Puck
Be Naughty...Be Playful !!! Being Gay isn't quite what it used to be, but there's no need to be completely clueless! Introducing PUCK, the magazine by and for the young LGBT crowd—the new quarterly magazine that unapologetically spotlights the flourishing and diverse life of young queer folks with honest, shocking and sexy content. Puck is the alternative. Like our readership, the magazine embraces content that is controversial, opinionated, ironic, and most importantly up-to-date with the tastes and likes of India's queer youth. Presented to ages twenty and up, Puck is a refreshingly honest approach to the stale repetitive world of queer pop culture. Our market is young, but our
appeal is universal, especially to
those who have been waiting for a queer magazine with some bite. Puck Magazine is not only a magazine for youth, but it also captures the spirit of youth. We are playful, queer, sexy, and edgy. Unlike other queer magazines, Puck doesn't merely report news or dryly express popularly held assumptions on queer politics, we taunt homophobia, explore controversial subjects, question gay cultural mores, share outrageous personal stories, and skewer with satire.
What is Puck? At the center of any young queer person's life lies a question: Who am I? Puck Magazine celebrates this question, by exploring what it means to be young and Queer in 2010: · From high-school crushes to coming out, · Your first kiss to your first drunken night at the club, · Surviving puberty to surviving college, · For small town teens with no support network to big-city gay boys starting their adult lives.
Puck's target readership is the Young crowd - Professionals, college folks, struggling artists, post-grads, club kids, even aspiring rock stars. Puck focuses on the larger issues surrounding young queer life: questioning sexuality, youth politics and wider cultural trends. Puck appeals to straight/questioning boys as well as gay youth activists, cultural connoisseurs and highly opinionated gay intellectuals. Puck's audience is young, trendy, funky, queer, alternative, innocent, geeky, bored, adventurous, disappointed, playful, political, non-scene, confused, intelligent, romantic, cute, flirty, sassy, and discovering. Puck is written by-and for-young gay people. From blog post-style articles to exotic travelogues, the majority of Puck's content is user submitted; in this way Puck Magazine cultivates a strong sense of community and identity with its readership. Each issue of Puck is focused around a unique theme, bringing refreshing and unpredictable content to its readers. Trendy, intelligent and ironic, our readers identify with the quality content in each issue of Puck. Being online, the magazine is accessible anytime, anywhere to anyone. Puck differentiates itself dramatically from the usual, boring recipes found in gay magazines today, instead focusing on fresh content and opinions, which empowers, educates, challenges, and entertains a new generation of queer youth. We showcase coming-out stories, heartfelt poetry, and tales of unrequited love, bullying at school, lust on the dance floor, awkward dates from hell, and surviving that quarter life crisis. Puck readers are central to the magazine's message. Puck is honest, provocative, alternative, fresh, funky, flirty, hot, in-your-face, helpful, playful, positive, political, non-scene, worldly, intelligent, innovative, sassy and shocking! So, are you coming or going? Or coming and then going? Or coming and staying? Enjoy while you are here…. ~
Ankur, Irfan, Sourendra & Kanishk
Puck
Be Naughty...Be Playful !!!
Celebrity This Issue :- Mr. Gay Europe 2007- Jackson Netto………..…………….....Pg 5 From the Celebrity’s Pen :- My Sin O’ Sweetheart………...…………...…...………...Pg 8 Diary Of a Gay Boy :- Gay & Single……….…………………………………...……...Pg 9 Diary Of a Straight Girl :- Is that so Difficult ??? …………………………...…...……Pg 10 Events :- Indian Super Queen…………..….…………..……………………………..Pg 11 Queer Nazaria………...………………………...……………….………….Pg 13 Flair :Poetry Voyeur’s Delight………………………………….....……………..……Pg 15 Unquenched Love…………………………………………..…………...Pg 16 My Future??........................................................................................Pg 17 Stories Small Gods……………………………………………...………………..Pg 18 Spirituality……………………………………………………………...…………...Pg 19 Art :- Indian Art resonates to Gay Love………………………...……………..…….Pg 20 Wardrobe Essentials :- Milan Fashion Week…………………………………...…....Pg 22 STDs in Focus……………………………………………………………………......Pg 27 Activism :- Homosexuality—My Logic & Questions………….…………….………...Pg 28 News Bite……………...………………………………………………………….....Pg 29 Indic Flavour :- ੁਫ਼ਨਾ ………………………………………….………………….…Pg 30 खो रहा हूँ ……………………….……………………...…………....Pg 31
E H T F
M E TH T H G ’ I D L E H L G I A H E V O E T R S N P U L E H X ‘SE
O C I AG
rope u E Gay tto r M son Ne k Jac men… on
oor, d t x y-ne o b s ke tto li ng guys… e N you
Q
Adonis, boy-next-door or a geek? Not that I’ve anything against Adonises, but the ‘boy-next-door’ is more appealing to me.
Q
Beer guzzler or wine aficionados? I’m more of a wine epicure than a beer drinker. Wine aficionados are definitely classy.
Q
Cars or bikes?
Bikes !!! They’ve something masculine and are more romantic ;-) Q
Clean-shaven or stubble? Definitely stubble!
Q
Male grooming…how much is too much?
As long as one still looks like a male !!! --- after all that grooming, it’s fine. Generally grooming is fine but threading the upper lips and eyebrows…no! Q
Chivalry vs do-it-yourself? Do-it- yourself has an indirect touch of chivalry. So definitely- ‘do-it-yourself’.
Q
1st date no-nos- no! SEX is a big ‘NO’ for me at a first date. SEX helps to highlight the magic of the unrevealed and makes LOVE more exciting. + Mr. serious taking you to a boring place and conducting an interview!
Q
Candlelit dinner or concert/night on the town? Could we combine candlelit dinner followed by the night out in town? That would be perfect.
Q
Would you watch a match/movie with your boyfriend/husband? But of course! Yeah sure. Popcorn, diet coke and all cuddled up on the sofa - we are ready to watch the match.
Q
Younger men or older?
Younger…uuummm…No matter if young or old, I always find a mature personality attractive. JACKSON NETTO was Mr Gay Europe in 2007. Netto was the first Indian to take the title of Mr Gay Europe and Mr Gay Swimwear (Europe). Mr Gay Europe Contest 2007 was held in Budapest, August 5, as part of Pride Island Europa, Central and Eastern Europe's largest new International GLBTQ celebration. The winner was J. He was crowned as the new Mr. Gay Europe in the building of the Hungarian State Circus in Budapest, hosted by the fabulous Desiré Dubounet. 21 Delegates from The Canary Islands in the south to Lapland in the north were all in the battle for the crown. United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany went on to a super final, where Indian born J representing Germany took home the crown! J was born and brought up in India and moved to Germany when he was 17 years. J misses rice with coconut curry and fish sooo much! J loves it! J feels blessed to have been chosen to represent the GAY community in Europe. J‘s Indian heritage has definitely contributed immensely to it. J‘s journey has been amazing so far. J thanks God for the many blessings restored on his life and for making this dream of Mr Gay Europe his come true. Even though J has relinquished his crown, J is still doing his part for the gay community as a gay individual in our society. J continuously aims to reduce inequality, tries to change people‘s perspective, to open minds and cross boundaries. J likes these quotes:
‘YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD’ -MAHATMA GANDHI
‘IF YOU JUDGE PEOPLE, YOU HAVE NO TIME TO LOVE THEM’ -MOTHER TERESA tittle-tattle: what‘s the Adonis doing dis dayz? J got back from UK on last Tuesday. He was in London and in Liverpool for 3 weeks and usually spends some time with friends, especially with ex-boyfriend Chris. ―It was nice to catch up with my ex-bf,‖ revealed J. He luckily had two photo shoots in London that went well. The rest of the time, prince charming hooked up with friends and went clubbing. Now J is back in Germany. Some plans to visit India soon.
dian or English? In or an m er G he is ackson Netto J d, en e, ri op yf ur bo E r ay ge G un r. yo M of sa well, we suspect, J ha sue of the ‘Puck’ … covert love stories ~ Sourendra Kumar Das xt is To find out, check ne
ed e sinn v ‘ I here ned me w o c s stai i s ee e a r h u y p e to th m o the da we had so c I ne ve eness v i g een do r the lo b o f s r a o gf at h ns ur vei heard beggin to undo wh o y h te roug t un too la run th no God lef t a h t n d an an of pai m s m m ‘ a e e cr I broke that I come to lif s the first loud s d a s t e l h e p g v i command y a n h I broke m s s e s r e v l a ment and a e p e f e t l h e e l y s s i xth comm n let Lus em o c n s I e h m b a t be my roke the ndment a ea r and d d God n e n i d make y nth comm ick w I e o b a u r s ndment a oke my o r trust i tho n us mis nd reap wn comm hate from lead andment my frien of my co d m strong I mitment to you ti am, I s ll the en c r e weak I amed ou d. t bold turned to the swee cut, wou t tempta nded and tion of l shattere leaving m us t d you lie o e the sam n the flo e for wh or ich I‘m to blame I‘ve tor n them a part, our our perf hopes an ect worl d dreams d of perfec Eve‘s si t love n made A dam leav my sin m e paradi akes us se leave ou and so w r s e do- bu t on diff erent pat hs I repent for my s ins and never ag swear ain to hu r t the one I but temp tation cr love eeps righ to scar t t a t he next e the next poch of corner pure lov e eart, Sweeth ´ O y a nd pr d hope a e n a h s i orgive m f l l i so I w w e had y heart. day thou adise w m r e a n n i p o e u t h o a t th for rry y u and ca mber me e o y m e e r v o d l an ays hall alw for I s this poem is a dedication to my love… Jackson Netto (Written in Germany, Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 12:58pm)
J wrote this poem when he broke up with his ex-boyfriend Chris. J felt really profoundly and expressively attached to it...
zy just d so cra e r e id s n ve is e co what lo ould hav s w t' a I th t f o u t some s ago...b did mee 6 month I e d y a a m w r the have eve Along right? nds I ie r f out me b s t agical in a a s e o w s s lo k I c in e t was m o th g th I y a e t. s k h th g t‘ c n a a ig gly (th tb d thing st r uite lo that grea surprisin ell almo G-world very goo e ll a Not q & W e ig k ‘t b n li d s e n a e r t a at a bu as we into th was ne w I was n) a nd w eginning Partie s e e b . . h n o ll t e e c thrown ti to k th s s c d a e ll y n b u the ding eemed to for me th to a sta called it ge city f roads s walls of what I then but l in a hu it came ll p ir a g ‘t n m n e a e e s r d g m a e e la h w w t's when ugly ay a vil ed t h G. 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Ultim r . y li t il f .I a s o .. l a n th a e t tu e in ist w a ren could li at the vir ith a tw as diffe gay man th w e i t was w n s f e a o s O r I s w o t e . c ll u w a en ng I g rule. A al flirti eeting m ha t you pted the 16...so ing any er actu it in m atte r w I attem w t th m o a o Havs n ll s th ‘t a o n f le d e e id to h asn‘t it d tra ction. guy realis w is r d n d e n Nevert o a I ld s o o a s e e e w h v o...t ng I for I li it. I .from on of flirti ought s looking e doing ...whe re th t o s il c d h a a o flirting.. w w h I e h w t t ‖ t e a h ry that nig bout wh just me tered at The ―sit y in eve I lied a wasn‘t ing ma s . Later rfect gu e prey. e h . p t e w g e ig e e n a h s k th m t y a I ad ind be c arty grea ut m realized ied to f redator at the p e than r and abo p tr I e o t n . m d s o w e y ir f r n a f o r e s tu y self ed ev It had r guy I d had m I realiz proved it my life. n e othe y. I ha i f l d o a n e o t r lr a a p n needy. wa s my age nificant 's grow . I o g… e h n f took i ti w l r li g f g Queer nowin o my in k t e b n lesson in i o d t n d a t. on go had rte ed gay sta I have .hooked ing. I ha se fad n .. p g a 7 s e e x in e h e g 4 m b a 2 T s r s w e e e ed pa rtnergame of what m e ntire n d stopp grew old lifelong a nasty ver an e. I ha As I new and o m in t to t o in u n g to o in d e id v e d e r and row mor urne rted beli rule and g togeth ped to g t had t ta o in meaning I s ld h iv o f .l e I .. s 4 s o t. e h iag ejec omeone. . T e now s....marr ct and r liaisons e with s ip le f e h using th y li s s m f e o e f to s ut… . cof joy pa ttern not abo someday ing tiny r s it ne r and a a f h in have a o w s d n y s g so ga wa nd fu includin it was mothe r lt being e d new a . f y e .. m k m c started e I , e u d f s e I er d to be a ll of it approach issing. . why h cide...an seemed dates. A g major was m As 21 picious.. meet...de e r s r e u t o h s s f T il e g h tl ay. I w kin lit re. ethin being G was loo runway‖ uch mo etting a but som I in t g m c . e g je e p it o n in r t o ty g p a n ― m gay ere wh elo have a watched ore. I a game wh se of b ot know m y n e n y e o did not n b s th a id d d s o e lf e h e S tim ys a tc it. tepped g and I doubt m ove r at ss I s r guys w ther hits e ‘t e k o n u th o o g e somethin o d h to t I h n I d t . n i rustratio a ball a ud of it i cult w oi ng a s . was... f throws and pro le d i f f re n‘t g t e e t after all to w m li e s ti g e s a m y ta rd g r s ti e n i v t s h e a 3 a t e d w … r h t ons whe n It‘s ha of l i fe as into f que sti I am them to. te. I w hirlpool dment o la r w a b e in my own m th e o n expected b m o a to c . t g in u it r in o o d v d li are out ate back sucke now and stepped nd I h hen you friends a w 3 not get I y 2 e u m p o o to w y c o to s n a round ly began a micro attached ds were g come gayness I slow till as e under ege frien r...havin s . s g e ll a d e li o e ll r c k d o a a a e c y n e m s (r e f ar and my s I wa ro m th n live s there be Most o friend s y se l f f ile I home a ith the their ow h m w e w h s t ) e it u lo c s o c w n a g GF me gin ation usy d i st when out to so e frustr y. I b egan han Fs and b il th s B m t' d l a a e n e f h e a v f T ti s d . e ec friend I don‘t s consider ngs of y mothe r ht resp now wa siste r and feel pa ow I he thoug e with m n y .t ll m b .. o ti e le h h s v p t o ic lo a e h I p ve in t still kable. s lirting, w e, paid like before...but not belie the pas a s unthin virtual f h of a li c f w y u o still did m y m u s g g o r te s in a ing Sc rela not ealed with a eline ss.. bit and eady s w k of h I could n a s lr h o a lo a h of living m a s w a e y x g w e th gu asier gly takin eneath t 19 I an a s me t the much e Almos rson th off. I urting b unknowin e h o p t d s u . n n o a a s h o a s it ti y s a w a Gu rfect. W Pink N amn it with the to more was pe into the first skin...d s e p y H te m s . y a e to in d G y… my ba b machin jumped ing being 16 an I th e e m m o ti s g wasting a s doin ip. I w h s n o ti rela
~ Sagar Dave
As a teenager, it was a sheer pleasure to sit around with my gang of girls and talk about the cute boys in the town. Even when with the male friends it was so essential to discuss their crushes and discuss endless tips on dating. Even when in college or at work place, whether single or not, a guy doesn‘t skip checking out on girls around him and a girl, the boys around her. It becomes the essence of life at college or at work place. But what if the guy sitting with you shares your feeling for a cute boy in your class? What if your neighboring boy talks about his passions for other boys? How would we as so called ―normal‖ people interact or behave with the aforesaid guy. Probably make fun of him or laugh at him at his back or just mock at him. We are a society ridden with hypocrisy. On one hand where people are fighting with the government to legalize same sex relationships and marriages while on the other hand if there is any gay couple or even a person in our neighborhood, we look at him with disgust and ridicule. Why does this double faced demeanor has to exist
in our society? When we claim that we live in a free world where people are given right to choose their religion, then why are people being prevented from choosing the partner of their choice? I happen to have a gay friend in my class and rather than scoffing at him, I very much admire him. Not because he is gay, but because he had the guts to admit to the whole class about his preference of people in life. There are many such people in our society but how many actually have the guts to come out in the open and admit their true feelings. Just like I would listen to any of my normal friends rambling about their crushes and infatuations, similarly I listen to the fancies of this friend of mine also. The only difference is that he does not talk about the opposite gender. But like the others he is also my friend and as a friend, as a human being, I respect his judgment and his feelings and am in a position to comfortably talk to him about his ―love‖. That is possible because I consider him to be as human as I am rather than any lower being only because he is different. Is that so difficult? ~ Mrugaja Joshirao
India. mes in ti c ri to is appreciate the pre-h we aim to t, i a , from n s e y v e la a is areness th create aw Through from M o i, a ls b a N m u d T n a f M xual and ty AC the beau ay Bi-se Mayor o ere A P G , v ig th a n f h B ia d I b a f s . e o e L nity as a curs tor dha J ) Commu is not a about the su, direc eir Shra a T th ty e B li B th f a o G l g u u x n e e a o v (L cti ―Homo-s a were am nsgender Anita K ll irrespe Malishk jury. Tra u ld h e e loves a e h o J i adds. h , th s R m d x o , in a y G y rg re is Syne hole,‖ L ho we l nd wh w w a u s x y A e e a s g m o a . and hom le n d lend s e xua li ty high profi get up an st his y women n in d to a a n g m a ts a s d e is re te v ti e w ate acti crea mmuelebri discrimin nd there rge other s himself GBT co lesbian c u A a h d L n ―I e to e a h e th w y m rv o a g o g h se sh in liftin of aware y also de night to vists and children w their hand up that and acti orld. The ger events w u ig d o b e . ry y is e e rn e it th th is k n tu n u li ro a b had org sent to an beings own comm universal en who nity and ormal hum ill show rt for their uper Que o w p S p eaning,‖ h u n m ic s h ia t d ir h live like n w n ness its rig s of I the the s a in e d c e th c e y d u ra it s n a in a e is M er eyes, hum m e . Th ITC tears in h that India hood and d. h t rl it a ts o ty c w u e w i a fl g e m b le re x in ho en e na supLa (ISQ) T he e v in the w saw thes ter Celi igned off y le i s is c a o b -s h ra c ld m m w o u u u o m -c e e M nd sure th ―None w largest d heraton, e her frie r arms. the ramp. is I am ome whil nefited. S g th e s b in n vist in he h a lk e g ti a b th c u w a s ro l e s s il n th le Th w e e d g e u y q in rt it th , po commun an eren‘t any amazed lden letters LBGT llow hum ay they w od. I am tten in go s o ri w s w y ll e rd o b a r e our fe o l v w B il ri lo to p f w ro o t y y g te o s n a e n a a in d h n as e div hout e ca stand This girls wit ate them e step ans- of th s ―If w n in e u tr o s m lo e g d ri u n th c in b a is o is fa g s w d d gay o a are ee ho as it beings an e lives of ling can d als, we , ex to s e e u th y d x s r o le e e e s it m fo th s o a e f y m o re th o J it su na for r h nce Human said Celi exuals o d experie n Rights ing, I am s n a ,‖ a th m y ia r ts u n d o s a n H d li a id t I a s o ic ty s n as fs bas gender in inst the b show. If lthy life,‖ brand am fession o olly- aga ve a hea ndia, the pt the pro li o . B I uald x n a e s Q e e v s n th is S e o a c I m in -M TGs jobs of Ho ople to e n mber of le p e o b ti m e a ta c z th ry e li , p a ju z any an res he leg one of the because m ajie Nath and other elina. ―T ia R d e C n th id I a d 1, s o 2 in o ,‖ yw try ng mi or bruary the Boll ood indus took so lo one Lax w f ed in Fe o y h i is it it n m t a x s w l a li rg ia n o c ty L e e as an happe s gay s g the sp gainst th ISQ w 010 by reforms c of famou g up a ere amon r r of 2 in w e e d b e n rt m o a th ta e h u s m q w in n na try nder first Revolutio one Celi et- indus athi, fou ing. a p n ri e N t v u T e ll r a e e B n d n . th a n e n for wh atio ransge Naray discrimin take place the quests acific T t. ly n P n s a o a e ls g n w ia a a a s u p c x o e s the A g homose N), wh to win th es of gay rt treatin PACT ly proud y got liv represent n ta it o s n ed in (A to u t d l o d m il n a ia m rk d w a o n o m n c w Celi t my ndians l ―I a ,‖ from I a I s r th ra g e e e d y in n n e p e e b p W G g a n s a ty. m h UN first tran ormal hum the socie But I a in the . 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If this f my hom Jaipur. g s o g a u t d in im n u m a o T n o a n G d c ro a b B ell s g and to throw Ahmeda ainbow L ia, you w en lend h ―I was t rigorou d R v n n e e p e I d to to rw ri t e e e d I P b n th u ht re. of the her eyes. finalists other mig ears befo by some alked in h tears in ta eight y ‘m many sessions it stants w a I g w te lk . n i o in o G m c in x K a T e a tr h fa and stry. T Walk in s,‖ said L the life o f the indu respect u e age of 18 t to live, y th lo m n a ho also e e d s e stylists o e tw k in e re-ga of ta ctress w ijras b ‘ a e h t, v is r n s a , o a h a s e b s a g e a I G w p too am is Bis that d on th were T rough th Seema said, ―I nd glad th a ere judge e e w s y th u ts il o a e h m c s i) and w fa the kill anerj and 30 from my of gays rpan B special s supported s , e (A y v it li v a ti a rn e p th pa e s ent their cre said A y. 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~ Sherwin K.D.
There is a lot of change India as a nation and Bombay as a city has experienced since this city last saw an international LGBTI film festival. After a long wait of six years the city saw the first LGBTI film festival Queer Nazariya (QN) in the first week of April (2 till 4).
differently from the majority, a ray of hope, recognition and dignity. ―We brought engaging documentary and fiction films from 13 nations worldwide, and a highlight of the festival was a specially created package of films from South Africa. And our invites list was not only concentrated to the community but to everyone,‖ said Smriti Nevatia, one of the curator, who is well The queer scene in Bombay here is thriving with activists known for her movies on social issues like ‗Lakshmi and Me‘ groups, social networking sites, weekly parties, and many and the like. cultural events that included Queer Azadi March, and also the city‘s first queer store Azad Bazar at Bandra West. ―We were happy to welcome Nodi Murphy, Director of South Africa‘s Out In Africa Gay & Lesbian Film ―There are too many reforms on LBGTI issues going on in Festival, along with other friends from Bangalore, Delhi, India. Perhaps we are all waiting for a major revolution before Pune and Bombay who will facilitate interesting and important we step into the second decade of the century. Gay men are well discussions. We also had some challenging photo exhibits by accepted in the society now, though not entirely legally,‖ said Kabi, memorabilia from last year‘s march, and an installation by Anupama Basu, a first-year student of Mithibai College who the queer feminist group LABIA on the milestones in our came with her friends for the first time to a queer film festival at collective struggles and journeys towards a better future,‖ National College. revealed Nevatia. Basu feels apart from fighting for rights, now gay men and women are partying and having more fun than their counterparts today. ―We don‘t hate gay people anymore as we know how they are. In fact I have seen they are quite sensitive and sometimes too fashionable compared to the straight fraternity. The attention that they are getting to be born with an alternate sexuality shows that India as a nation is not only progressing legally but also socially towards the community. Some of the movies screened in the festival were fun to watch like ‗Call it Slut‘, where Lakshmi as a transgender enjoys all the attention she gets while waking in the streets,‖ added Basu.
Kabi is a Bombay-based media practitioner, activist, oral historian and urban documentor. Seth Sethani, which premiered at the Nigah 2008 Queer Family exhibit, engages in practices of appropriation, reassertion, and subversion of meaning. Through playful engagements with gender and identity, Seth Sethani is the first in a series of navigations through the various nooks and crannies of Bombay's spatial and social complexities. This was Haseena Zulfonwali's first public appearance outside of the rooms of her home. Unlike other festivals, the curators of this festival did not go about inviting entries. ―We sourced films from established queer festival websites, and asked filmmaker and activist friends for suggestions. We also looked for films from various countries and cultures, not just Western Europe, USA and Canada. We‘ve got 49 films that will be screened at the festival,‖ Nevatia informs. She also reveals that organizations in the city, such as LABIA, Gay Bombay, L Lounge and Humsafar Trust, continually screen films on homosexuality and that there have been a few festivals before.
A six minutes documentary called ‗Lost and Found‘ by Delhi -based filmmaker Shrenik Jain was fun to watch for many. It shows how funny cruising for a gay man can be in a bus. ―I shot this film in a moving bus in 2007, just for fun. And now it has become a part of most of the international film festivals across the globe. I did experiment by putting a bit of reality tinge in it. We decided to take the longest route and to get the real effect we did not inform the audiences, who we are. They thought we are some foolish tourists fooling around. In this short movie, I wanted to depict the fun part of gay men‘s life, ―The festival was a huge success over thousands of guests who which straight people are not aware of,‖ said Jain. came over the three days. Everyone enjoyed the some serious, some fun-filled movies without an air of prejudice or hate,‖ said Hold On was Jain‘s another 12 minute movie which depicted Sophie Parisse, another curator of QN from Belgium who New Delhi after dark, shady and deserted where a man is was also the curators for the Nova Cinema in Brussels, cruised by another man in one of the many corners of CP. But Belgian Independent Film Festival and the likes. ―I am there is no protection available! It‘s too late for any medical happy to find out many young boys and girls came out and now store to be open. The two embark on a condom hunt. ―I love to feel free to wear their alternate sexuality on their sleeve, now include the fun element in my movies,‖ revealed Jain. that we all know how is it to be gay,‖ signed off Parisee queerly. The curators of the film festival felt that the recent historic Delhi High Court judgment against IPC 377, gave a desire ~ Sherwin K.D.
, a flight of e m in h it w ite. elight, you Voyeur's d , a sugary b d in m r u o y within s a sport!, a w fancy, and I g in h tc a as though, w of fashion. You watch t u o g in o was g ur side, nor yo and that I y m e v a le r e yes nev at my body. g For your e in k o lo f o l, ve from off ur last mea o stares to lea y s a w I s though, heart, You look a ptive in my a c a re e w h you oner of my is r and as thoug p a d n a ; u r all times ll me that yo a prisoner fo te d n a t, e fe ip at my have had s e y e love. Worsh r u o y n ll, and whe you'll have; e love me sti r o m e m o me, then s gh for you. their fill of u o n e r e v e n glance is for just one
Voyeur 's delig ht, for though you lick I offer your lip y o u a yum I've on s as ly offe my me a r l, yet s ed you morsel a mere till, to whet t a s t e , y a teasin our app Be gon g etite, an e for no w d ! , n o more. the drea until I m lands 've gone , down in and brin dreams to g up fo as flow r y e o r u your nec , sultry garlands k, and s t o s t w ring ab eet word your bo out s as jew dy; for y els to a ou're my dorn loyal lov e servan t.
Voyeur me, in f 's deligh o k n i r d s t, watch e y e r a u n o 'd y a y me peace e n r h g o t f e l , , . t k h l Y g a t es, you eli ably slee d d l u 's o r c u e s y also eve bathe in p as eye f Vo o f i t i d b n n y a the foam , er w s v e y a a t r c o w h f s m s y suds, n e as I tawdrine deliciou dripping are glutto e I to s r s e e s y e w a r r c u o r f o as sens oss my y , you love ual glistenin say that ne y ugh. Yes o o h n e y k t g o c n i i g t t w t s s e a g r k t u i c r n h? For ! Don't yo me, neve yes you , I'd be yrupy I go about t s r e e s h s t e d k w my day's atch me et s uc as be a swe re creature fo d you'd a u n c s a t a i e v , l n i p t o i e s, as a r my e ou w e h Y c ! y o r t d very lov Oh adm rabid comb until I'm irer, true e and en rest a ; h t e m d n a m , o e r a and fair, ttention. m juices f I beg o ur fill of o the not neglect you o t y p t e a g s e f t r duties, m you, to d ee eyes upo drone!, co of layin o s, as sw e c i u j n y m g m . e!, For n y i l o i a t u g n r a u g l u e n l i your eye stful I shall w hi s, to be are a flow demand ; r i x i l e o n n of you, ly for m to be in Gods, a e, and yo worship u r attenti ful adora one true on tion of m love! L e a l o ne; your et none your pat other pe h nor a rson cro ttention, thing, an ss for I'm d I'm y o ur every your ow n vo-
Voyeur's delight, for I think of you too, as mine and mine alone, and together, we're voyeurs of each other's titillating desires. The way each other moves to the rhythms of the other, the sensual vibrations given off the other, as sparks of attractions, only for you; and for your eyes only! I'm to you, your God, and you're to me, my servant; and together we rise up to cast gifts as flowers raining down as love mists; and our sensuous moments consecrated!
~ Marcel Duvoix
e v o L d e h c n e u q Un
You just walked out of my life...leaving me stray I prayed...I begged...I yearned for you to stay But you had higher dreams for yourself You preferred to neglect the one who was all for you Leaving me wretched and helpless...you left!!! Missing the shoulder that used to comfort me... The arms that used to embrace me... Longing for the warmth of your lips that once showered love unconditionally... The voice which soothed my ears like the countless tinkling temple bells... The face which nourished my eyes for days uncounted... Tears no longer know any dyke, They want to reflect what my heart is feeling like... Days pass in the doldrums... and sleepless nights are all that I have... Today I feel dejected and lost, What of our promises never to forsake... Life has now become an endless nightmare, with you not around, it is difficult to bear... The world turns hostile and friends play foe, People I took pride in, make me feel low... Was this how my life was supposed to be, as in the case of Kaanha and Raadha's love story... They were born to love and be together till eternity, however destiny had her own wicked plans.. Even though Raadha couldn't be with Kaanha, their love became immortal... But why did it have to be me, who fell prey to fate‘s evil designs... why did the epoch of my love, have to be so ephemeral... What sin did I commit to face the plight, wherein burning lava is being poured on my tender heart day and night......
~ Doodle
When I was a little boy, I wondered what I will be Will I be rich, will I be strong, what will the future hold for me
M
yF utur e ?? ?
whatever will be, will be, its not for us to see, not even a glance to steal will ever the future be good to me
When I was busy growing up, not bothered with problems keeping up, why did I feel the need to hide, behind the corner of everyone's side why should I feel the shame, to live to glory of my name, Am I the only one to sin for the love I cant keep it in whatever will be, will be, its not for us to see, not even a glance to steal
When I became a young man,
will ever the future feel good to me
I asked about my dreams, Will they ever be realized true or allowed to walk over you do I get to see love in life and be touched tenderly even in strife And hear soothing words he has to say to feel the rainbow day after day whatever will be, will be, its not for us to see, not even a glance to steal will ever the future be true to me
~ Rohith
Small things in Big Lives, Big Things in Tiny Lives July in Kolkata is a hot, brooding month. The days are long and humid. River Ganges shrinks and black crows gorge on ripe mangoes in still, dusty green trees. Green bananas ripen, turns yellow. Jackfruits burst. Dissolute bluebottles hum vacuously in the fruity air. Then they stun themselves against clear windowpanes and die, fatly baffled in the sun.
out darling, you will look like a Prince!‖ To that Sarvesh had questioned, ―Do you love me?‖ The lover had replied holding Sarvesh in his arms and kissing him deeply in his lips, ―Baby, you are my Prince Charming. I will always love you!‖ His love lasted for 9 months and a few days. Enough to make Sarvesh a father, only if two could manufacture human babies.
Prince of Small Things – in the Land The nights are clear, yet humid but suffused of Small Gods. with sloth and sullen expectation. The expectation that met an unexpected beginning Sarvesh looked at his mother vaguely for a on its expected thirteenth day at the eight hour minute and then touched her feet. Amazing, before the day would end. how a creature in this world can love you so unconditionally! But by early August the monsoon breaks and there are three months of wind and water Latter when he was in the bathroom, taking with short spells of sharp, glittering sunshine bath, he looked at himself and found he has that thrilled children to play snatch with. grown up. King of Big Things has grown Mayanagar, the countryside turns an up to realize he is now Prince of Small immodest green. Boundaries blur as tapioca Things. fences take root and bloom. Brick walls turn moss green. Pepper vines snake up electric Sarvesh stood still for a moment, hot water poles. Wild creepers burst through laterite streaming through his whole masculine body banks of Ganga and spill across the flooded greatly carved as a handsome prince, roads. On the rocks that are laid beside the handsome and tragic prince. The Cupid on his huge trees. Beside which Sarvesh has taken chest remained steady holding his arrow, bath once, flaunting his dhoti. And later ready to shoot. One afternoon he had taken jumped in the muddy water and would take bath at Tamuna River in January. He had bath. How many times, he would think of the committed a big blasphemy. Being a disciple, whole world. This is the world that had loved he has raised voice against his Spiritual him and had taught him to hate it. Master. What a Blasphemy! One should And the second dip he would remember about his beloved Vrindanagar where he learnt more about Love and Love alone. By the end of third dip he is with the Almighty and is singing ―Jai Gurudev, Kreepa karo hai Gurudev, mo-re paapi tomar payer tolay sthaan dao. Tumi chara mo-re kei baa aacha aei sanshaare...‖(Hey my Spiritual Master, Have mercy on me, I‘m sinful, give me shelter at your feet. Apart from you, who else is there in this world...‖) Ganga would spill across the flooded fields. Boats ply in the bazaars. And small fish appear in the puddles that fill the potholes on the highways. It was raining when Sarvesh came back to Kolkata. The small tulsi plant was visible from the road. The somehow old house at the end of the road wore its steep, gabled roof pulled over its ears like a low hat. The tin roof is gone. Well, Sarvesh was dreaming. It is a new Home with new paint on it. How things change, yet they never change. Sarvesh looked at his waist, from 28, now it is almost 30. Has he grown fat? Well, one of his lovers from the past had said once, ―Work
live in Hell for million lifetimes. The cold water of Tamuna has burnt his body. Sarvesh shouted and called for God. But the Small god never came to rescue the Prince of Small Things. Here in Kolkata, he has spent his whole childhood. One day how he has returned home with a beautiful stone that was lying in the road. This city has given him many things, colorful stones, green leaves, beautiful flowers, fruits stolen from road-side garden, sweets, and a lover who had loved him in the park. Friends who have taught him that stones can be costly if they are rare. Well, all those stones collected and preserved under the earth were rare. And Sarvesh knew one day they would sell them and get a lot of money. The land got protected and on top of it, now stands a three storied house of the Mishras. So, the stones are safe and no one can dig that out of the mud.
But a viable die-able age. But how Sarvesh would know that, because he was five years old when Baba died. The day Baba died, Sarvesh woke to find that his shorts were wet. Nowadays, it is wet too and sticky. This wetness would come to him when his lover boy would come in his dreams. Sarvesh thought Baba was just sleeping and tricking them as the neighbors were looking at him. Sarvesh does the same thing. Every morning mother calls him in the morning. He pretends he didn‘t listen. So, he cheats his mother and sleeps for ten minutes extra every day. No one knows this secret apart from Sarvesh and Mini, his best friend in School. In Mumbai, he would pretend to sleep and not notice anything when his lover would stroke his fingers all over, kiss him in his neck and hug him in his arms. And the whole morning would go away in love-making with his love. Men are fathers, Men are brothers, Men are friends, and Men are Lovers too. Sarvesh had dinner and went to sleep. He didn‘t feel like talking much to anyone that day. Anyways, it was pretty late. In front of the mirror, he took off his shirt and was admiring the boy standing inside the mirror. A boy with wheatish complexion with sharp features and well grown arms was standing in front of him. A cupid smiled on his chest with a red ready arrow to shoot. It took a second for Sarvesh to recognize the man who stood there. There had being so many men who had loved this body, he thought. Sarvesh just recalled Mukesh had once said in one of his telephonic conversation, ―You are the biggest intoxication in my life!‖ Sarvesh had asked, ―What in me do you love the most?‖ Mukesh had replied, ―Your beautiful body. It is the flawless animalistic charm in you that binds me to you.‖ Well Mukesh had been four times older than Sarvesh, fit enough to be his grandfather. Yet, he would love his grandson‘s body like a tiger would love the flesh of the deer. Alas! Here the deer had human feelings too!
How many men must have rolled their lusty tongue and kissed his navel. And how many have licked the cupid on his chest. The list was countless. He started counting, but left it at last. Sarvesh thought of counting the number who had loved him (not his body). Well, he couldn‘t start, before he could start, Baba was thirty-nine when died. Thirty-nine he left it. In his white shorts with silver is enough to have two children and a good- buttons on it, he lay in his bed, waiting for looking wife. Thirty-nine is too early to leave some Greek God to come and hold him and make wild godly love to him. None came. the world. Prince of Small Things slept in his large Not old. bed. Not young.
To be continued…
~ Sourendra Kumar Das
I have been asked to write something about spirituality. I'm not a "writer" and nor am I in a position of knowing "truth" as it applies to another person so I can only share something about my own understanding, from my own experiences of life and how it applies to me and my journey. A seeker asks this question … "I'm gay and I want to ask if it is a hindrance in my development and if it is what can I do to get free?" "No need to be worried. It is not a hindrance, nothing. Only one thing is a hindrance in spiritual growth. That is a rejection of yourself. Gay or not, that doesn't matter, if you can accept totally, there is no hindrance. The hindrance comes not from your being gay; it comes from your rejecting it. If you accept, it is perfectly okay. It is irrelevant in a way." Osho "This is it." Darshan Diary, Tuesday, May 10, 1977. I first came to India in about July or August of 1980 at the age of 25. I was on an overland trip to London from Australia and I didn't expect to stay for much more than a few weeks. I had the address of an ashram in Pune, given to me by a client who had come back from there wearing bright orange clothing, a mala with a photo of her guru around her neck and a new name. I came out of my first discourse in a sea of orange clad, very exotic looking people, in a daze, having no idea what was going on, what I was doing there, who these people were, who this man was, what language he was speaking, but even though it wasn't clear to me in that moment, I was already completely and totally in love. At some point during that first morning I asked someone what language he was speaking and was dumbfounded to be told that he had been speaking in English!!! I could hardly believe that I'd sat through a two hour discourse, completely mesmerized, not understanding a word of what was said and that he'd actually been speaking in my native language. Within that first week I had asked to take Sannyas and I knew in my bones that this was where I wanted to be for the rest of my life. I completely dropped all ideas of the
rest of my trip to London and before very long I made plans to move permanently to Pune. If it was adventure I was seeking I had certainly found it, and the journey since then has been full of it, with many ups and downs, rich and varied and with unending surprises too many to tell here. In the 30 years I have spent as a Sannyasin of Osho, I've lived in India for about 12 years. I've had two long relationships with Indian men, both of whom now live in Australia. I've run my own manufacturing and exporting company out of Jaipur and I've seen India change from a country where even in a big city one would have to book an international telephone call 24 hours in advance to a nation that is pushing it's boundaries in each and every direction.
to grow and learn, it becomes stupid if I go on repeating the same mistakes. If fear prevents me from trying new experiences then I am crippling myself and I will never become my full potential. Spirituality isn't a concept, an idea, something separate from myself. It is the essence of who I am. As far as spirituality is concerned it is irrelevant who I am or what I do. I may be a movie star or a very rich businessman or I may be a bus driver or an office assistant. What is important is how I express myself, how I do what I do. In my daily life, I need to be aware; how do I relate to my colleagues? … how do I relate to my boss, to my servant, to my partner? Am I condescending? … respectful? … loving, angry, happy, grateful? These are the things which are important in terms of my spirit and my consciousness. When I bring my attention, my awareness to these things, that is when I see who I am. A happy person, one who is in tune with himself, in love with himself, with his environment will bring change; change to his love life, to his family life, to his work environment and ultimately to the world.
Question … "Is there a possibility for gay people to transform sexual energy in a tantric way?" "Yes, as much as is possible for any other type. There is no problem in it. Accept yourself totally and enjoy the way you are; don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself. And from every place one can move towards God. There is not a single place from where you cannot move. So nothing to be worried about, just be happy and comeback! Good!" "You will feel the most significant Osho "This is it." Darshan Diary, experience, you will become ecstatic if you Tuesday, May 10, 1977. can feel that the whole existence needs you, that you will be missed, that if you are not Spirituality as I see it, is simply how I here there will be a gap, you will be missed. express myself in this physical world. How You are not unnecessary, you are not I relate and respond to the forces of life as superfluous; you have tremendous I make this journey from birth to death. In significance. the blink of an eye I came into this world and took my first breath and in a similar Hence, love yourself. You are needed as breath I will be leaving. What happens in much as the trees, as the flowers, as the between in the broad scheme of things doesn't birds, as the sun, as the moon, as the stars. amount to much more than those two breaths. You have to be here and you have a right to But at any given moment I have a choice be the way you are." Osho whether I will react or respond to a situation. If I react I am simply following the forces of nature. Reacting, according to the conditioning of the society I was born into, to my parents, my teachers, my religion, the peer pressure of my friends etc etc. If I respond, it is my own intelligence, according to my own understanding and experience. The response may be right or it may be wrong that is irrelevant, but it is my own and not something given to ~ Swami Parambodhi me. Making mistakes is an intelligent way
Art is everything, a true friend and a life-time partner in life. Art is worship and I am a mere devotee, as life itself is a work of art,‖ feels Pulkit Mohan Singla, a Delhi-based artist who is famous for his gay erotic art that not only evokes arousal but also depicts scenes of love-making between two same sex human beings. Singla feels that art is a very major and important field in today‘s era as many are seen investing in art. ―Art is not mere a show item in modern days, but it represents your lifestyle, the value of some of the master-pieces being costlier than gold or many precious stones. In this multi-ethnic society of ours, artists play a significant role of portraying momentous issue. Art can be a powerful medium to let your voice be heard yet being in the balance,‖ he adds. A portrayal of same-sex love art can be challenging at times because perceptions of both what is erotic and what is art might oscillate. The painting of phallus in India might be treated as overly erotic, whereas in Africa it is a traditional symbol of power and influence. There lies a fine distinction between erotic art and pornography, though both depict intense scenes of love-making and are intended to evoke erotic arousal. These elements of distinction lie in the intent and memorandum which are highly subjective. ―I do not find erotic art as something gauche. The shiv linga itself is the religious symbol of the union of the male and female sex organs. Sex is one of the most over-powering desires in human beings, and truth of human existence. There is no ignominy in acknowledging it in the form of art,‖ said the artist. In India, the Khajuraho temples do contain external carvings that bear erotic carvings of human beings on the outside of the inner wall. In the history of
Kamasutra, the stimulating sculptures portrays the zenith of erotic art, slanting, broad-hipped and high breasted nymphs display their liberally curved and be-jeweled bodies and same-sex lovemaking couples. ―I took personal interest in depicting homosexual love, because I do not find many in India would be courageous enough to take up this theme for this artwork. We do not hate gay men anymore, as we understand their love being a part of their being. I have many friends in the gay community and I truly respect them for what God has made them, and there is no turning back. When I met this section of the helpless society who are so pious from heart, I felt like lending my hand. If my art can bring awareness to the society and help them get recognition, there lies my success. We think they are other people, we never realize that it can be our son, our brother, our friend, who might declare his alternate sexuality tomorrow,‖ revealed Singla sighting that enough discrimination that exists on the basis of caste, creed, religion, sex and there is no requirement for sexuality to divide one human being from another. Singla has been painting since his childhood days, when he lost his mother. He began copying master paintings from books of mythology, especially the male nude art by Michelangelo and Ingres. It did not take long for the artist to discover the beauty of real naked men in the flesh. ―The act of drawing naked boys is not like that of portrait photography, it takes more time and the drawing is a record of that time and of my thoughts. For me, a drawing is a record not just of a particular body but also of the whole process of time, all of which is in my memory that might not happen when I draw nude men from their photograph or by simply imagining a gay love-making scene. My emotions are attached with every artwork of mine, and it can not be judged as all my artwork are unique to
me,‖ added the artist. The artist is highly interested in mysticism, in history, in myth, mythology and in antique illustrations. His works are in all these themes, but mostly reference to homosexuality: a gay divinity, gay annals, gay saga, gay myth and mythology. His work is an attempt to discover gay men‘s feelings, emotions and desires for the beauty and sensuousness of the gay and male body, as a lure, as a vision, and often as a beautiful end in itself. ―I think because of my Indian origin, I draw Indian traditions of art, literature, myth and their hidden traditions of homoerotic and same-sex love. In past, I had a couple of patrons writing me worried emails, concerned that my more overtly pornographic and gay erotic drawings would effect my credibility as an artist which I found absurd,‖ told the artist and he meant it.
art is much easy to display now in galleries in Delhi and other metros without scandal and condemnation that had attended it for so long, it does not carry the stigma it once did in earlier years. His artwork is clearly gay art and is intended as such a general audience, where he draws with a beautiful technique and makes gorgeous images which appeal to even the straight population of the nation. His paintings are done in most appealing way which is visually arresting and is terribly uncommon. His images celebrate the male nude body and sex, and gay sex in particular in the most beautiful and loving way. The artist does have pieces other than male nude art. You can see his efforts of fillings colors in the shape of oil paintings, glass paintings, sparkle paintings, water colors on paper and emboss paintings. But, clearly the beautiful male nude bodies is the overriding theme that promotes unity and conveys a message of acceptance to the gay community. But as a viewer we would be drawn to the beauty of the male nude bodies and tirelessly revisit the artist‘s favorite theme again and again. In his paintings, we can get a lot of experimentation, mix and play with various mediums quite often.
Courbet famously painted a close-up of a woman‘s vagina and called it ‗The Birth of the World‘, it hardly did affect his repute as an artist. Michelangelo had devoted his life to painting only the male nude bodies, and Hokusai, the greatest of the Ukio-e artists of Japan, painted a large number of gorgeous nude paintings depicting the nakedness of human body that are among the most fêted in all over his oeuvre. Carolee Schneemann pulled a scroll out of her vagina, live and that was more than three decades back. The idea The artist talks about the gay community that erotic art would be a problem seems which he has seen from the other side and outdated in 21st century. feels the grass is turning green. ―Some gay men do have lot of fun, especially in Singla paints images of beautiful naked cities like Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, gay men, fulfilling in his mind. It Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and the reminds us of Matisse‘s famous likes. Much have changed since gay sex aphorism that art is only when the artist is legalized by Delhi High Court, the can make it a comfortable chair for him- queer scene in the metros is flourishing, self and his viewers. Singla is lucky to with activist groups, social networking start displaying his gay erotic artwork sites, parties, cultural events, and too outside of the rooms of his house, just many hook-ups. I have seen my gay after the historic judgment of abolishment friends in Bombay live a free life of a of IPC 377 by the Delhi High Court playboy, enjoying with multiple in India on July 2, 2009. Gay erotic boyfriends and one-night stands, etc. In
small towns, they suffer more because of lack of openness without many clubs and hangout joints. We as the straight people, being the majority have a duty to protect the rights of our fellow human beings, even though they may be less in number. As a human being, we need to stand together, fight and give them the basic human rights,‖ said Singla. There lies a definite reason to choose gay erotic art as his theme. ―Till now we have seen heterosexuality being portrayed as the most natural way of life in most movies, songs, magazines, and the like. Through my art I want my viewers to realize that gay men too have lives that they enjoy intimately with their lovers in a beautiful and adorable way. Art is something that is larger than life. I would urge all young artists to choose art as a medium to focus on the issues that need attention. Literature and art are the most amiable, fast and peaceful ways of depicting what people should see. India is amongst the largest democracies in the world, and acceptance of the people with alternate sexuality shows we truly have achieved victory over discrimination,‖ concludes Singla gaily
~ Sourendra Kumar Das
All photos courtesy : Spring-Summer 2010 Men's Collection ~ Milan Fashion Week, Italy (AP Photo/Alberto Pellaschiar, EPA/MATTEO BAZZI , EPA/GIULIO DI MAURO)
What is Gonorrhoea?
What is its treatment?
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoea.
Go to a doctor, he‘ll conduct some tests and on confirming the diagnosis, will give a single dose therapy. The doctor may prescribe a single-dose injection of an antibiotic such as Ceftriaxone or a single-dose pill such as Cefixime.
How does one get it? By having unsafe oral, vaginal or oral sexual relations. Eyes can be infected by contaminated fingers.
What if you don‘t get treatment? What happens when you get it? Symptoms appear 2-10 days after getting infected. Sex specific symptoms :In men- Pain or burning during urination -Thick yellowish discharge from penis - Reddened penile opening In women-Itching and burning of the vagina, usually with a thick yellow/green discharge - Bleeding between menstrual periods -Infection and irritation of the cervix General symptoms are pain, fever and increased urine frequency and sore throat. In case rectum is infected during anal sex, there can be anal discomfort or bleeding from anus.
Gonorrhoea if untreated can cause more serious complication like sterility and spread of infection to other organs and in women it may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
How to prevent Gonorrhoea? - Use lubricated latex condoms when having sexual intercourse. - Avoid sexual contact with high-risk partners. - Treat infected sexual partners or have them tested before having sexual relations. And if possible refer all sexual partners to be checked for gonorrhea to prevent spread of the disease.
~ Irfan Khan
Can love be crime; this is a question I ask myself a lot
rights and vote against our rights all over the world. Why
these days. Can it be a sin too, I wonder. My parents
when a minority is given quotas here and there, no one
have always taught me the value of love, but when I talk
says a word but another minority is given right to have sex
to them about love between two men, they give me only a
in private, the whole country is up against it?
big no, unnatural and anti-culture being their arguments.
Then you call homosexuality a western import, I ask have
My question is who are we to decide what is natural and
you read Manusmriti, Kamasutra or seen the sculptures
what is unnatural. God only made man, man then himself
at
made society, customs, rituals and marriage. No doubt
Bhangashvana, Mohini or Yuvanashva. This is your
reproduction is required for the survival of species, but
own culture and it was very tolerant of homosexuality in
making some peoples‘ life hell just because they don‘t
the past.
marry is also not fair. When given the logic that many animals show homosexual conduct, their reply is ―but we are not animals?‖ Now nature‘s animals do ‗unnatural acts‘, that is fine, but humans – the topmost creature on the ladder of evolution do it, then they have a problem. If this is not double standards, then what it is?
Khajuraho
or
heard
the
story
of
Shikhandi,
People call AIDS a ‗Gay Plague‘ but do you really know the actual cause. Homosexuals don‘t have equal rights, are always pushed underground, and treated as mentally ill, with absolutely no awareness programs targeted at them. Then how come they are totally responsible for spreading the disease? You accuse them of
Then they talk about condemnation of homosexual acts in
promiscuity, but do you allow them to get committed, get
different religions and religious scriptures. My question
married? You accuse that they don‘t marry but you don‘t
is, do you people follow each and everything written in
bother the sadhus who practice celibacy whole their life.
scriptures? Then why single gay people out? Moreover
You accuse homosexuals can‘t produce kids but when they
every religion, saint and scripture has given the message of
want to adopt, you are the greatest opponents.
love, love for fellow human beings. Then why so much hatred, prejudice and discrimination against homosexuals? Just because they love differently or because they don‘t breed, which one is it?
The present orthodox, backward and archaic thinking won‘t take us forward and bring any good to us. Homosexuals have always been there; only thing is that you have started seeing them now. They do not pose any threat to any
A human being must be judged on the basis of his deeds,
individual, culture or country. They just want to be
his virtues and not on the basis of what he does in his
accepted and ask for tolerance and equal rights. The double
bedroom. The homosexual people also eat, breathe, love,
standards need to be shed now and bigotry needs to be
commit, work
sincerely, are responsible and pay taxes.
shunned. The need of the hour is to recognize gay rights
Then why can‘t we make love in private, marry, adopt,
as human rights, if we really want to be called a secular,
inherit, have kids, joint accounts, equal status in society
just and a logical society and country.
and why they have to face so much discrimination. We talk of human rights and equality, don‘t these apply to homosexuals? Why this section of society is always oppressed and marginalized? People speak against our
~ Irfan Khan
Police finally arrests 2 journalists in deceased AMU Prof Dr. Siras’s case
Online campaign begins for demanding justice in AMU Prof's case. To sign the petition click HERE
World Bank demands India visa for the spouse of its Gay delegate.
Indian Govt plans to change rape laws– ‘Rape’ to be replaced by ‘Sexual Assault’. A new Section 376 C(1) to be inserted to protect minors from sexual abuse
Supreme Court reprimands Central Govt for not taking a stand in Section 377 case.
I knew Ricky Martin was gay, says Sushmita Sen
‘Pankh’, a Bollywood movie on Gender Confusion finally releases after much censor objections.
Archie Comics all set to have a gay character, ‘Kevin Keller’ for the first time.
An online Indian queer book store ‘Queer Ink’ is launched
Bollywood still continues to stereotype gay people, the latest culprit being ‘Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai.’
Mumbai hosts an International Queer Film Fest ‘Queer Nazaria’ after a gap of 6 years
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Fest 2010 starts.
India's alleged answer to Brokeback Mountain, ‘Dunno Y...Na Jaane Kyun’ ready to hit cinemas
ਨੀਂਦ ਆਂਦੀ ਈ ਏ, ਅੱ ਖੀਂਆਂ ਭਤ ਨੇ Overcome by drowsiness, eyes are in full mood
ਰੁੱ ਖ ਤੋਂ ਤੜ ਕ ਪੁੱ ਲ ਓਸਨੇ ਭਰ ਸੱ ਥਾਂ ਤ ਧਡਰਆ | Plucks a flower from a tree and places on my hands
ੁਫ਼ਨੇ ਨੇ ਆ ਫੂਸਾ ਖੜਕਾਇਆ, ਸ਼ਰਾਰਤ A dream knocks on my door, Mischievously
ਕੰ ਨ ਡਵੱ ਚ ਕਡਸੰ ਦਾ ਏ, ਅੱ ਜ ਤੋਂ ਤੂੰ ਭੰ ਡਗਆ ਡਗਆ Whispers in my ears, you are engaged to me from today on
ਭਰੀ ਲਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਖਡਿਆ, ਭਜ-ਰਤ ਨੇ | And The playful plays with my eyelids
ਤਰੀ ਡਜੰ ਦ, ਡਜਭ ਤ ਰੂਸ ਸੁਣ ਭਰੀ ਰੀਤਭਾ Your life, flesh and soul is now mine, O lover
ੁਫ਼ਨੇ ਡਵੱ ਚ ਇੱਕ ਦਵ ਡਵਡਖਆ, ਨੇ ਰੰ ਗਾ An angel appears in the dream, gold skinned
ਭਰ ਡਆਰ ਦ ਰੰ ਗ ਡਵੱ ਚ ਤੂੰ ਰੰ ਡਗਆ ਡਗਆ | You are now sprinkled with the color of my love
ਲੰਫਾ-ਚੜਾ ਗੱ ਬਰੂ, ਡਕੱ ਕ ਵਾਲ, ਭੁੱ ਛ ਭਰੜੀ Tall hunky young lad, fresh down, crisp moustache
ਭੈਂ ਡਕਸਾ ਭਰ ਜਾਲਭ ਫਾਲਭਾ,ਭਰ ਅੱ ਖੀਆਂ ਭੀਟ I said O cruel lover, On closing my eyes
ਸੱ ਥੀਂ ਿਾਂਗ, ਾਇਆ ਕੁੜਤਾ, ਚੰ ਨ ਤੋਂ ਚੰ ਗਾ | Clad in a Kurta, Holding a stick, more beautiful than Moon
ਜ ਭਰ ੁਫ਼ਨੇ ਡਵੱ ਚ ਸੀ ਤੂੰ ਆਣਾ ਏ, If you are gonna come in my dreams only
ਵਖ ਭੈਂਨੰ ੂ ਸੱ ਕ, ਭਰਾ ਉਸਨੇ ਸੱ ਥ ਫ਼ਡੜਆ He chuckles on seeing me and holds my hand
ਅੱ ਖਾਂ ਡਵੱ ਚ ਅੱ ਖਾਂ ਾ, ਭਰੀ ਫੁੱ ਲੀਆਂ ਡਵੱ ਚ ਓਸਨੇ ਰੰ ਗ ਬਡਰਆ | Eyes in my eyes, and his lips fill color in my lips
ਭਰ ਭਿ ਸੱ ਥ ਰੱ ਖ, ਭਨੂ ਡਕਧਰ ਲ ਤੁਡਰਆ Holds my shoulder and takes me somewhere
ਨੇ ਰੰ ਗੀ ਧਰਤੀ, ਨੇ ਰੰ ਗੀ ਨਦੀ ਦ ਕੰ ਿ On the shore of a golden river and on the golden earth
ਤਾਂ ਤਰ ਡਆਰ ਲਈ ਭੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਡਦਨ Then one day for your love ਦਾ ਲਈ ਅੱ ਖੀਆਂ ਭੀਟ ਜਾਣਾ ਏ | I‘ll close my eyes forever
Poem and translation by -
~ ਇਰਪਾਨ ਖਾਨ ~ Irfan Khan
खो रहा हॉ उन साथ बितायें हसीन ऱम्हों की परछाईयो में ,
कक गम ु हुआ जा रहा हॉ मैं उनसे दर रहकर अपनी ही तन्हाइयों में | अकेऱे ही चऱा जा रहा हॉ जैसे मैं इन वीरान राहों में ,
अपने खोए प्यार को तऱाशने इन काऱी रातों के सायों में | रातें तन्हा गज़ ु र रही हैं मेरी िस आॉखों ही आॉखों में ,
डिा जा रहा हॉ इस कदर अपनी हर एक साॉस के साथ उनकी ही यादों में | कैसे कहॉ मैं इस चाॉद से कक रोशनी है मेरे भी चचरागो में ,
जि कक घघरता जा रहा हॉ खद ु मैं हर पऱ इन तेज़ तफानो में | तड़पकर िह रहा है ददऱ का ददद इन मेरे झऱकते अश्कों में ,
कक जी रहा हॉ घट ु कर मैं हर पऱ अपने ही प्यार के आॉचऱ में | ु -घट कैसे कहॉ उनसे कक ककतनी कशशश है मेरी चाहतों में ,
घनकऱती हैं िस उनकी ही िात हर एक िात के िाद िातों ही िातों में | ऱेऱे आकर वो एक िार मझ ु े अपने प्यार की छाओॊ में ,
किर तो मौत से भी कोई शशकवा ना होगा जो आ गयी अगर उनकी िाहों में |
~ Ankur Rathore
The dark nights of the gay clubbing scene never saw its dawn call it the legal or political restrictions or a lack of safe space to feel free and express oneself.That's when Whitenights was conceptualized by few young minds to bring the best party experience for the community. The objective of Whitenights-Fiesta was to :*...to offer all clubbers a base to visit the club, like to know and appreciate. *...not yet been here, but they are interested. Starting with house parties way back in Jan 2009 which were successful and appreciated, Whitenights finally branched to large format parties, the first one that was launched in Feb,2010. Whitenights strives to strike a personal chord with each and every member or visitor and making them feel special. We celebrate birthdays and recognize the visitors for their various efforts. Whitenights-Fiesta is intended to be a platform for guys who love going out, just like to party for longer hours, good and safe venue, different themes and activities,excellent music to dance the night away, a great platform to meet and greet and also want to be informed about the upcoming activities and the world of White Nights-Fiesta.
Current Activities* * * * *
Once a month party In Mumbai suburbs only Whole Night party Great venue and Mind blowing music WN Club Majlis - Parties in different cities other than Mumbai
Future Activities* Cocoon Ibiza - Designer parties, Performances. * Cocoon Recordings- Outdoor trips and clubbing. * Green & Blue- For a Social cause meant for the community. Through "Green & Blue", Whitenights wishes to extend a helping hand for those guys who have been shunned by their families because of their sexuality. Whitenights also has successfully organized few custom made parties on request. Our constant endeavor is to replicate the experiences started in Mumbai to different cities/ town across the country and act as a platform to connect with the community. The club is a home of good music, good people and the party all over :-) Finally, we're all here as a large, tight-knit family! And which one should take as often as you know! Contact Sandip - 9930822098 (organizer)
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