ANGIKAAR CHOUDHURY Shankar’s latest magnum-opus, I, contains a scene where a transexual
be meeting the commissioner and we are also in touch with other
makeup artiste makes a proposition to the
members of the community to decide what kind of protest it should be."
protaganist Vikram. Vikram’s reaction is symptomatic of the way the Tamil movie industry treats the LGBT community; he brusquely brushes the makeup artiste away making the artiste comes across as a sex addict. LGBT activists in Tamil Nadu are already bristling with rage at this false portrayal of the transgender
KUDOS TO VENKAT PRABHU FOR ATTEMPTING A POTRAYAL OF A HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
says LGBT activist, Sasha Reddy. However, Tamil cinema has never really furthered the cause of the LGBT community in India which continues to fight for decriminalization of Section 377. Very few movies have homosexuality as their theme. The few commercial movies which do have queer characters use them as comic relief. One of the few recent mainstream Tamil movies which
community.
delved into the realm of LGBT rights was Goa. A 2010 romantic comedy
"Transgenders are shown as sex freaks in the movie. About ten of us will
directed by Venkat Prabhu, it managed to incorporate a gay relationship
9 representation or discussion of homosexuality
industry’s most celebrated movies Bombay,
getting mixed reviews, Prabhu was praised for
in Tamil movies should happen this way”, said
directed by Mani Ratnam and later released in
experimenting with such themes.
Chennai-based LGBT advocate Aniruddhan
Hindi as well, showcased a scene where a
Vasudevan. “There is a clear danger in
transgender person gave shelter to one of the
into a coming-of-age life story. Despite
“ Kudos to Venkat Prabhu for even attempting to portray a homosexual relationship in a
uninformed people beginning to see
sons of the protagonist. Movies like
homosexuality and
psychological disorders as being inextricably linked. “ Another
Kamal
Hassan
starrer,
Vishwaroopam,
was
also not received kindly
Onayum Aatukuttiyam and
Take One
Kanchana
Neighbouring Kerala has proved to be far more open about incorporating such themes into Malayalam cinema.
by the community.In one part
have
also
portrayed transgenders in a positive light. Kerala has proven to be far more open. It was way back in 1978 that the first Malayalam movie depicting
homosexuality was released.
of the movie, the heroine rejected
Randu Penkuttikal was inspired by a
the hero because he was too effeminate. Later
lesbian novel and showed a close relationship
on, the heroine does fall for the hero but only
between
when the hero reveals that he is actually a
Desadanakili
macho man in disguise. The inadvertent
undercurrent of homosexuality, while more
message of the movie seemed to be that
recently, Mumbai Police had a fleeting, hazy
two
girls.
The
Karayarilla
1986 also
movie had
an
effeminate men of straight orientation are not desired by women. For a woman to like a man, mainstream movie. It has been told with a lot
he must be sufficiently ‘masculine’.
of humour, but it takes guts to bring it on screen
“Vishwaroopam is much more dangerous just
without turning the characters into laughing-
for the reason that it invokes the notion of deviation from “normal” to capture the
stocks”, said Pavithra Srinivasan from Rediff Movies. However, she was quick to add, “The movie cuts away often to the heterosexual relationships
as
though the director is afraid to dwell too much on this angle” Goa,
however,
was
wife’s
discomfort
with
the
effeminacy of Kamal Hassan’s
Take Two
character
‘Randu Penkuttikal’ was inspired by a lesbian novel and showed a close relationship between two girls.
mostly an exception. One of
Deepan
…“,
writes
Kannan,
blogger.
“It
introductory
a [the
scene]
questions the normalcy and validity of any sexual identity
other
than
heterosexuality or stereotypical
Tamil cinema’s most-celebrated
masculine demeanor. This reflects the
movies, Vettaiyadu Vilayadu, starring Kamal Hassan and directed by Gautham Menon, got
movie’s strong prejudice against queerness.” However,
a
justification
came
from
plenty of critical acclaim for its story. However,
Vasudevan who said, “I wasn’t offended and
the main character’s blatant display of
my interpretation of that scene was very
love-making scene between two men.
homophobia was a dissapointment to many.
different. Even if the heroine fell ‘only’ for the
All said and done, it is time that the Tamil
The
as
macho behavior of the character, I see no
film industry stars portraying the LGBT
psychopathic serial killers who rape and
wrong there. I view it as a matter of personal
community as human beings without making
murder women in gruesome ways.
choice.”
caricatures of them. But are there any brave
movie
portrays
homosexuals
“It is very unfortunate that the first, open
There are exceptions. One of the Tamil film
film-makers ready to take the first step?
10
The Power of Conviction REVIEW: Akansha Ramgopal reviews renowned lesbian Slam Jam artist Denice Frohman.
Picture Courtesy: Denice Frohman official website
“Dear Straight People, sexuality and gender are two different things, combined in many different ways. If you mismatch your socks you understand”
Denice Frohman kicking ass at one of her SlamJams. . “Dear Straight People why do I make you
that is sick and tired of labels.
“Dear Queer Girl, I see you, you don’t want
uncomfortable?” Her voice booms into the
“Dear Straight People, sexuality and gender
them to see you so you change the pronouns in
microphone, charged with accusation. She
are two different things, combined in many
your love poems from her to him. I used to do
makes her audience laughs at first but by the
different ways. If you mismatch your socks you
that. Dear straight people, you make young
end of 3:20 minutes the crowd has felt the pain
understand”
poets make bad edits”
and anger of a circular peg that has been told to fit in a square hole.
Her work is focused on social change, challenging
oppressive
Besides her poetry Denice is deeply
narratives,
passionate about connecting with youngsters.
Denice Frohman is a spoken word poet, a
deconstructing social constructs but most of all
She conducts workshops that focus on a range
lyricist, and an educator. Spoken word poetry
it is about claiming the right to be who you are.
of issues right from identity to storytelling and
needs to be performed instead of just read.
It’s about identity. “There is power in self
hiphop.
It requires a mixture of a performance art and
identification”, she told her audience at the
Her aim is to allow students to find
literary expertise. And Denice is undoubtedly
opening ceremony of Brave New Voices, a
themselves and learn how to excavate stories
one of the best female spoken word poets in the
youth centric poetry slam in the USA.
that celebrate their uniqueness, to use their
world. She won Women of the World Poetry Slam
As a queer woman of colour she is acutely aware of the challenges of being “different” and
Championship in 2013 and that is when her
that is what makes her voice so powerful and
poem, “Dear Straight People”, went viral on the
believable as she urges her audiences to be
internet, making her the voice of a generation
proud of exactly who they are.
voices, “not necessarily the loudest but with purpose”.
In o F cus Shilpa Raj works with
the Fourth Wave Foundation which deals with the problem of the disabled, women and transgenders. In her project ‘The Sacred Third” ,she has depicted transgender as Gods and Goddesses as they were considered the God’d people in ancient India.
Voices Against
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February 7 11:00 am The Asian College of Journalism
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