Kolkata's gay film festival evokes warm response
>From our ANI Correspondent Kolkata <http://www.dailyindia.com/newsc/india/kolkata.php> , June 24: A special film festival organised here to strengthen campaign against gay rights in the country and to introduce members of the gay community and the people of Kolkata to world-class films made on general awareness about gays' related issues evoked warm response. The two-day fest, organised by Pratyay Gender Trust and Sappho for Equality, organisations fighting for the rights of the alternative people, concluded on Saturday with most of the films screened here dwelt on the success and failures of people with different sexual orientations.Eight films directed by national and international directors that addressed the issues of lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender issues were featured in during the film festival.The festival, with the theme 'Ending Homophobic Violence' showcased films like 'The Investigator' by Chris Oxley, 'Licensed to Kill' by Arthur Dong and 'Breakfast on Pluto' by Neil Jordan, a Bengali film 'Being Mate, Being Koti' by Mahuya Bandopadhyay and French film 'Ma Vie en Rose'.The fest drew appreciation of one and all attention the event. Joydeep Jana, a film enthusiast, said: "I watched 'Breakfast on Pluto'. I really liked the film. It has a message on human survival against odds. It speaks about how one faces all the trying times and makes life a success. It is about achieving one's aims and spreading love." Aninda Hazra, a member of the Pratyay Gender Trust, said: "I think it (the film festival) not only helps the lesbians and gay community but also helps others in order to understand what we stand for, what are our rights and what are we saying. Primarily, in order not to alienate and create a bracket of the main stream and alternative." Activists said the festival was an attempt to use culture to help society recognize the rights of country's homosexuals.Many people, however, said the Bollywood <http://www.dailyindia.com/news/bollywood.php> has often used gays as characters of humour and ridicule. In the recent past, films calling for a sensitive approach towards gays or lesbians drew flak of hardliners and many social groups. Many gay activists complain, the existing law has become a tool for police to harass gay and lesbian couples to extort money. If couples refuse or are unable to pay a bribe, they are often put in dingy cells, brutally beaten and humiliated.In India, homosexuality is a crime and can invite a jail term of at least 10 years. The anti-gay law, which dates back to the 19th century, is now being questioned by gay rights groups who argue that not only is it an abuse of human rights but also acts as an impediment in the fight against HIV/AIDS in India. Copyright Dailyindia.com/ANI <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay <http://groups.google.com/group/Gaybombay> http://groups.google.com/group/Gaybombay Website: <http://www.gaybombay.in/> www.gaybombay.in Email: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/post?postID=sF-1WE71anBidHS3GY1SYm 5klKs8kORvsCE-7rTALIhT1GR4Nb5d-rGFtKw58iwvfwc16QBg_UkFzxaeQ6q09Q> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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