rom hindustan times Alternate sexuality is Capital catchment Narendra Nag New Delhi, August 15 As the police try and figure out whether the double murder in Anand Lok is a `crime of passion' involving two homosexuals, the issue of alternate sexuality — and its spiralling growth — is back in focus yet again.
Furtive glances and questions stammered out at the risk of getting beaten up are a thing of the past, at least in the metros. Technology, more than anything else, has empowered the homosexual. While the increasing occurrence of gay and lesbian characters both on TV and movies has helped make attitudes more liberal, the Internet and mobile phones have introduced new ways of establishing contact. The Nigah Media Collective tries to organise meetings on the second and last Friday of every month. According to an ad on their website, the last meeting took place in Defence Colony on August 13. It had "readings from The Vagina Monologues, original poetry, spoken word performances and live music". Formed in 2003, Nigah tries to use different forms of media to initiate discussions around issues of gender and sexuality. Organisations like Nigah are leading the way as far as approaching a "gay culture" goes. But the need for sex continues to drive most people to explore a variety of avenues. During a trip to Mumbai around a year ago, a couple of gay friends decided to "pick up" guys. While one chatted up a middle-aged Russian sailor in a bar, the other paid a boy along Marine Drive. Both say the gay scene in Mumbai is thriving: they talked about pubs and discos setting aside nights for "special gay evenings" and pointed out young men — some in drag — soliciting. The gay scene in Delhi may not be as in-your-face as Mumbai but it's there. Pubs and discos have been known to set aside nights and parties are also organised on a regular basis. To attend, you have to be in the know. Invites are usually sent out using e-mail. There are e-groups on Yahoo that claim to be devoted to the gay scene in Delhi. Entry into these groups is strictly controlled: you have to convince the moderator that you are gay. But once you're in, you get invited to parties where you can choose to "explore your sexuality". But chatting remains the best way of meeting up. Most people use online profiles, like those provided by Yahoo, to make their intentions clear. These profiles, or personals, also help people find each other. All it takes is a simple query in the profile search provided by Yahoo. A gay schoolboy says the anonymity of the medium allows for safe first contact. A typical conversation involves questions like "asl?" and "top/bottom?". Age, sex and location (asl) is a standard opening while dominant partners refer to themselves as tops. Webcams allow people to check each other out and see if they like the look of each other. An exchange of phone numbers and a meeting can follow this. It isn't only about sex, but most men and women using the Internet to meet other people say the medium has made coming out of the closet safer. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/WfTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Group Site: http://www.gaybombay.info ========================== NEW CLASSIFIEDS SECTION SEEKING FRIENDS? VISIT www.gaybombay.info click on classified section and type your message in the post section once the link opens What's hot? What's not? Where are the LGBT parties being held and when? Click here!! http://calendar.yahoo.com/YYY,04497/srt,0/gaybombaygroup/?v=42&POS= Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
