You are here: Home > Pune > Unhappy and gay

As more and more Hindi films touch upon the subject of homosexuality, Kaumudi Gurjar reports on the fears of the gay community in the city

Hamara Humsafar? Participants at a rally organised by gays, lesbians and transsexuals in New Delhi earlier this year. File pic

The subject of homosexuality may be increasingly touched upon by Hindi filmmakers, the latest being Fashion, and be more readily accepted by the audience, but the community in the city is still apprehensive about coming out of the closet, fearing social banishment.

According to Bindumadhav Khire, who has been running the Samapatheek Trust an NGO that works for the rights of homosexuals and creates awareness about safe sex, "About three per cent of men and 1.5 per cent of the women are homosexuals. About 100 people contact us every month."

However, only 700 of them from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad area have registered with the organisation so far. "They fear the social order. So, they get married to a person of opposite sex and even produce children," he said.

"Reaching out to gays to address their emotional, psychological, and health related issues is not an easy task. Moreover, several psychiatrists are homophobic and prescribe medicines and counselling considering it a problem that has to be cured," said Khire.

Khire, who has been working on this issue for seven years and runs a helpline for the fraternity, added that there was a need for people to come out in the open and discuss issues pertaining to the homosexual community. "Gay men are usually stereotyped in films as effeminate men. Only some movies like My Brother Nikhil, Thang, 68 Pages have portrayed their issues sensibly," he said.

Khire added that if the newly released Dostana stands up to critical evaluation, he will arrange a screening for the gay community in Pune.

Helpline for homosexuals: 98907444677 (Functional only on Monday between 6 to 7 pm)