Television guru Swami Baba Ramdev and one of his followers have filed a petition against the recent ruling of the Delhi High Court which voided the colonial-era laws forbidding homosexual conduct in India. Ramdev says legalizing homosexuality will have a catastrohic effect on the moral fabric of Indian society. “What consequences are you talking about,” the judges inquired. The petitioning lawyers replied “there is a likelihood of destruction of matrimonial household.” Another lawyer, representing the Christian Apostolic Churches Alliance, claimed the verdict legalizing homosexuality will lead to brothels for male prostitution and “gay parlours.” The judges submitted a request to the government to respond to the petitions.
Gay rights have been the hot-button issue in India over the past few weeks, since the Delhi High Court threw out the colonial era laws banning homosexuality. Celebrities, including long-time gay rights activist Celina Jaitley have voiced support for the court ruling.
Recently popular television personality Swami Baba Ramdev jumped into the fray claiming that yoga practice could cure homosexuality. Ramdev has made similar claims in the past regarding cures for AIDS, cancer, and other diseases. The yoga maestro said,“We invite all the gay people to come to our ashram in a group of 10 to 50 for nine months and like a mother we will deliver them like new born babies devoid of homosexuality with the practice of dhyan and pranayam. We have cured many people who had come to us and now they are happily married.” Ramdev claims homosexuality is a western contamination of Indian culture, but the opposite is true as the laws banning homosexuality were introduced by the British as part of colonial rule.
Jaitley responded, calling Ramdev’s claims, “Ridiculous. With all due respects to Baba Ramdev he may have the so called ‘cure’ but the point is LGBT community does NOT see homosexuality as a disease. No one is interested in buying this over-the-counter prescription for curing what is not a disease at all . It is who they are. They are not interfering in anyone’s life or religion but unfortunately everyone wants to interfere in theirs and tell them how they should eat, sleep and have sex.”
Gay Indian Prince Mavendra Gohil has challenged Ramdev to cure him, stating “I have been doing yoga for the last 10 years, but I haven’t turned straight. The only thing yoga has given me is that it has made me healthier and more confident.” Referring to self-proclaimed doctors like Ramdev, Gohil said, “They should stop making such baseless claims. Such absurd claims do a disservice to society.”
The 44-year-old prince made headlines a couple years ago when he came out and was disowned by his royal family. He has since become a leading gay rights activist.
A rising star in Bollywood and Hollywood, actress Celina Jaitley is becoming well known in India for her leading role in promoting LGBT rights. Gay rights issues have become a hot topic after the Delhi Supreme Court ruled that colonial-era laws banning homosexuality are unconstitutional. As Jaitley said, “With great pride and tears I would like to congratulate the entire LGBT community. Homosexuality is now legal in India. Our long battle is won and with pride can the gay walk with their heads held high.”
Jaitley is a former Miss India and was a finalist for Miss Universe in 2001. Her recent film, Golmaal Returns is a huge success, and she’s slated to co-star with Sean Connery and Orlando Bloom in the upcoming Quest of Sheherzade.
Jaitley points to two gay men as the source of her inspiration to become involved in the movement for LGBT civil rights. One of them was a former boyfriend who died last year, as Jaitley notes, “having been a victim of depression and bulimia due to the stresses of being gay in a homophobic society.” The other was a transgender make-up artist who became like a mother figure to her and fostered her early career. “Thanks to him I became a Miss India,” says Jaitley recalling that, “He, too, suffered in the battle against society and underwent many heartbreaking incidents of gay-bashing before passing away in an accident two years ago.”
Jaitley has been unafraid to incorporate gay and lesbian elements into her personal life and career, and in 2006 the Internet rumor mill had her teamed up with Madonna and Isha Kopikar for a lesbian-themed photo shoot. At around the same time a photo was circulated of Jaitley kissing Kim Shrma in a film scene.
Video below of Jaitley at the re-opening of LGBT magazine Bombay Dost. The magazine had been out of print for 7 years but was revitalized with Jaitley’s support and began a new run earlier this year.
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago at 8:46 am. 0 comments
In an landmark ruling on Thursday, the Delhi High Court struck down section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, in effect legalizing gay sex in India for the first time since colonial days. Article 21 of the Indian constitution states that every citizen has equal opportunity of life and is equal before law, and the court found the anti-gay law to be “the antithesis of the right to equality.”
This is good news for fashion designer Suneet Varma who, prior to this ruling, was a criminal in the eyes of Indian law. As Varma puts it, “Homosexuality is in my DNA.”
Varma is a household name in India. One of the founding members of the Fashion Design Council of India, he’s known for his work with celebrities, styling everyone from Aishwarya Rai on the cover of Vogue India to Cindy Crawford for Omega. He’s a major figure in the Bollywood film industry, designing costumes for spectaculars such as Monsoon Wedding. He’s the head of a rapidly expanding series of retail outlets for his designs. Named Designer of the Year for 2006 by MTV India, Varma was also the brand ambassador in India for Moet Chandon from 2000 to 2005; he is also the current face of BMW India.
“I came out in the open about my sexuality from a young age. I never feared that I’d be ridiculed,” he told the Times of India following the ruling. “This is a landmark victory.”
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago at 10:33 pm. 1 comment
In 2004, Prince Mandrevasinh Gohil was disowned by his family when he revealed he was gay. His mother published a notice in the newspaper, “Henceforth, no one must refer to my name as mother of Mavendra.” Perhaps they’re getting along a bit better now, because this week Mavendra was in the spotlight representing his family as a postal cover was released honoring his great-grandfather, the King of Rajpipla. Read more here and here.
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