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Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan admits she loves a girl. Elite clubs in Mumbai and Delhi want to host gay galas and Dish parties. Straight people are dying for a piece of the action. Could Gay Chic be the next big trend? Aastha Atray Banan looks for answers at a Saturday night soiree
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Supporters at the Mumbai Gay Pride parade that travelled from August Kranti Maidan to Girgaum Chowpatty in Mumbai on July 16 this year. PIC/RANE ASHISH | An elite club in Bandra, one of the hippest in the city, sports extra police protection on a Saturday night. No, celebrities aren't expected. The police are there to make sure no extremist group threatens a group of people, who after being on the fringes for ages, are finally coming out in style. The DJ inside spins house music, while watchful eyes scan the barely-lit interiors for an interesting face, a smile, even a nod.
It's 11 pm. The gay and lesbian gala organised by an event management company called Salvation Star, is just hotting up. The firm promises "fabulous parties, a global music scene and rocking celebrations".
It's all about a "lifestyle"
Nicky sips on a Vodka-Tonic, distracted by faces around him, waving ever so often at guests who walk past. The organiser of tonight's bash, and co-founder of Salvation Star, the 33 year-old decided he needed a lifestyle that suited his needs. A designer by day and gay event organiser by night, Nicky holds his task of "getting people together" close to his heart. It's an outcome of the frustration he experienced at the lack of gay-friendly spaces in the city.
"My friends and I needed to party somewhere hip, where the music was world class, and the ambience trendy. We were grown ups, we couldn't go to a badly-planned, college student-dominated Gay Bombay (GB) party anymore. There, the DJ is the last thing they worry about." Incidentally, a GB party was held last Saturday at Liquid Lounge, a mid-level pub at Opera House, with an entry of Rs 550 that covered wafers/peanuts, 2 beer pints and Bollywood, rock and retro music.
In contrast, Salvation Star organises parties at elite clubs in Delhi and Mumbai, with an entry charge of Rs 1,100, redeemable against unlimited food and drink, and a chance to meet someone new.
Straight guests want entry
Even though these parties are organised for gays and lesbians, straight party-goers are a common sight. No wonder business is booming, with trendy clubs falling over each other to host a gay night. "Clubs like Zenzi in Bandra, have approached us to organise gay bashes. We just held one at Kuki, an exclusive club in Delhi's Greater Kailash area. Club owners are even willing to give us a Saturday night slot, when they usually earn over Rs 4 lakh," reveals Nicky.
Guests fly in from overseas
Business analyst Rohan Gandhi (name changed) has flown down from Dubai, especially for this gala. Driving to the party straight from the airport, the Bandra boy hasn't told his parents he is in town. "I will go home only tomorrow," he says, trying his best to charm a lady, planting a gentle kiss on her hand. "Gay bashes are exciting. Yes, you bump into interesting gay men, but I also meet some really cool straight clubbers," says Rohan, spinning on his bar stool to turn around and chat with 25 year-old Shikha Parmar (name changed), a bank executive. A regular at gay parties, Shikha is comfortable with the idea that it's only regulars here who know about her homosexual leanings.
"I can't tell my parents just yet, though I have made it clear that I don't want to get married," she says. The last time she came here, she got her ex-boyfriend along to show him how she discovered her sexuality. "He enjoyed himself, though he was a tad hurt that none of the women were looking at him," she laughs.
Bring me a dish!
When she gets comfortable talking, Shikha lets us in on a secret. "If this party is not your style, there are Dish parties that you can go for. It's a novel way of introducing a new person to a tightly-knit group. Everyone is supposed to get along someone new. And so, a straight guest often ends up being the "dish". It's cool to experiment, they think."
Straight talking
Star Fernandes, 28, and her boyfriend Rayo, attend most of the Salvation Star parties. Mingling with gay guests, they chat over drinks and appetisers. "Gay parties are all about the madness. Homosexuals are loving, warm, bright and full of fun. We love it here," says Star. The setting works for a couple since no one is trying to chat them up. "There are so many good looking people under one roof, and yet, there is no social hoo-haa. It's unadulterated fun with good music," she says.
Designer Djana, a regular thanks to her many gay friends, says she's here for interesting conversation, super fashion tips, and creative chatter. "If I need fashion advice, I turn to my gay friends. Gay parties are a safe haven for straight people. Guests here don't judge you."
Vikram Doctor, journalist and member of Gay Bombay, a self-evolving informal group of like-minded gay people, agrees with Star. "Straight women don't have to worry about getting fondled. The Gay Chic phenomenon is catching wind because along with being perceived as cool, straight people are losing their fear about gays. Thank God for that!"
Homosexuality on screen
In 1999, Delhi boy Nishit Saran made Summer In My Veins, a documentary aimed at telling his mother, that he was gay. Nishit was studying filmmaking at Harvard when he decided to film his confession for his mom, who was visiting him for the graduation ceremony. While filming it, he was also awaiting test results since he had indulged in unprotected sex with an HIV infected partner. Nishit died in a car accident in 2003.
In 2006, UK's Channel 4 made a documentary titled, Gay Muslims, about how the experiences of five lesbian and gay Muslims in Britain challenge the heterosexual bias in Muslim communities, and illustrate the diversity within Islam. Recent mainstream movies about homosexuality include Brokeback Mountain, and Imagine You & I, where Piper Perabo's character discovers she is a lesbian, the day she gets married.
I don't attend gay galas, says Honeymoon Travels director
I don't attend gay parties, and I don't believe that's what the community is all about. If gay sex didn't carry the criminal tag, maybe it would get easier for homosexuals to come clean. I object to labelling individuals gay or lesbian. I once read a study on sexuality, that took a sample group and tried rating their sexual leanings on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 for most hetrosexual, 10 for most homosexual). Most of the them fell in the 4-7 bracket. So, who is hetrosexual and who is homosexual?
Reema Kagti,
filmmaker
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Britney Spears and Madonna share a smooch at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards | Lesbian lip lock is hot
You can't quite forget pop stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera locking lips with Madonna at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Other than shocking audiences all over the world, that kiss quietly gave rise to something more revolutionary â lesbian chic. Since then we've seen high-profile same sex couples professing their love for each other. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and actress Portia Rossi, 35, tied the knot this August. Pop starlet and Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan recently went public about her relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson, after years of seeing men. And the 2008 song with overtly bicurious tones, I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry, enjoyed Billboard Top 40 success.
TOP LESBIAN KISSES
One of the most popular kisses has to be the lip-lock between Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow, and another between Aniston and Courtney Cox, in sitcom Friends. Others that deserve a mention are Sarah Michelle Geller and Selma Blair in Cruel Intentions, Neve Campbell and Denise Richards in Wild Things, and Calista Flockhart and Lucy Liu in Ally McBeal.
People are seeing the alternative, but only in metros
The Gay movement is still an urban, or perhaps a metro phenomenon in India. People here have become comparatively accommodating and tolerant of alternate sexuality. They have begun to appreciate that there are different shades to sexuality, and each one has a place in society. Yes, some may want to be a part of the movement since they believe it's "cool" to prove to the world that they are bold and progressive. But some seriously support the cause. Mindsets are changing for the good.
Working in Fire and interacting with various people over the last 12 years has made me more sensitive, and decreased my own prejudices of anything that is often called the "other".
Nandita Das, acted in Deepa Mehta's film, Fire, which explored alternate sexuality between her and Shabana Azmi's character
| It's not just about the parties |
| say gay activists and supporters. There's more to the gay community than having a good time |
Geeta Kumana, 42, came out of the closet at 30, and she says it was "too late". But since she did, Geeta has lived life on her own terms, enjoying weekends with her long-time girlfriend, and working for lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues through her NGO, Aanchal. "With so many homophobics around, how can you say it's cool? It continues to be tough for homosexuals, especially when they have to admit their sexual leanings to their family. The number of homosexuals being forced into marriage, and those committing suicide, is alarming," she says.
But Geeta agrees that support has increased in metros like Mumbai and Delhi, citing the example of the recent Mumbai Gay Pride parade. "We are thankful to everyone who came. It was a brave move."
The Gay chic phenomenon is superficial
Freelance writer Shalini Bajaj (name changed), works for Lesbians and Bisexuals In Action. She says change has been initiated through "friendly" media coverage, but stresses that it's impossible for people from any other strata other than the elite, to come clean.
The gay community considers the "Gay chic" phenomenon superficial. Hairstylist Sushil, who works at Mad O Wat salon in Bandra, says he has a good time at work since most of his colleagues are women. "Gay men are laden with the dumb blonde tag. Most straight men think we want to get it on with anything in pants," he says, annoyed. His female boss, Sapna Bhavnani believes straight people who talk about the partying, make the rest believe "that the gay community is only about sex, parties and promiscuity. A gay relationship is like any other. Love knows no gender." | |
