The Queer Chronicle - March 2010 by Queer Chronicle

March 2010 September 2009

TQC

The Queer Chronicle

| Pune

September 2009

AMISS

I'm alive. But a part is missing. Amen. BY ‘SEAHORSE OF THE NIGHT’

TQC

Editorial

September 2009

Queer India has arrived. And how! We will all look back at February 2010 as yet

Bengaluru hosted its Queer Film Festival in late

another month that saw some significant

February and movie buffs will have yet another

milestones in queer India.

event to look forward to with Mumbai playing

Azaad Bazaar celebrated its first anniversary.

host to Kashish – Mumbai International Queer

We salute Sabina & Simran’s entrepreneurial

Film Festival in April 2010. TQC is proud to be

spirit and we look forward to more such

one of the media partners for the event.

ventures taking shape in the near future.

Meanwhile, QAM (Queer Azadi Mumbai) has

Closer to home, the ‘Q-Party III’ organized by

begun its organizing meetings for the 2010

Keith

Birds of a Feather was the largest of its kind

march. The general consensus is that we need

Editor, TQC

ever, with over 90 guests! Congrats to Apphia

to have a single pride day across the country

and Sagar for their unrelenting dedication that

and we need to tie in with a national

is helping to make Pune a more queer-friendly

consensus. To gauge the consensus across the

city.

LGBTI groups a nationwide poll is currently in

The past months have also seen the launch of

progress to decide a date for Pride marches

a few more LGBT focused magazines in

across India and the results would be

addition to Bombay Dost and Pink Pages.

announced during March 2010.

‘Jiah: The Magazine for Women with Heart’

For now, I believe it is safe to say that queer

was launched for the Indian queer woman and

India has arrived. And how!

Gaylaxy was launched focused on queer East India. Cover: Artwork © Syed Ali Arif

The editor

In this issue

Inner Cover: Amiss by ‘Seahorse of the Night’ The TQC Team Editor: Keith. Columnists: Amey Kolhe, Boris, Jaideep Bhide, Jayesh Paranjape, ‘Seahorse of the Night’ Layout concept, design & production: Keith TQC (The Queer Chronicle) is a monthly e-magazine published for and by the queer community in Pune. This e-zine is a non-commercial publication, is not for sale and is exclusively for private distribution. Views expressed are solely the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial team of TQC, nor its affiliates. The content of this e-zine may not be suitable for all audiences. www.facebook.com/tqc.india www.planetromeo.com/tqc_india TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com

02 03 04 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

A Queer View: Time to accept the fact! Page 3 Reactions: German Bakery lives on in our hearts Legal Briefs: Of Parties, Police & Permits Art & Soul: Artists - Syed Ali Arif, Resh Val & Sagar Dave Leisure: Tarot & Life Movie Classics: Presque Rien Travel: Unexplored Tarkarli...Thankfully! Reader’s Corner Classi-prides: Queer resources in Pune 1

A Queer View

Time to accept the fact! BY BORIS Faggot, dykes, fruit, fairy, homo, queer,

permitted to marry in most parts of the

fudge packer, flamer, camp, pansy,

world, let alone anywhere in India. It is

cock-jockey, muff diver.

also a very lengthy process to adopt a

How many times have you heard

child, thus making it near impossible for

someone use one of these demeaning

homosexuals to live heterosexual lives.

terms? How many times have you been

Is this not what they want? , a person

called in these terms to describe your

could ask.

individual or how you acted? Do they

Obviously lifestyles in homosexuals

ever really think about the connotation

differ, but normalcy in homosexuality is

of the words they are using or who,

really what is at the vanguard of

they may offend?

homosexuals plead.

Homosexuality is not openly visible in

The debate over homosexuality as

our society; however as time moves on,

nature or nurture dominates most

the issue has come to the forefront of

topics about homosexuality. People

many debates. Among the main topics

often confuse the nature/nurture issue

surrounding “the homosexual world”

with the development of gay identity.

are

In contrast, heterosexuals are classified

same

sex

marriages

and

homosexuality is a choice. Also, another

according to their behavioral nature.

debate that rages is if homosexuals

Women are typically viewed as a

develop a relationship comparable to

sentimental caregiver. Their role in

that

society has changed over the years, but

same

sex

marriages. with

women typically were the ones to stay

discrimination against homosexuals is a

homophobia too. In any viewpoint

at home with children and take care of

roadblock to them leading a normal,

though, homosexuality is part of our

household chores such as cleaning,

happy and productive life, which is the

society and will always be.

cooking, and laundry.

desire of gay men and women, just as it

In society homosexuality is commonly

Moreover, males typically are rough and

is the desire of straight men and

misrepresented as a “perversion.” Even

tough. They rarely are seen to cry and

women.

according

are

their

This dispute between nature and

homosexual males clock an average of

companion. Although men do acquire a

nurture should stop and the acceptance

fifty partners a year. Although in some

relationship with children in most cases

of gay men and lesbians as productive

extreme cases this can be true, there

the emotional attachment is not as

citizens, without prejudice, is necessary.

are many times when homosexuals

strong as a mother.

Protection

form a bond as life-long partners. This is

The pressure to be a masculine man

discrimination would not be necessary if

not easy due to the simple fact that

starts at very young age and the

one understood that gay men and

being ‘out’ is a difficult task because of

pressure is very severe. But, when one

lesbians are just like you and me; the

the discrimination, stigmas and strong

is reared to believe a certain way, it is

only

views against homosexuality.

not easy to change his or her opinion.

preference.

One thing people actually fear and

However, to dispute a theory that deep

The time has come when the world

loathe

rooted from one’s formative years is

needs to accept homosexuals as we

sometimes

truly are.

Homosexuals

must

about

promiscuity. 2

September 2009

Two

contend

some

statistics,

homosexuals males

are

is not

usually

the

“rock”

impossible.

for

This

unfair

discrimination against homosexuals is

against

difference

violence

their

and

sexual

The Queer Chronicle

Page 3

September 2009

‘Birds of a Feather’ Q-Party III, Pune | Photo Credits: Jimmy & Keith

Reactions

September 2009

‘German Bakery lives on in our hearts

BY VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS

Pune lost one of its most queer-

You could be a millionaire or a pauper, a

There are some moments in time when

friendly spaces in a senseless terror

model, a IT professional, a college

you will always remember exactly what

attack that left 17 dead and at least 50

student, a tourist or a yogi and still sit at

you were doing, where you were and

injured. Our hearts go out to the

the same table to mull over your cup of

who you were with. Like the Mumbai

families of those who were killed and

‘masala chai’.

floods of July 2005 or the Mumbai

to all those who were injured in the

To me, the Space was a great social

terror attacks in November 2008,

blast at German Bakery in Pune on

leveler and exemplified equality and

February 13, 2010 will be one such day

February 13, 2010.

fraternity.

in our lives.

It was for that reason, most things that

I revisited the bakery site a day after the

“If you asked anyone the ‘one’ place

we see today in queer Pune, had its

bombing to help me come to terms with

that was synonymous with Pune,

beginnings at the Bakery.

what had happened. Everyone around

German Bakery was a singular (and

We did ‘Breakfast with the Queers’ at

was calm and composed. It was like

unanimous) answer. And I guess that

the bakery a couple of times. It was at

people coming to pay their respects to a

made it a soft target.

the bakery that Apphia helped me

dear friend. I guess the sight of familiar

The bakery was always a space where

critique the inaugural issue of TQC in

faces is what everyone needed.

you could be yourself, make new friends

August 2009. There was never a time

We will be okay. The healing has begun.

and ponder on life’s mysteries. Good

that there was not a queer / queer-

But we can never forget.”

times, great memories.

friendly person around.

– Keith, Editor - TQC The Queer Chronicle

no end in sight.

September 2009 “I miss it even though I am not there! I

about it changed forever on Feb 13th.

I was invited to attend a candle-light

was there on the 3rd of February …

That one act of terror shattered not just

vigil at the site of the blast…I didn’t go. I

Didn’t know it wud be gone in 10 days!

the lives it claimed but also my sense of

don’t see the point of these vigils. Some

But I am sure it will be back and when it

security and comfort that comes with

say it gives people a chance to grieve

comes we will be there!” – Sagar, Co-

one’s long association with a place. Is

and show solidarity in the face of a

founder of ‘Birds of a Feather’

this the same Pune I grew up in? Why

dastardly act such as this. “We’ll show

doesn’t it make me feel safe anymore?

them…we’re not scared of you. You

“I really miss a lot all those cruising

Why can’t I go into a restaurant or

haven’t broken our spirit.”

memories there hot men , masala chai

multiplex or even out on the street

Well, I AM scared! And I hate that

and the foreign cuties all over. I hope all

without feeling a bit on edge?

feeling!

is fine soon we get back there in few

I’ve become more wary. When I walk

standing around with strangers won’t

into a restaurant now, I don’t notice the

make it go away. What I want is a

ambience or the art on the wall or smell

solution.

“It is heart wrenching but the Space is

the aroma of food or hear the clinking

The world has changed, and innocence

not lost forever - they can rebuild and I

of glasses…. I look around and think,

is lost forever. My Pune is changed

hope they do. I feel sorry for the folks

‘Man, I hope this place is safe!’ The

forever.”

who had to lose their lives and for those

fewer foreigners I see in the place, the

– Jaideep, Columnist - TQC

left behind.” – Jasmine, Pune

And

lighting

candles

and

Reactions

“My city and how I see it, how I feel

months.” Pradeep, Pune

better I feel. ‘Good! So this place can’t be on their target list.’

“It is a shock to all of us even those out

The laid-back town of my childhood

of Pune for now. Our city was one left

None of us can ever imagine Pune

now joins the list of cities around the

unscarred by the ugliness of such

without the bakery. But life has to go

world that have been scarred by

horror. May those who have been

on. We have to pick up the pieces and

senseless and increasingly horrifying

injured recover quick and in the least

let the healing begin. German Bakery

acts of violence…and there seems to be

painful way.” – Shashank, Mumbai

will always live on in our hearts.

March 2010

Legal Briefs

Of Parties, Police & Permits

September 2009

BY KEITH A few weeks ago, a few of us were

bar or club, but the cops always took

partying at a residence of another friend.

advantage of Section 377 anyways.

At around 2 am, there was a knock on

If the cops do come and raid a party,

the door and we were aghast to find it

these are a few things that they can

was a police officer!

harass you for. If you are hosting a party

He entered the apartment, took a look

at a bar or club, then you must make

around, examined the bottles of alcohol,

sure the place has a license to serve

sniffed around for traces of ‘weed’ and

alcohol and additional licenses for a DJ

reported to his control center that

and dance floor. It is crucial to ensure

nothing seemed amiss. After issuing us a

that under aged (below 21 years) are not

warning not to play our music too loud,

served

the officer left.

should have their drinking permits with

We were lucky. Technically we could

them. So make absolutely sure the venue

have been booked by the police for not

has all its licenses in place.

possessing

If the parties are held at someone’s

liquor

permit

for

alcohol.

Additionally

guests

consumption of alcohol.

private residence then too, the same

This prompted me to do a bit of research

laws apply. It becomes all the more

on the law and I found that in

illegal as you cannot serve alcohol to

Maharashtra you still require a permit to

non-permit holders. The upside is that

drink and store alcoholic beverages at

licenses for a DJ and dance-floor are not

home. A consumer is allowed to keep 18

required if it is a private residence.

liters of IMFL / beer (in any proportion)

If you are within the law, nobody can

at his residence at a time for bonafide

stop your parties, and certainly not on

consumption

the grounds that it is a 'gay event'.”

him

and

family

members and his guests. For higher possession, he needs to apply to the

So be responsible and get your liquor permit TODAY!

Department of Excise for a permit. Purchase and drinking without a liquor permit is an offence under Bombay Prohibition Act 1949 and is applicable across

the

State

Maharashtra.

Although this archaic ‘License to Drink’ law exists on paper only and it is rarely enforced, it can be used as a source of harassment

extortion

the

eventuality of a raid on a party. Says Nakul, co-founder of Salvation Star, “There is always a risk of cops raiding a party – gay or straight. It was never ever illegal to host a gay party (even before the High Court ruling) at home or at a 6

FAQs ON LIQUOR PERMITS Who can apply? A person above the age of 25 years who desires to purchase liquor for possession, transport and use, consumption can. The permit law applies to Indians and foreign nationals alike. How much does the permit cost? The liquor permits are issued for one year (Rs 25) and for three years (Rs 75). What is the delivery schedule? The permits can be obtained immediately on submission of the application. Where can I apply for a permit? Ask at your nearest liquor store. Some stores can arrange a permit for you! The Queer Chronicle

Art & Soul

COMPILED BY KEITH September 2009 TQC is committed to encouraging and promoting the creativity of queer & queer-friendly talent. Featured artists: Syed Ali Arif, Resh Val & Sagar Dave. These artists have pledged that 15% of the proceeds on sale of these artworks through TQC, would be donated to ‘Voices Against 377’ , a coalition of NGOs and progressive groups working together as a united voice to fight against Article 377 of the Indian Penal Code. (voicesagainst377.org)

Title: “MERRY GO ROUND” Artwork Code: TQC-0001 Artist name: Syed Ali Arif Medium: Acrylic on canvas Style: Figurative Size: 30 inches x 40 inches Mounting: Stretched, Unframed Price for the art: Indian Rupees 70,000/Year: 2008

If you would like to purchase any of these works of art and would like to connect with the artist, please send an email to TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com, mentioning the artwork code in the subject line. All published images are copyright of the respective artists.

Title: “THIRST” Artwork Code: TQC-0002 Artist name: Sagar Dave Medium: Oil on canvas Style: Abstract still-life Size: 12 inches x 12 inches Mounting: Framed Price for the art: Indian Rupees 4,000/Year: 2009 March 2010

Title: “THE PEACOCK” Artwork Code: TQC-0003 Artist name: Resh Val Medium: Oil on canvas Style: Abstract Size: 20 inches x 30 inches Mounting: Stretched, Unframed Price for the art: Indian Rupees 25,000/Year: 2009

Title: “JUST LET FLOW” Artwork Code: TQC-0004 Artist name: Resh Val Medium: Oil on canvas Style: Abstract

Size: 24 inches x 30 inches Mounting: Stretched, Unframed Price for the art: Indian Rupees 35,000/Year: 2009 7

Leisure

Life & Tarot

BY JAIDEEP BHIDE

September 2009

Have a question for our Resident Tarot Expert? Just send in your Name, Date of Birth and Question to thequeerchronicle@gmail.com. The advice of Tarot Cards can help you find a solution to any problem or situation you are facing in Life.” ‘Druv’ (May 12: TAURUS)

Ikshit (June 13: GEMINI)

When will I get a new job?

Where will I be in 5 years? How can I

The Reading:

make the most of this phase of my

The cards indicate that the time is ripe

Life?

for a change…but there is still some

The Reading:

more Karma left with the present job

Whatever you accomplish in the next 5

that would need to play itself out. The

years would determine the course of

change could still take another 5 to 7

the rest of your Life. In light of this, it is

months. But it would be well worth the

very hopeful that the reading indicates

wait.

Supreme Success and Wish Fulfillment.

Things to expect from the new job: More

The world is at your feet…quite literally,

responsibilities

as Card No: 21 – The World is the Base

and

challenges,

immense job satisfaction, application of

of the Reading.

the Creative faculties, and perhaps most

This is a very critical phase of your Life

importantly, much more money and

and the only one who can stand in your

perks.

way is you. YOU determine whether you

The environment in the current job is

make a success of yourself or whether

stressful and there must be a lot of

you wallow in mediocrity. The cards

politicking

indicate that should you put your Mind

making

and pettiness which is matters

all

the

and Heart into all that you do, you can

unbearable. All that will change once

achieve so much Material and Creative

you get the new job. This should happen

Success that you could set yourself up

by August or September.

for Life!

In the meantime, keep a low profile at

The choice, ultimately, is yours – do you

the current job. Don’t get involved in

want to spend your time and energies in

petty fights and arguments. Don’t slack

the pursuit of fickle pleasures or would

off; do not give anyone a chance to

you rather chase something more

point out flaws in your work. Continue

concrete and lasting?

being hyper-professional in the delivery

Don’t let this become a case of youth

of your duties

getting wasted on the young!

Special Advice: The cards indicate that

Remember: YOU have to do all the hard

coming out at the work place may not

work, YOU need to put in the hours and

be the best idea for you. People will not

YOU alone have to make it happen…no

be as understanding as you may wish

one else can do it for you!

them to be. They could hold it against

Special Advice: Send out the intention to

you and this will hamper professional

the Universe, believe it can be done and

progress. Keep your personal and

you’ll find that it will be!

professional lives in two separate, airtight compartments. 8

The Queer Chronicle

Movie Classics

September 2009

Presque Rien

REVIEW BY AMEY KOLHE

Few films have succeeded in capturing

sister is just a guise for getting their

death of her baby son, this only

what Sébastien Lifshitz's feature debut

ailing mother away from Paris (and

provides the basest of reasoning for

Presque rien accomplishes in capturing

perhaps from her absent husband as

Mathieu's state of mind. Cédric admits a

clinical

well).

lapse in fidelity, which may or may not

ambiguousness. Presque rien is not a

Lifshitz's construction of Presque rien

have been what pushed Mathieu to try

romantic summer love story between a

evades the narrative details of what

to kill himself, but that could only been

pair

scantily-clad

leads Mathieu to attempt suicide, but

seen as the superficial catalyst. His

teenage boys, Mathieu (Jérémie Elkaïm)

his deterioration seeps through the

sense of hopelessness was briefly

and Cédric (Stéphane Rideau), nor is it a

carefully selected moments during that

diluted by his summer fling, but his

love story at all. The central romance is

summer. He consistently fools himself in

inability to curb his depression with

fueled by displaced emotions and void-

his relationship with Cédric, as Lifshitz

Cédric opened the void even further.

fillers for both boys. It's alienation, and

never gives them common ground to

In many ways, Presque rien is the

not of the obvious gay breed, that

justify their affair as being anything

unmasking of fantasies. Its depiction of

brings them together and, ultimately,

more than a distraction from their own

first love, depression and suicide are

places them further way from what they

longing.

hours

unglamorous and rid of inevitably sour

truly yearn for.

passing, Mathieu loses the spark in their

nostalgia. Even for its characters, their

Weaving three periods of Mathieu's life

relationship, as Cédric's past flings start

attempts at evading

alongside one another, his disorder

to present themselves and as his sex

themselves foil in the end. Lifshitz paints

becomes apparent quickly, aligning his

drive begins to diminish.

an unforgettable portrait of mental

failed suicide attempt with the earliest

All of Presque rien's narrative answers

disorder, one that effectively gives no

moments

summer

happen off-screen, leaving the audience

easy resolution. Presque rien is one of

vacation. The vacation itself is just as

with the aftermath. Suggestions to what

the few shining examples of astute post-

facetious as the boys' romance. Instead

drove the final wedge between the boys

New Queer Cinema film art.

of a typical relaxing holiday, the

are given, but in the same way Mathieu

Release: 2000

vacation for Mathieu and his irritable

attributes his mother's illness with the

Duration: 100 minutes

March 2010

depression

good-looking,

his

all

fateful

its

With

the

summer

truths about

Travel

September 2009

Unexplored Tarkarli...Thankfully!

BY JAYESH PARANJAPE

I was sitting in the lobby of the MTDC

The true wonders of the beach can be

Birders and nature lovers can definitely

office in Mumbai getting bored and

experience only with bare feet. And the

explore the Dhamapur lake nearby. Any

started browsing through the attractive

fact that the beach is extremely clean

trip to the Konkan stretch can’t be

looking

various

helps! A lot of promises have been

complete without the cuisine. The

destinations least expecting to come

made by the government to make

generous use of Kokum (A local fruit)

across an unknown destination. The

Tarkarli

and coconut makes Malvani cuisine

Tarkarli brochure with a stunning

destination.

those

quite different from the Konkani and

picture of the beach caught my eye and

promises have not been fulfilled. The

the Goan cuisines and much better in

Tarkarli then topped the list for my next

absence of all the commercial activities

my view. The Malvani curry has to be

vacation. After visiting, I kept going back

in Tarkarli makes it more enjoyable.

with Mackerel, Kingfish, Prawns or

again and again. Thanks to the long

Tarkarli is an hour’s drive from Kudal

Pomfret and has to end with 2 glasses

stretches of white sand and the clear

which falls on NH-17 and is just 6 km

of sol-kadhi (a drink made from kokum

emerald blue water, you can’t help but

from the town of Malvan. Moving away

and coconut). Hotel Chaitanya is the

agree with the Sunday Times, London,

from Tarkarli will be difficult, but if you

best place to have the famous Malvani

who rates Tarkarli as one of the best

do, then it’s worth exploring the

Fish Thali at.

beaches in the world.

surrounding beaches which are equally

Lack of commercial activity also means

Starting from the beautiful drive on the

breathtaking. The Devbaug and Chiwla

fewer numbers of good hotels. The

road from the town of Malvan, passing

shores

The

MTDC resort (+91-2365-252390) is the

small villages and coconut and mango

Sindhudurg Fort in Malvan is also