Today morning at 11 0clock...I got a message form a queer boy...my daughters classmate and friend..."Finally- Victory Achieved! 377IPC is repealed! Homosexuality no more illegal!
I don't know why I didn't feel bad!...I know if it was My Daughter I couldnot have accepted it normally...so as his parents...!!
Yesterday I saw a story anchored by Ravish Kumar....saying 100yrs back Hindi and urdu litreature were in controversy as they characterised such characters...'Ismat Chugtai's-'Lihaaf'...Films like 'Fire',Kal Ho Na Ho', Dostana',Fashion etc...were hinting towards it...and making it more normal...it existence I came to know, when I was In IP College Hostel in DELHI, and heard some rumours...that we thought was some pshycological problem.... Americans and Europians also did not accepted it just like that...whole day our TV media has shown their(Homosexuals) struggle for existence,dignity, acceptibility,respect and rights....worldwide.As maybe they are not a big vote bank but their life is not a joke...as it usually projectd in fictions.
In our country it is not very easy struggle even in 2009...we fight over religion and caste...intercaste and inter religion, even interregion, marriages are still not very acceptable(cases of honour killings still exists).....How one can accept their kids relations(preferences) with same gender...normally and naturally...???
But people are accepting it more than before as this fight is going on for last many years...when I asked Q's to this boy ...my daughter and her friend asked me- How this question came to my mind?...They said he is as NORMAL as we all are....but later on she covered 'Pride parade as a amateur photographs which are uploaded in her FACEBOOK account where a poster is displayed very prominently..."BEING GAY IS NOT NORMAL, ITS COMMON"...well, she has 2 classmates who're gay and friends...quite harmless person!.
Well now I just gave second thought to it-...'If they are genetically bit different from us which they usually discover in their teen age...what is the remedy?...Just urge or attraction for same gender can be controlled by Yoga or some psychatric treatment or counselling....but if it is a harmonal change(as biology science says...its a secreation of one harmone in excess in girls/boys body...which make her masculine or vice versa)..., then...only expert Doctors can explain in a better way......why many person get their sex changed by surgery...which is not very cheap and easily available for every one in our country, its very painful and not always successful...!!! Though medicines like VIYAGRA for male and then for females...don't know how much is successful.
I think it is good and sensible move from HC that they decriminalised it...we can not deny their existence...it is better way to prevent them from any diseases also, as they were not afraid of law now...and yes! one should not compare these 'cases' with other crimes like...stealing,abusing, domestic violence...etc... !!!
I don't want to hurt anyone by writing this but can't one can see the looks and gestures( of them) which shows that we can not impose feminity(that you are girl) or Masculanity(that you are a boy)...on any of them(in both the gender)...if they don't want to?...as its not just their life style...but by birth(genetically)they are like this...!!
I just suggested him that he should finish his studies(its his last yr as well...as he is living with his parents and thinking of shifting out after getting job after passing out from college)...and get married...to a person of his liking and after few years adopt a child(as he told me)...and live happily ever after!!!
But it is not so easy and fairy tale like story for them?...No! as he told(msged me) 'Abhi its miles to go'...They still have to fight for anti discrimination laws(Change in mindset is more difficult and slow process)...Property and Civil Union(marriage)rights... I think even they need to get right to get married at the age of 18/21(Let them themselve decide who is male and female in them(as they do) and can have all the similar rights...as we all has), so that 'underage' sexual activities or abuse, can come under IPC 376/(right now this law is here for protection of females)or some similar law can be made.....and that need to be considered as a criminal activity....as it is shown in movie PAGE3..how vulnurable and poor kids were abused...it was horrifiying....!!.
In child adoption rights...they should have rights which we all have...asps,like those parents who cannot conceive due to some medical reasons...as we know in the era of divorce becoming common phenomenon...even single parents raise their kids nicely..and adopt a child as well!If we all has these rights then they also need it!
I hope I am not thinking negatively...4-5% harmless people who just want to live their way without hurting others as they are bit different harmonally and genetically...let them live...but Parents should beaware and try to make their children aware about their teenage that ...'When kids "discover their emotions and they need not get confused between normal good friendships between same gender...and desire or urge(preferences) for them.... in initial stage it may get curbed!!!...only expert doctor can explain it in a better vocabulary and nuances(technical)....I am sure it won't ruin our culture...as I knew this boy for few years now....he likes classical music...and love Art,music, our Tradition, Culture and Heritage....so actually they are as NORMAL as we all are!!! Ishvar ne unhen aissa banaya hai to woh qua karein???
I have not done thorough research on this subject but have read few articles related to it, including in wikipedia encyclopedia on internet!.... Actually there is very thin line between discussions on health and law related topics and perversion. It should not be presented or discussed in a frivilous or non serios way, though it need to be simplfied for common people.
Aditi and her friends has been to Pride Parade in Delhi in support of his cause and to cover it,...has read about this issue and shown me few clippings in internet about GAY MARRIAGES is LEGAL in different countries, and said--after earning money he may shift out to any of these countries, get work and may be get married either!! Even she is bit conservative like we all are but do think in humanitarian ground that any sensible person do not want to live complicated life like Homophobians are living, but they are genetically like this so, what does one can do?....and if one is talking about bad people then, it can be anyone...not only them???
And I don't think any issue is small/non-serious issue when it is related to life of certain people and it effects them emotionally, as well as professionally many times...LGBT. Today Central Govt has cleared and moved this IPC 377...to SC's hand...now last verdict will come after few days...definetly we don't have to look towards west for every answer...it is there in our culture...which we don't even bother to take seriously before. Saw Sagarika discussing on pre-marital woman's frigidity or Man's impotency...and its repercussion on married life later on as many person couldn't come out in open and neither resist marriage, or at times forced to get married...It remind me of my daughter's intelligent remark that no GAY want to go for normal relationship, (SHE DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOCIETY NEED TO OPEN UP AND BECOME BIT BROAD MINDED BEFORE DISCUSSING THESE TOPICS SERIOUSLY, WITHOUT MAKING IT NON-SERIOUS). ...it can ruined 2people's life...thats why she supported PRIDE PARADE(she has worked for NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT IN SCHOOL...I do see my reflection in her...,though she is an artist like her father,who understands Indian culture and tradition,maybe not too much of rituals, thats why I am quoting her here).. SAGARIKA had few senior experts...who were discussing it without making it frivilous and sounding non-serious,technically or scintifically ignorant, and cheap...thanks to you...Now I can see, even writing in GOSSIP BLOG/PERSONAL BLOG can produce positive serious discussions AND RESULTS...I am happy....thanks to you all.
Mr.Kirsten(our Cricket coach) has taken U-TURN about his one line suggestion, about sex in a whole dossueir, which included cricket, its tecniques,food/health diets,discipline and daily routine,medication/fitness etc..., which got highlighted tremendously...good sir, let these player decide their right/wrong about this matter...as they are not a child(except Ishaant/Pragyan/Suresh raina/virat kohli) and definitly worldly exposure must have made them SAMAZHDAR...if they want PERFECT INDIAN BRIDE(WIFE) for themself...they need to follow Indian family values...which varies in different part of country and families...north-south-east-west...rural-urban...smalltown...metropolitan cities....swedeshi or vedeshi return families-NRI(but kamobesh basic feelings/SANSKAR are the same)....when I talked about KAM DEVI-DEVTA on the occasion of VALENTINE DAY...ATANKVAAD/TALIBAANIZATION by PRAMOD MUTHALIK and others,in different part of the country...I didn't meant that we should have a free society as it was in Aadikal, as it is a evolved samaj now...I just said it all existed in our society...we had it in mythology, in AJANTA ELORA, AND OTHER CAVES...OR BOOK LIKE KAMSUTRA...on which many films are also made....one need to have few more chapters added in School's Biology Science course on sex education as MAHATMA GANDHIJI has said(IN GENERAL CONTEXT)... '(HER VYAKTI APNE RAHASYEON KI GUFAON KO APNE SAATH LIYE GHUMTA HAI)'....one cannot cut out romance from people, specially growing up kids/youths life...Parents,Family, Friends or Guardians...has always guided them in right direction...and they need to do so without unneccessary violence...and hulla gulla...and teach them about flipside of this beautiful feelings or phase of life...which can 'marr' their future(without putting unneccessary fear in them-here I talked about MODULE, as I attended a Leadership and ADOLECENT PROBLEMS -a one week workshop...conducted by CEDPA and women organization I worked for, or films like JULIE and KYA KAHANA, DOSTANA, TAARE ZAMEEN PER etc)...as we all are social animals, with variety of emotions...and its not important that always whom you are dating/engaged with, can be your future wife/husband....so thats why I mentioned JODHA-AKBAR movie as well. Actually these discussion were going on for years and many people got beaten up(eg;MATUKNATH of Bihar by his sasuralwala's and few officewala's...they painted his face with blue ink.. etc)
...Hussain Saheb(in exile) and others themself decide why they want to paint only Hindu Goddesses NUDE??...just becoz its a liberal religion?? or artists are allowed to paint whatever they want-they have freedom of expression!-In anatomy class(in Aditi's class sketched people wearing shorts)??? Even Sudhirji sketched it with imaginations, for anatomy practice(one can imagine their wife/husband after marriage)...but they were not God/Goddesses.
BUT THEN why to hurt any religion's feelings unneccessary?? But doing TODH-PHODH,violence is also not our SABHYATA/TAHZEEB!!Even Sudhirji got death threatening by unknowns, and has forced to keep security person for six months,which he himself refused...(which people said they were Shivsainiks, may be wrong information)...now even MNS is busy doing THODH-PHODH.
Or last and holy option for these people is they all should take SANYAS...and practice HATTH YOGA/PRANAYAM which helps in keeping sexual desires undercontrol...even god Shiva used to do it...as mythology says!!
Why Swami Vivekanada was/is a Youth Icon internationally,we all know his qualities...who took JAL-SAMADHI at the age of 32...who was fit without getting indulge in any sexual activities...and was a good FOOTBALL PLAYER...and advocated people to play regularly and stay fit!!!
(BUT then in our Shastras 100yrs of our life is divided into 4 Ashrams( Brahmacharya ashram,Grihastra Ashram,Vanna ashram and Sanyaas) and its age deadline is mentioned, which is according to our biological need, mental maturity and ability, capability of earning so that one can take responsibilities of family...easily..it was 25yrs...was not wrong, as if child is born timely, one can be free on time at later yrs of life...that is 50yrs old...but then its a family's and personal choices and priorities.)
Vaise that Module has many chapters for young audiences and teachers....it covers personality devolopment, Career Consultation,biological changes in body and its scientific knowledge, health problems(which one can say sex education also), Psychological/emotional problems....etc, including discrimination between boy and girls...at home, in education,....its law...and how to deal with and motivate masses....by doing group discussions,improvise skits, interactive talks,songs...audio-visual etc.As latest reports(12/11/09) says how in other advanced,devoloped countries(where awareness/and education level is more) even 12yrs old girls are becoming unwed mother, it is alarming!!!
By the way Mr Obama realised that queer are Human Beings, and news says in America these people are now allowed to join Army. Sir with due respect,even we had Shikhandi in Mahabharata...was a warrior who killed Bhishm Pitahmah...so we are ahead of you all!!....I am sure(hope/wish) they won't have dearth of jobs here also in comparision to other countries....but people do discriminate in selections after knowing that person belongs to LGBT. Its nice to know that yesterday(12/11/09), our election commission took this decision that Transgenders can vote and fight election as well in category of (anyaa)...good,they got their constitutional right to vote and get vote!! In Bihar few months back(after PRIDE PARADE HULLA-GULLA) Transgenders got right to work in Sarkari offices BY filling their sex coloumn in forms as T-transgender, and not M or F....its a good beginning for people who till now were deprieved of all human,basic,fundamental,constitutional rights OF OUR COUNTRY. I am sure very soon they will be included in physically handicapped category(laangik viklangata-sexual imparity) and encouragged to study...go to school, be educated and be in mainstream as much as possible!!! I am sure people around them and their real family will start accepting them...for that we need change in mindset WORLDWIDE.
Recent resolution against homosexuality by ULEMA's in DEOBAND's meeting is not totally Wrong but as I have written about it ,I need to clarify and conclude it that talking to persons who belongs to LGBT Community, they themselve are not happy with their genetical structure(DNA) and feel repulsed by frustration existes in these peole's life in general....but my request is that just don't see this issue with one angle of SEX or SANSKAR...ofcourse this is true that...L-lesbianism or B- bisexuals are as much wrong as People indulged in BIGAMY, Extramarital affairs etc are, and these people needed treatment from Psychologists or Yogagurus to curb their these desires/attractions towards same sex....but T- TRANSGENDERs OR G-GAYs are GENETICALLY and Biologically DIFFERENT, about which they cannot do anything except may be going for a surgery which is not very cheap, or always successful,very painful and even easily available in our country!!!....Have anyone ever thought that we need to encourage TRANSGENDER OR HIZRAAS(they can be recognised by birth)...to go to school and make them educated, let them mingle with normal childs and live mainstream life...or feel as previledged as handicaped childs or special childs and give them reservation!!!....can't they be intelligent enough to be a doctor, engineer, soldier,etc... or an asset to the country???...or they are only supposed to live in a separate basties(Dayara) with their community people and not with their real parents or real siblings, and do singing- dancing,...in celebrations etc for livelihood???, Ain't they are human beings...don't they need food, cloths,house and basic emenities...and for that Money??!!!Don't they have fundamental,constitutional,civil...basic rights???...If SC,ST,OBC,minorities,Women,Handicapped... etc get backing for upliftment...why no one ever thought or think about them??? What we always do is just to oppose them???...there are quite a few exceptional cases of these people fighting Panchayaat elections in recent years...but then I am sure we all know the details and data's....and realities!!! So I don't think GAYs and TRANSGENDERs PRIDE PARADE was a wrong step.Though I am not a supporter of L-Lesbianism or B-bisexuality.By the way recently, America allowed Gays(even they face all kind of discriminations at home and in society-ask Bobby Darling!!!), to join Army.
Don't know about Transgenders or much details about it....have to do Google search for it.Must have much work is happenning as queer movement is worldwide phenomenon...though how less they are in numbers..their oraganizations are working/trying for demands with different govts...I am sure.
Well on 14/11/09 it is decided that Trangsgenders/Eunuchs can vote and fight elections as 'AANYA' CATAGORY...its a big achievement for them as till now even IN OUR CONSTITUTION ONLY MALE AND FEMALE'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS ARE MENTIONED....FOR OUR CONSTITUTION THESE TRANSGENDERS DO NOT EXISTS. Yesterday(15/11/09) saw a documentary on these people on NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL...named LADYBOY.
Today 12/12/09...Austrian Government has passed a bill...that gives 'LGBT's right to getting married there and if one of them die after marriage, then other will get pension like any other normal marriage.
10/12/09 Supreme Court directed that why not prostitution made legal if its not possible for Government to stop or curb it, then make it legal!!!...Well, as in many country years back(read it in wikipedia in google, I read it during article 377 got scrapped...and discussions were on) it was legalised so that Govt. used to get revenues from them. and these people used to get benifited of medical facilities/and get rehabilitated...!!
In present existing law in our country, it is a criminal activity....!!!This directive was given in context of petition filed by an NGO 'BACHPAN BACHAO AANDOLAN'....saying, poor girl child trafficking has increased due to poverty(bacchiyan biik rahin hain), which is really sad and scary(aajkal...aajkal many serials are on Tv where they have shown girl child being sold and married for money...well, as now by latest report, our 37% population are under Below Poverty Line instead of earlier 30%....even Sudhirji has made very good cartoon on it when SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE film got an OSCAR, and I had written about it here.
In fact generally this term are used for...any act, which lacks in Moral values/sanskar considered by our 'Society'...'rigid or progressive'...'wrong'...whether it is making money greedly...or just liking someone without family permission-as it was shown in DEVDAS, film based on SHARATCHANDRA novel, or for Anarkali of Akbar-Salim, Moughal era !!!
Definitly even LGBT are considered somewhere near, and bad.??? Do we need to change our views somewhere and make it a bit libral??? I think movies has always dipicted all kinds of Issues....we do relate with it thats why..it becomes a hit...but taking things personally and reacting accordingly....do become a cycle...a circle ....which is bad(vicious).....but,then its good to see a positive side....as Bhagwan or Shaitan both exists in our own personality...which way we want to devolop our personality....its a person's choice.
In fact once -few months back I commented, while chatting/discussing on net with one of my school/college ...My Doctor turned Beaurocrat friend, living in Goa now...samething, about profession like Bar dancers, or about LGBT,...etc...to legalise it, if cannot curb it, as diseases like AIDs are spreading in even our country speedily.Well, it was just a suggestion....well, but not worthless.
Well I saw a glimpse of a TV News programme on IBN7 in the evening....yesterday...on 14/12/09....both the sides of this sensitive ISSUE....Many NGO's must be trying to rehabitilate these effected people, ....in their medical problems, in education problems, in getting other basic eminities...and rights...and in educating about their duties...helping them come out from this profession and do some work for livilihood...which can give them self respect and make them self relaint.....though getting acceptibility in Society even afterwards, by common people is not easy(maybe some of them misusing their power as it was mentioned by Mr Thomas, an activist)....when RajaRammohan Rai started speaking against SATI-PRATHA,to save his bhabhi accidently,and for WIDOW MARRIAGES...he has to face great resistance...even from his own people and people around him....!!!
Its good to see Media or People are not over reacting now and 'no UNMADD' is seen in general, though fluctuations in mood of people are still there, at times in favour or at times against.
Let me come to the point now....in last few years Bar Dancers-Girls has faced tough time in few states/Big cities...after 'SUDDEN CLOSURE' of these Bars....as we have already over populated 'poor people'...and when one's family is dying of hunger...till what time they think about moral values(everyone cannot eat 'ghas ki roti' till they survive, as Maharana Pratap and his family did, He was a rare great example)...I am sure very few females/transgenders go for it(prostitution) volunteerily/willingly....not talking about pimps/goons now, (who surely needed to be punished,whatever maybe the situation are).
(I am concluding these topics...)About making it legalize and decriminalizing it ???....even during scrapping article 377, I had written my suggestions here was that under aged kids need to be protected like in normal case underaged(18/21 0f age are prohibited and article 376 is for protection from sexual abuse cases))sexual activity...I had written that I am not in favour of Lesbianism or Bisexuality...it needed medical help to curb such desires....may be it occurs because of Harmonal changes.But lets not get confused between....(just becoz even it was considered a criminal activity earlier), and mix up both.
No! I am not in favour of decriminalising or legalising it totally..100%, but definitly I do think that there need to be something concrete done so that these people don't live such inhumane life(definitly work is happenning),...do you think it can only happen by giving them lecture over moral values(..though that is also neccessary)....trying them to change their heart without giving them option of decent livilihood....some vocational teaching...as it is given in some jails and job opportunities or options for earning, identity cards so that they get voters rights....so that their kids can go to school and study...get educated and be out of this profession...can get facilities and human rights without knowing his/her father's name....and so that no new person get into it, can be saved from diseases....they can be stopped/saved....it sounding like utopia....definitly...persons who go/visit to such places as clients....need to be taught moral values ...but its not easy..(Mahatma Gandhi has done it)....!!! Its better to give some respite to these 'effected' people legally....and not be taken too 'harsh action suddenly' -in preventing them from it!!!
A survey by Ministry of Women and child Welfare and Human right watch...says-" there are 2.8 million sex workers in our country,though our constitution does not speak about male sex workers(giglo), and it doubled in recent decade which is worrysome as 35.47 of them are below 18yrs."
Besides my own suggestions...I added this article here(as I am not working on this Issue, neither following it religiously....but do read/and aware of news ), if someone want to read it!!!....This article is written by an Expert of this field and is quite NEAR to my thinking and views...and what I meant by Legalising or decriminalising it a 'bit'...to give them respite to come out of it...and not to push them in more difficult situations,( I searched this article today,right now 7am....15/12/09)!!! 16/12/09, I have read that Mr Bill Clinton and Mr Bill Gates has suggested that it should be legalised to promote use of condoms in them,... (as they are star campaigner of AIDS....!!!)18/12/09, I saw a report on Sonagachi redlight on 'Discovery Channel'....in the evening...few NGO's are working very hard taking their kids along...educating and making them aware and they are part of that NGO,busy spreading awareness through dance/drama...and in other creative form..
LEADER ARTICLE: Sex Workers Need Legal Cover
Ratna Kapur10 September 2007, 12:00am ISTText Size:
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The cabinet is all set to amend the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and criminalise clients who visit sex workers. The Bill is ostensibly being
adopted in the hope of containing human trafficking. Yet in trying to achieve this result by directly targeting the rights of women in the sex industry, the government is heading down a dangerous path.
The new law regards sex work as per se exploitative and enables the police to charge clients who bargain with sex workers for sexual services. Even if the client offers gifts or other consideration to the sex worker, he can be charged under the broad terms of the new law. By implication, sex workers would have to provide their services for free, in order to avoid the application of this provision.
If clients have sex with a trafficked woman, then the client is automatically deemed to be a trafficker. The provision renders all clients liable to be charged until it is established that the sex worker was not trafficked. Given that there is no definition of trafficking in the law, it is impossible to know how this fact is to be established. The Act also renders children and other members of a sex worker's family liable to be removed from the premises. It allows moving against members who are dependent on the earnings of a sex worker.
All of these provisions operate to undermine the life and work of the woman as a parent, caregiver and sex worker. The amendments effectively ban sex work by demanding circumstances that will make it impossible for the woman to function. The impact of these new provisions is a far cry from the original intention of lawmakers to amend the law for the purpose of combating trafficking.
According to the UN Protocol on Trafficking, trafficking is a crime that takes place when a person is moved from one place to another against his or her will into a situation of exploitation. The protocol does not target sex workers or criminalise consensual sexual conduct. Its explicit purpose is to stop the exploitation of migrant labour coerced into moving by deceptive individuals and criminal networks. Its implicit purpose is to encourage states to adopt measures to ensure the safe legal passage of migrants.
In the current context of the dubious 'war on terror', xenophobia and anti-immigration politics of many countries, the possibility of safe legal passage especially for low skilled or semi-skilled labour is limited. Instead, migrants are resorting to smugglers and traffickers to facilitate their movement. The closing down of legal routes merely encourages clandestine movement.
The new amendments neither target trafficking nor protect women. Instead, the reforms are driven by a morally conservative and myopic vision. By criminalising clients, the new law will drive prostitution and sex workers underground. As a result the women will be more vulnerable to abuse and, more importantly, trafficking.
The government is putting a powerful weapon in the hands of the police — to extort money from both sex workers and clients who want to avoid charges.
In the current climate of HIV/AIDS, driving prostitution underground will weaken if not altogether destroy links between vulnerable communities and groups providing information about the virus.
India has the highest rate of HIV infections in the world, which is spreading most rapidly among married, heterosexual women. To enact legislation that will drive the virus further into the realm of illegality is not only an irresponsible act; it is sentencing millions to a life of greater stigma, discrimination and violence.
All of these consequences have been documented in the evaluation of the Swedish law that sought to eliminate trafficking by criminalising the clients of sex workers. While sex workers were pushed off the streets, prostitution did not stop. In fact, trafficking increased, women were denied any legal mechanisms for redress, and tracking HIV infections became virtually impossible.
The Sonagachi Sex Workers' Project in Kolkata has been hailed as a model project for bringing down the rate of HIV infection and stopping child trafficking because of the active participation of the sex workers. Similar projects in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which involve the sex workers and encourage aggressive condom promotion among female sex workers, have also resulted in reduced HIV infections. Such results highlight the need to intensify programmes that create an enabling environment for sex workers to negotiate for condom use and safe sex practices.
The government is turning against the very community whose support is critical in fighting the battle against both trafficking as well as HIV/AIDS.
The moral agenda that is driving these particular reforms is going to help nobody. It will keep the nation ignorant about the causes of trafficking, which is driven by poverty. It will lead to the demand for closing of borders and alienate a community that can be an ally in the fight against HIV.
Instead of going down this destructive route, the government should encourage self-help groups that will monitor trafficking into sex work and organise the community to manage its own health needs including HIV prevention and support. It should enact a comprehensive migration policy, which enables workers to access their rights and legal services to fight any violence that they may experience from employers, clients or co-workers.
(The writer is director, Centre for Feminist Legal Research.)
I have mentioned here in this blog earlier about...all aspects of sexual harrassment of male or famale,old/young/child(including Rape...DNA test of child born, becoz of it and his/her human rights,laws and status...as I have done write-up on this for Rashtriya Sahara's 'Hastkhshep pages-4pages'...and even in this blog!!!
I have written about poor girls/women getting sold for marriages for money, to be a
sarrogate mother, or otherwise...in this blog!!!
Do these girls are alone culprit or even people come as a client need to be taught moral values and corrected.???
I am not in support of what is 'bad and Evil' in society....but do think that along with the dose of moral values, one need to provide, education and job opportunities for earning livilihood, to give these people decent opening and alternative...it applies on THEIVES,Beggars,Criminals,naxals,terrorist, underworld and places like Casino..or anything considered bad and evil for society...as reports shows that even child and women are getting involved in these activities now....and one big reason for it is only POVERTY....!!!One need to find solution like doctors does, be a social docter and see the pulse of society and environment around and its root causes...Physical/Psychological/socio-economical...Problems....and reasons and find solutions and better and decent opportunities...and the way for it!!!...and inspiring,encouraging,motivating/convincing people for reforms, as may be many wants to live like the way they are only. Support them till its neccessary and Punish them, mildly or strictly where it is important.
If people think writing here in this blog,FB,Orkut,Twitter(Digital friends)/talking on phone with
family/friends is a 'WRONG WAY, tarika galat hai'...then I do feel that correction can also be done like this only(as snake bites can be treated with medicine made by snakes venom easily) ...Its good that now its easier to convince people what/and how things are happenning here inside and outside,...and its better to become good example.(And if still people think...I am going through some mental ailment...due to which I became depressed, then let it be...I can live and work and enjoy my life without complain...with my this 'weakness'. Now,I am trying to make it 'my strength', without speaking lies,as mostly I did that( if possible), in handling things/situations.)Wish me good wishes.
I hope now people will stop asking me 'AAP KYA KER RAHIN HAIN, OR AAPNE KIYA KYA' all the time....about me or other members of family.
Sudhirji's friend Semone and her husband Philip came from Switzerland ...came for dinner...I treated her with Rajasthani food...Gatta,Dal-Batti- Churma,Sangari-Kaire...etc....!!
While discussing certain topics she told us that she wants to adopt a child from some Mother Teresa Sansthan...in Delhi, We were told that how becouse of education system in their country,they finish their studies late and as most of women are careerist,they don't get married until late 30's or by 40...by then becoz of biological problems or other compulsions they don't want to or can not reproduce child...so adopt it from devoloping countries. And hence ratio of Europian child and non Europian adopted child is increating and creating other kind of problems....!!!She said as awareness about sex education,family planning are 100% there.....She said that what is written in Indian shatras about 25yrs deadline for marriage is not wrong.!!
Well! Thats why I have written earlier in this blog that ,its alarming that after so much of awareness why 12yrs old kids are getting pregnent in these countries(where bal vivah is not allowed)....its need to be checked??....This is where family values counts...but still if some wrong happen, should family/one go for honour killing/suicide or find some solution for it in that situation....!!
दुनिया बनाने वाले भगवान,अल्लाह,GOD का लिंग-निर्धारण हो गया
ईश्वर की गलती हूं मैं और मेरे जैसे लोग
भड़ास परिवार से जुड़े सभी पुराने लोग जानते हैं कि मैं एक लैंगिक विकलांग(हिजड़ा) हूं लेकिन मेरी इस कमी को मेरे इस परिवार ने कभी मेरे परिचय में आड़े न आने दिया। भड़ास परिवार से दिया गया प्रेम और हमारे बड़े भाई अवतार स्वरूप डा.रूपेश श्रीवास्तव जी ने हमें हमारी परंपरागत पहचान से हट कर जो नई पहचान दी है उसके लिये यदि हम अपनी चमड़ी के जूते भी बना कर उन्हें पहना दें तो कम है। हमारे रिश्ते में इस औपचारिक बकवास की गुंजाइश नहीं है। बात ये है कि मेरे दिमाग में हमेशा से यह सवाल रहा कि दुनिया बनाने वाली शक्ति भी क्या लैंगिकता की मोहताज होगी? या फिर वह एकोSहं बहुस्यामि के विचार के अमीबा या हाइड्रा की तरह बढ़ा होगा? वह क्या है पुल्लिंग? स्त्रीलिंग?? या फिर उभयलिंगी केंचुए की तरह??? या फिर मेरी तरह नपुंसक षंढ??????? भाईसाहब से करे गए मेरे हजारों सवालों में से बस यही अनुत्तरित रहा है क्योंकि भाई मानते हैं कि ईश्वर के विषय में चर्चा करने की क्षमता उनमें नहीं है जब वो मिल कर स्वयं अपने बारे में बताएगा तब उसकी बात करेंगे। लेकिन मुझे लग रहा है कि मुझे मेरे सवाल का उत्तर सेमेटिक रेलिजन्स में मिल गया है। मुस्लिमों की मजहबी पुस्तक कुरान और ईसाइयों की धर्मपुस्तक बाइबिल में बताया गया है कि अल्लाह या परमेश्वर ने आदम यानि एडम(प्रथम मनुष्य) को अपने ही रूप में बनाया(फ़रिश्तों से आदेश देकर बनवाया) और स्पष्ट है कि आदम तो पुरुष हैं और उनकी एक पसली से प्रथम स्त्री हव्वा का निर्माण करा। कहा गया है अल्लाह या परमेश्वर प्रकाश(नूर) है। अब सवाल ये खड़ा हो गया है कि क्या ये एक रहस्य है या बहुत बड़ा झूठ कि एक तरफ़ उसे अपने जैसा यानि पुरुष लिखा है और दूसरी तरफ प्रकाश। यदि दुनिया बनाने वाला प्रकाश है तो उसे आदम को सूरज, जुगनू , ट्यूबलाइट या बल्ब की तरह का बनाना चाहिए था यदि हाड़मांस(लिंगधारी) बनाया तो ये नहीं बताना था कि in his own form........ अपनी ही सूरत में........। यदि आदम को लिंग है तो शतप्रतिशत ईश्वर को भी होना चाहिए अन्यथा ये बातें मात्र कल्पना हैं और वो भी पुरुषों की जिन्होंने सभ्यता के विकास क्रम में नर और मादा मानव की पसलियों में अंतर देख कर ये कहानी रच ली और खुद को ईश्वर की सूरत में जता दिया। ये विशुद्ध तर्क है मेहरबानी करके कोई इसे कुतर्क कह कर मुझे शान्त कराने का आग्रह न करे। यदि समुचित उत्तर है तो अवश्य शंका का निराकरण करे। यानि कि हमारे जैसे लोग उस परमात्मा की गलती हैं क्योंकि हमारे जैसे लोगों का तो कहीं जिक्र ही नहीं है कि उसने मुखन्नस(हिजड़े) भी बनाए हैं कभी। क्या सचमुच परमात्मा गलतियां करता है??????????
अर्धसत्य पर लिखी हुई मेरी एक पुरानी पोस्ट में मेरे दिल में उठे इस सवाल का जिक्र है
जय जय भड़ास
प्रस्तुतकर्ता हिज(ड़ा) हाईनेस मनीषा पर 10:10 PM 12/1/2010
लेबल: अल्लाह, ईश्वर, परमेश्वर, भड़ासअर्धसत्य, लिंग, हिजड़I
‘Gay marriage’ and homosexuality: Some medical comment
JOHN SHEA, M.D., JOHN WILSON, M.D., ET. AL.
The media portrays the homosexual lifestyle and relationships as happy, healthy and stable. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences. In addition, many 'committed' homosexual relationships only last a few years raising doubts about whether children raised in same-sex households are being raised in a protective environment.
Notice to Reader: "The Boards of both CERC Canada and CERC USA are aware that the topic of homosexuality is a controversial one that deeply affects the personal lives of many North Americans. Both Boards strongly reiterate the Catechism's teaching that people who self-identify as gays and lesbians must be treated with 'respect, compassion, and sensitivity' (CCC #2358). The Boards also support the Church's right to speak to aspects of this issue in accordance with her own self-understanding. Articles in this section have been chosen to cast light on how the teachings of the Church intersect with the various social, moral, and legal developments in secular society. CERC will not publish articles which, in the opinion of the editor, expose gays and lesbians to hatred or intolerance."
Despite the impression given by the media, the actual number of homosexuals is quite small. Essentially all surveys show the number of homosexuals to be only 1-3% of the population. The number of homosexuals living in 'common law partnerships' is even less, only 0.5% of all couples. This contrasts with 70% of all households with a married couple. The pressure for introducing same-sex marriages comes from a very small section of society.
According to Statistics Canada, 1.3% of men and 0.7% of women considered themselves to be homosexual.
Recent studies in many different countries show that the prevalence of homosexuality is less than 3% of the population: In a US study, the prevalence of homosexuality was estimated to be 2.1% of men and 1.5% of women. (Gilman SE. Am J Public Health. 2001; 91: 933-9.) Another US study estimated the prevalence of the adult lesbian population to be 1.87% (Aaron DJ et al. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003; 57: 207-9.) In a recent British survey, 2.8% of men were classified as homosexuals (Mercer CH et al. AIDS. 2004; 18: 1453-8). In a recent Dutch study 2.8% of men and 1.4% women had had same-sex partners. (Sandfort TG et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001; 58 :85-91.) In a New Zealand study, 2.8% of young adults were classified as homosexual or bisexual. (Fergusson DM et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 876-80)
In 2001, there were just over 8.3 million families in Canada, of which nearly 6 million (70%) were married couples and 1.1 million common-law couples. The 2001 Census was the first to provide data on same-sex partnerships. A total of 34,200 couples (or 0.5% of all couples) identified themselves as same-sex common-law couples. (www.statcan.ca/Daily/ English/021022/d021022a.htm)
2. Health risks of the homosexual lifestyle.
The media portrays the homosexual lifestyle and relationships as happy, healthy and stable. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences. Many 'committed' homosexual relationships only last a few years. This raises doubts as to whether children raised in same-sex households are being raised in a protective environment.
A. There are very high rates of sexual promiscuity among the homosexual population with short duration of even 'committed' relationships.
A study of homosexual men shows that more than 75% of homosexual men admitted to having sex with more than 100 different males in their lifetime: approximately 15% claimed to have had 100-249 sex partners, 17% claimed 250-499, 15% claimed 500-999 and 28% claimed more than 1,000 lifetime sexual partners. (Bell AP, Weinberg MS. Homosexualities. New York 1978).
Promiscuity among lesbian women is less extreme, but is still higher than among heterosexual women. Many 'lesbian' women also have sex with men. Lesbian women were more than 4 times as likely to have had more than 50 lifetime male partners than heterosexual women. (Fethers K et al. Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2000; 76: 345-9.)
Far higher rates of promiscuity are observed even within 'committed' gay relationships than in heterosexual marriage: In Holland, male homosexual relationships last, on average, 1.5 years, and gay men have an average of eight partners a year outside of their supposedly “committed” relationships. (Xiridou M, et al. The contribution of steady and casual partnerships to the incidence of HIV infection among homosexual men in Amsterdam. AIDS. 2003; 17: 1029-38.) Gay men have sex with someone other than their primary partner in 66% of relationships within the first year, rising to 90% of relationships after five years. (Harry J. Gay Couples. New York. 1984)
In an online survey among nearly 8,000 homosexuals, 71% of same-sex relationships lasted less than eight years. Only 9% of all same-sex relationships lasted longer than 16 years. (2003-2004 Gay & Lesbian Consumer Online Census; www.glcensus.org)
The high rates of promiscuity are not surprising: Gay authors admit that 'gay liberation was founded … on a sexual brotherhood of promiscuity.' (Rotello G. Sexual Ecology. New York 1998)
B. Among homosexuals, highly risky sexual practices such as anal sex are very common.
The majority of homosexual men (60%) engage in anal sex, frequently without condom and even, if they know that they are HIV positive. (Mercer CH et al. Increasing prevalence of male homosexual partnerships and practices in Britain 1990-2000. AIDS. 2004; 18: 1453-8) As a result, a large number of diseases are associated with anal intercourse, many of which are rare or even unknown in the heterosexual population such as: anal cancer, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Herpes simplex virus, HIV, Human papilloma virus, Isospora belli, Microsporidia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C and others. (www.netdoctor.co.uk; www.gayhealthchannel.com;)
There is a significant increase in the risk of contracting HIV when engaging in anal sex. Young homosexual men aged 15-22, who ever had anal sex had a fivefold increased risk of contracting HIV than those who never engaged in anal sex. (Valleroy L, et al. HIV prevalence and associated risks in young men who have sex with men. JAMA. 2000; 284: 198-204.)
The term 'barebacking' refers to intentional unsafe anal sex. In a study of HIV-positive gay men, the majority of participants (84%) reported engaging in barebacking in the past three months, and 43% of the men reported recent bareback sex with a partner who most likely is not infected with HIV, therefore putting another man at risk of contracting HIV. (Halkitis PN. Intentional unsafe sex (barebacking) among HIV-positive gay men who seek sexual partners on the Internet. AIDS Care. 2003; 15: 367-78.)
While many homosexuals are aware of HIV risk, a large number are unaware of the increased risk of contracting non-HIV STDs, many of which have serious complications or may not be curable. (K-Y lubricant and the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association survey)
While 'always' condom use reduces the risk of contracting HIV by about 85%, Condoms, even when used 100% of the time, fail to give adequate levels of protection against many non-HIV STDs such as Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Herpes, Genital Warts and others. The only safe sex is, apart from abstinence, mutual monogamy with an uninfected partner. (Sex, Condoms, and STDs: What We Now Know. Medical Institute for Sexual Health. 2002)
C. Homosexuals have very high rates of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV which pose a major burden to the health service.
Over 70% of all AIDS diagnoses in Canada in adults over the age of 15 up to June 2004 were in homosexual men (13,019 out of 19,238). 60% of all positive HIV tests are found in homosexual men. This contrasts with just over 15% of all positive HIV tests which are due to heterosexual contact. (Public Health Agency of Canada. HIV and AIDS in Canada. November 2004).
The recently observed dramatic increases in syphilis in many large cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, but also in London and Manchester, UK are in the majority observed in homosexual men. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Trends in primary and secondary syphilis and HIV infections in men who have sex with men. MMWR 2004; 53: 575-8. and Nicoll A. Are trends in HIV, gonorrhoea, and syphilis worsening in western Europe? BMJ 2002; 324:1324-7.)
D. There are increased rates of mental ill health among the homosexual population compared to the general population. Many studies show much higher rates of psychiatric illness, such as depression, suicide attempts and drug abuse among homosexuals then among the general population. The homosexual lifestyle is associated with a shortened life expectancy of up to 20 years.
In a New Zealand study, data were gathered on a range of psychiatric disorders among gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people. At the age of 21, homosexuals/bisexuals were at fourfold increased risks of major depression and conduct disorder, fivefold increased risk of nicotine dependence, twofold increased risk of other substance misuse or addiction and six times more likely to have attempted suicide. (Fergusson DM et al. Is sexual orientation related to mental health problems and suicidality in young people? Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 876-80.)
In a recent US study of the mental health of homosexuals, it was found that gay/bisexual men had a more than 3-fold increased risk of major depression and a five-fold increased risk of panic disorder. They were three times as likely to rate their mental health as only 'fair' or 'poor' and to experience high levels of distress. Gay/bisexual women had a nearly four-fold increased risk of general anxiety disorder and both groups were more than three times as likely than the general population to require treatment in a mental health setting. (Cochran S. et al. Prevalence of mental disorders, psychological distress, and mental health services use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003; 71 :53-61.)
It is claimed, that the high rates of mental illness among homosexuals are the result of 'homophobia'. However, even in the Netherlands, which has been far more tolerant to same-sex relationships and which has recently legalised same-sex marriages, high levels of psychiatric illness, including major depression, bipolar disorder ('manic depression'), agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and drug addiction are found. (Sandfort TG, et al. Same-sex sexual behavior and psychiatric disorders: findings from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001; 58 :85-91.)
Furthermore, if 'homophobia' and prejudices were the cause of the high rates of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts among homosexuals, one would similarly expect to find higher rates of suicide attempts and suicide among ethnic minorities exposed to racism. However, this is not usually the case.
In a Vancouver study, life expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to continue, it is estimated that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 years will not reach their 65th birthday. (Hogg RS et al. Modelling the impact of HIV disease on mortality in gay and bisexual men. International Journal of Epidemiology.1997; 26:657-61)
3. Homosexuality and pedophilia.
Any attempts to legalise gay marriage should be aware of the link between homosexuality and pedophilia. While the majority of homosexuals are not involved in pedophilia, it is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among pedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable.
One well known historic example on the link between homosexuality and pedophilia is found in ancient Greece. Greek mythology is saturated with stories of pedophilia and ancient Greek literature praises pedophilia. The age group of boys that were used for 'sexual pleasure' was probably in the range of 12-17. Male prostitution was very common with brothels in which boys and young men were available. There is evidence for an extensive trade in boys. (Churchill W. Homosexual Behavior among Males. Hawthorn. New York. 1967)
There are links between pedophilia and homosexuality. The political scientist Prof. Mirkin wrote in a paper that: 'pedophile organizations were originally a part of the gay/lesbian coalition…' (Mirkin H. The pattern of sexual politics: feminism, homosexuality and pedophilia. Journal of Homosexuality 1999; 37: 1-24.). There is an overlap between the 'gay movement' and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable through organisations such as the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), as admitted by David Thorstad, Co-founder of NAMBLA writing in the Journal of Homosexuality. (Thorstad D. Man/boy love and the American gay movement. Journal of Homosexuality. 1990; 20 : 251-74)
The number of homosexuals in essentially all surveys is less than 3%. (Statistics Canada found only 1% of the population who described themselves as homosexual.) However, the percentage of homosexuals among pedophiles is 25%. (Blanchard R et al. Fraternal birth order and sexual orientation in pedophiles. Archives of Sexual Behavior 2000; 29: 463-78.) Therefore, the prevalence of pedophilia among homosexuals is about 10-25 times higher than one would expect if the proportion of pedophiles were evenly distributed within the (hetero- and homosexual) populations.
4. 'Gay marriage'.
Gay activists claim that there is no difference between children raised in a homosexual as opposed to a heterosexual household. However, essentially all studies that show that there is no difference have been criticised because of poor research quality. Despite the shortcomings, the studies seem to suggest that children raised in same-sex parents may be more sexually promiscuous and more likely to become homosexuals.
In a review of all the studies that purport to find no difference between children raised in families by same-sex parents and parents of different sex, major methodological flaws have been noted. For example, the studies have very small sample sizes, biased sample selection, or lack of control groups. (P. Morgan, Children as Trophies? Christian Institute. Newcastle upon Tyne, 2002)
Despite the limitations of the studies of same-sex parenting some differences are found. Children raised in same-sex parents are more likely to become sexually promiscuous and are more likely to become homosexual themselves. (Riggs SC. Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents. (letter) Pediatrics 2002; 109: 1193-4.)
However, the main concern remains the inherent instability of same-sex marriages. In the above mentioned Dutch survey, the average length of a 'committed' homosexual partnership was only 1.5 years. In the mentioned survey of nearly 8,000 gays, 71% of relationships did not last 8 years. Furthermore, violence among homosexual partnerships is two to three times as common as in heterosexual relationships. Such an environment does not provide the stability required for raising children. Former homosexual Stephen Bennett who is married to his wife and has two children states: 'Granting homosexuals the right to marry or adopt children is deliberately creating dysfunctional families.'
5. Biological evidence regarding gender development.
Despite all the impressions given by the media, homosexuality is neither an entirely innate condition nor is it unchangeable. The so-called 'gay gene' has never been found. There are studies that show it is possible to change sexual orientation from predominantly homosexual to predominantly heterosexual orientation.
A recent review by authors sympathetic to the gay movement shows clearly that homosexual development cannot be only determined by genes. Evidence from biology shows clearly that gays are not simply born that way. Environmental influences play a significant role in the development of gender identity and sexual behavior. (Bailey JM. "Biological perspectives on sexual orientation". In: Garnets LD and Kimmel DC: Psychological perspectives on lesbian, gay, and bisexual experiences. Columbia University Press, New York. 2003)
There is no convincing evidence for a 'gay gene'. Indeed, if there were a 'gay gene' those who carry it would probably be at a disadvantage in the natural selection process of evolution:' If there was a 'gay gene' this gene would cause a significant problem: homosexuality is associated with low fertility, indeed if a homosexual has only sex with same-sex persons he will have no offspring.' (Bailey JM. Biological perspectives on sexual orientation. 2003)
One way of finding out whether a condition is genetically determined is to examine the behavior of identical twins (who have the same genetic material) and comparing them with non-identical twins. It is assumed, that twins grow up in the same environment. There have been several studies investigating whether the identical twin brothers of homosexual men are also homosexuals. Concordance (both identical twins being homosexual) was found in only 25-50% of identical twin pairs. 'Genes' therefore cannot entirely explain homosexual orientation and behaviour. (Pillard RC and Weinrich JD. Evidence of familial nature of male homosexuality. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1986: 42; 808-12. King M and McDonald E. Homosexuals who are twins. A study of 46 probands. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1992; 160: 407-9.)
Recently, a study was published by Professor Spitzer, a prominent psychiatrist. He is viewed as a historic champion of gay activism by playing a key role in removing homosexuality from the psychiatric manual of mental disorders in 1973. In his study, he examined whether a predominantly homosexual orientation will, in some individuals, respond to therapy. He examined 200 respondents of both genders who reported changes from homosexual to heterosexual orientation lasting 5 years or more. He writes: 'Although initially skeptical, in the course of the study, the author became convinced of the possibility of change in some gay men and lesbians.' Although examples of "complete" change in orientation were not common, the majority of participants did report change from a predominantly or exclusively homosexual orientation before therapy to a predominantly or exclusively heterosexual orientation in the past year as a result of reparative therapy. These results would seem to contradict the position statements of the major mental health organizations in the United States, which claim there is no scientific basis for believing psychotherapy effective in addressing same-sex attraction. (Spitzer RL. Can some gay men and lesbians change their sexual orientation? 200 participants reporting a change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation. Arch Sex Behav. 2003; 32: 403-17; discussion 419-72. – further evidence see www.narth.com)
6. Benefits of traditional marriage.
There are significant benefits from (heterosexual) marriage for individual and society. Heterosexually married couples are, on average, healthier, have fewer psychological problems and live longer than cohabiting or single individuals. Government policy therefore should be to support and strengthen heterosexual marriage.
In reviews by Professor Oswald, Professor of Economics at Warwick University, UK it was found that marriage reduces mortality. The excess mortality of men who are not married is similar to the excess mortality by smoking. Marriage has a much more important effect on longevity than income does. For men, the effect is positive and substantial. It almost exactly offsets the large (negative) consequences of smoking. For women, the effect is approximately half the size of the smoking effect.
Marriage is associated with greater happiness, less depression, less alcohol abuse and less smoking. Marriage gives a beneficial effect in terms of reducing alcohol abuse especially for men and reducing depression for both men and women.
Health benefits of marriage appear to be limited to marriage. Cohabitation does not confer the same degree of benefit than marriage. Formal marriage itself seems to matter. In the few studies that compare marriage and cohabitation, the results tend to show a beneficial effect from being married. (Gardner J, Oswald A, Is it Money or Marriage that Keeps People Alive? August 2002. Wilson CM and Oswald AJ: How Does Marriage Affect Physical and Psychological Health? A Survey of the Longitudinal Evidence. (January 2002; both papers available on Prof Oswald's website – see 'further reading')
7. Adverse effects of family breakdown.
There is a wealth of evidence linking family breakdown with many adverse health outcomes for children and society as a whole. Government policy therefore should be to strengthen the marriage-based family of husband and wife. 'Gay marriages', with their inherent instability, will contribute to the many adverse effects family breakdown has on children and on society as a whole.
At the root of many of the problems we see in children and young adults — such as emotional and behavioral difficulties, poor school performance, substance misuse, precocious teenage sexuality including teenage pregnancy and juvenile delinquency — is the dramatic increase in family breakup and 'relationship turnover' of parents, adversely affecting their children (For an overview see: Rebecca O'Neill. Experiments in living. CIVITAS. 2002)
As a result of family breakdown, children have on average more ill health including higher mortality, emotional problems (including a higher suicide rate).
Children from broken families have poorer school performance including poorer performance in maths, reading and writing.
Children from broken families are more likely to live in poverty. As a result of family breakdown, many single parent families live in poverty.
Children from broken families are also more likely to have problems with substance misuse and poor sexual health including teenage pregnancy.
Furthermore, children from broken homes are more likely to be engaging in criminal activity and are disproportionally over-represented in the prison population.
In a study of more than 170 US cities, a clear link between divorce rate and crime was found. Low rates of divorce were associated with reduced crime rates. (Sampson RJ, Crime in Cities. Tonry & Morris eds., Crime and Justice, Chicago 1992)
Further reading:
Health risks of gay sex
Effects of family breakdown on children and society by CIVITAS, London, UK
Marriage research (by Prof Andrew Oswald)
Therapy of homosexual orientation: www.narth.com (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
John Shea, M.D., John Wilson, M.D. et.al. "'Gay marriage' and homosexuality: some medical comments." Lifesite (February, 2005).
Originally published to Lifesite.
THE AUTHORS
John Shea, MD, FRCP (C), Radiologist; John K. Wilson MD, FRCP (C), Cardiologist; Paul Ranalli MD, FRCP (C), Neurologist; Christina Paulaitis MD, CCFP, Family Physician; Luigi Castagna MD, FRCP (C), Paediatric Neurologist; Hans-Christian Raabe MD, MRCP MRCGP Internist; W. André Lafrance MD, FRCP (C), Dermatologist.
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Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self
February 22, 2010
Gay Marriage Leads D.C. Archbishop to End Foster Care Program
Catholic Charities has given its caseload of 43 children, 35 foster families, and 7 staff members to a Maryland-based family-care agency so as not to disrupt client care.
Julia Duin
The other shoe has dropped here in Washington, D.C., in a long conflict between the local Catholic diocese and the District of Columbia.
After warning for months that the District's pending same-sex marriage law — slated to go into effect March 2 — put its 80-year-old foster care program in jeopardy, the Archdiocese of Washington formally ended its program February 1.
It is the third Catholic diocese in the country to do so. The archdioceses of San Francisco and Boston stopped their adoption programs in 2006 after their respective states legalized gay marriage (California has since repealed its law) and made it clear that local Catholic Charities affiliates would have to work with homosexual couples.
The District's law would obligate all outside contractors working with the city to recognize gay couples by giving spousal benefits to such couples and allowing them to adopt available children. The Archdiocese of Washington refused to do this. Its Catholic Charities affiliate has turned over its caseload of 43 children with 35 foster families — along with 7 staff members — to Bethesda, Maryland-based National Center for Children and Families so as not to disrupt client care.
The foster care and adoption programs were among the 63 social service programs that the District paid Catholic Charities about $22.5 million to run. Of that amount, $2 million went to the foster care program. Because of the large amounts of money involved, it is highly unlikely that Catholic parishioners could raise enough funds to make up the difference.
When Donald Wuerl became the archbishop of Washington in 2006, many of us thought his main battle would be dealing with pro-choice Catholic politicians. Instead, his Rubicon has proved to be the D.C. marriage issue, a battle I am guessing he did not anticipate. He is now caught between the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea. The Vatican is adamant against allowing gay couples to adopt. As for the District, one of the most liberal areas in the country, it is not surprising that, with a Democrat in the White House, local gay activists began pushing for the right to legally marry.
When the D.C. city council passed a bill allowing gay marriage in fall 2009, the archdiocese served notice that the bill did not contain a meaningful religious exemption for contractors who believe marriage is solely between a man and a woman. A storm of invective ensued, mostly from politicians and activists who blamed Catholics for manipulating the political process. Two hundred local clergy, including the local Episcopal bishop, banned together to denounce the archdiocese. Most of the local media trashed Archbishop Wuerl for his stand.
Wuerl and his bishops fought back, insisting they were not abandoning the city's poor nor its children by threatening to pull out of its social service programs. They pointed out the city had changed the rules on the ground, making them ineligible for contracts, grants, and licenses for programs ranging from immigration services to foster care.
The outlook for religious organizations involved in charity work is not good. The Salvation Army lost $3.5 million in social service contracts with the city of San Francisco because it would not provide health benefits to gay employees' partners. The Boy Scouts are not allowed to meet in government-owned buildings because of its stance on gay Scout leaders. A spokesman for a D.C. Catholic Charities affiliate told me that coupled gays are employed among its 850-member work force, so that it's a matter of time — after March 2 — before someone threatens a lawsuit unless his or her gay partner gets health insurance. The juggernaut is here.
There is much strong sentiment on this issue. When I wrote a front-page piece on the issue last week, I got 57 comments off the bat, the majority of which criticized Catholics. An anonymous local Catholic blogger set out the issue quite clearly by saying that the question is not if, but when the archdiocese is going to end up in court over this.
Catholic dioceses around the country undoubtedly are watching what happens in Washington. The city council has rammed through the legislation — which it refused to put to popular vote — even though they knew this would tie up the more conservative religious groups. Meanwhile, most observers in D.C. agree that Archbishop Wuerl was left with no morally acceptable choice but to withdraw the foster care and adoption programs, which are on the front lines of this debate. Expect him to eventually pull out of the other $20.5 million worth of contracts as well.
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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on February 22, 2010 11:06 AM
Comments
Just another example of what can happen when government goes against common sense and the will of the people. The Catholic Church is acting on principle. Finally, someone is drawing a line and saying enough is enough. Of course, they will be excoriated by the press and other liberal institutions who really aren't interested in being fair to the Catholic Church.
Posted By: Truthmeister | February 22, 2010 1:39 PM
The Catholic position is just pathetic. The base their condescendingly slanderous position on "homosexuals" is conjured up from their archaic "Natural Law," which dates back to Aristotle. Slavery is "natural," but Gay people aren't. Give me a break. Real "Natural Law" really boils down to: If it's not forbidden by the laws of physics, it's mandatory. The morality you bring to that determines the morality you extract from it. And the morality you should bring to that is the Golden Rule.
Posted By: Gregory Peterson | February 22, 2010 2:04 PM
If the church takes funds from a government that does not discriminate against gay citizens, then the church cannot discriminate against gay citizens. If the church wishes to continue to discriminate against gay citizens, then the church cannot take government funds. Seems rather straightforward.
Posted By: James in Los Angeles | February 22, 2010 2:18 PM
Perhaps Katelyn Beaty from comment 11:06AM should be caring for those 43 unwanted children???
Nope, wait a minute. It wasn't the care of the 43 unwanted children Katelyn Beaty was concerned about.
Katelyn Beaty was concerned about making sure gay citizens are still treated unfairly via the law.
My bad.
I thought she cared about 'the children' that so many heterosexuals are running around screaming their heads off about protecting while allowing them to rot in orphanages.
How stupid of me.
Katelyn Beaty was DEFENDING the catholic church.
You know, that multi-conglomerate corporation that steals money from the poor and under-educated via a weekly 'stupid tax' dropped into a collection plate so that the Pope can continue building his city of solid gold in Rome while his employees continue to molest little children while the world watches and does nothing.
Morality indeed, Katelyn Beaty and the catholic church.
Morality indeed.
Posted By: Jill7 | February 22, 2010 2:24 PM
I'm so glad a non-discriminating organization has chosen to take care of these children. At least we can have better role models for children than the close-minded Church leaders who've shown a pattern of ignoring their past mistakes (abuse and discrimination, anyone??)
Posted By: JJ | February 22, 2010 2:43 PM
Well, since the Catholics are no longer looking out for these kids, at least we don't have to worry about them getting raped by church leaders any longer.
Posted By: Bill | February 22, 2010 2:53 PM
Jill7, since you use my name repeatedly in your comment, it seems only appropriate to clarify that I left no comment for this post. I published the post for Julia Duin, the author. Before aiming such invective at one person, please make sure you are aiming at the right person. (Of course, not aiming invective is the ideal, but that is a conversation best left outside the blogosphere.)
Thank you,
Katelyn Beaty
Posted By: Katelyn Beaty | February 22, 2010 2:57 PM
I see the anti religionists are out in force on this thread.
Why should the Catholic Church be force to adopt to gays or even employ them. They are a private group and the gay lobby should start their own group if that is what they want.
Of course that is not the agenda, it is militant pro homosexual advocacy that is what they want. They want people to accept that their perversion as normal even though the majority of Americans have voted numerous times they think it is not normal.
Decent Americans know that the sexual perversion so prevalent in American society today is one of the leading causes of the downfall, the degradation of our society, of our country. Why then do we continue to tolerate the immersion of our young people in it? Why do we continue to tolerate it in our society and among our elected? Why do we continue to be silent as the homosexual agenda of forced acceptance of unhealthy sexual perversion is shoved down our throats?
Posted By: ScottyDog | February 22, 2010 4:00 PM
This story is interesting because the Catholic Church has said discrimination against gay people in the workplace, concerning health benefits and credit is unjust and even sinful - going back to the Bishops statements in the mid- 1970s. How does that square with not giving a gay employee's partner health benefits?
And oddly enough some of the most pro-gay areas of the country are heavily Catholic. In fact, a recent poll showed Catholic support in the U.S. for gay marriage was around 54% - Protestant support was only 44%.
Posted By: Pat | February 22, 2010 4:10 PM
i find it honestly pathetic that catholic churches have decided to close their foster programs because of gay marriage. the idea of throwing away the lives of children becuase you don't agree with homsexuality is not just ignorant but hurtful. not for gay people but the children, they deserve more than to be tossed away becasue a church is unable to deal with it. god shall judge them i promise you that
Posted By: Dbuck | February 22, 2010 4:59 PM
Actually I'm pretty sure their views are based on the Bible. Which predates Aristole. I'm not Catholic but I'll bet they have done much more for children than anyone spewing hatred on this blog. The Bible is very plain on the fact that homosexuality is a sexual sin, even more so because it is a perversion of a sexual sin. The Bible tells us to treat everyone with love and respect. That is why Christians must tell the truth, which is we cannot allow our desires to rule over us.
Posted By: sonlil80 | February 22, 2010 7:33 PM
Actually what is ignorant is sticking your head in the sand and saying that gay couples lifestyles choices are compatible with bringing up children. Adam and Steve do not take the place of a nurturing mother/father and visa versa.
Homosexuals have a decreased life expectancy and are ten times more likely to contract a disease than heterosexuals.Homosexual practitioners were proportionately more apt to sexually abuse foster or adoptive children according to recent study of Illinois Child Services(1997-2002).
Traditional child-placement policies were therefore based on assumptions that children fostered by those who engaged in homosexuality would be more apt to be sexually molested, socially isolated, and engage in homosexuality themselves (Bigner & Bozett, 1989; Golombok & Tasker, 1996).
It seems that their research was correct and giving homosexuals our children in foster homes and adoptions should be re-examined.
Posted By: ScottyDog | February 22, 2010 7:37 PM
I really don't see what the problem is supposed to be: The city says contractors cannot discriminate against gay people; the Catholic church says it believes it has to, and so passes on its contract work to someone willing to do it under the new rules. Everybody wins!
Posted By: hyhybt | February 22, 2010 8:01 PM
@ sonlil80: Aristotle was born in 384 B.C., as in BEFORE CHRIST. So how does the Bible pre-date Aristotle when Jesus wasn't even born yet?
It makes you wonder the value of a "Christian education".
Posted By: razorfin | February 22, 2010 8:14 PM
Jesus Christ in Christianity is God. God through his prophets wrote the Old Testament. The Old Testament (part of the Bible) predates Aristotle.
It makes you wonder about the value of secular education.
Posted By: Jen | February 22, 2010 8:23 PM
Yo razorfin, genius.....when do ya think the ancient oral traditions started that resulted in the OLD TESTAMENT? Hint: well BEFORE Aritotle. Where did you get YOUR education?
These comments just prove what most fair-minded, thinking people realize: write something that's even mildly critical of gay marriage or gay adoption and you'll get an avalanche of hateful blowback. Even on a Christian website. Having a civil, intelligent conversation thus becomes impossible.
Posted By: Truthmeister | February 22, 2010 8:27 PM
Gay marriage bills debated in House committee
by Paul Demko
Published: February 22,2010
Time posted: 7:26 pm
Tags: gay marriage, Joe Mullery, Phyllis Kahn, Ryan Winkler
Rep. Phyllis Kahn
The debate over gay marriage was back at the Capitol on Monday afternoon. A trio of bills relating to same-sex unions were heard before the House’s Civil Justice committee.
A proposal introduced by Rep. Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis, would allow two consenting adults to enter into “civil union contracts,” regardless of their gender. Another bill, put forth by Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, would recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states as legally valid in Minnesota.
But the most far-reaching legislation would legalize gay marriage by removing gender-based terminology in existing state statute. The measure was introduced by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, more than a year ago and has 22 other Democratic co-sponsors. Kahn noted in advocating for the bill that she’s probably been married longer than any other current legislator at the Capitol.
“I just want to personally state that I think allowing other people to get married poses absolutely no threat to my marriage,”Kahn told the committee. “The legislative session is probably a little more damaging.”
Chris and Ryan Dolan were the first witnesses to testify in support of gay marriage. The couple, who got married in Toronto, brought along their adopted infant daughter, Olivia, to the hearing. Chris Dolan pointed out that the couple is penalized financially because gay marriage is outlawed in Minnesota, including by having to pay higher costs for health and life insurance policies.
“I can’t state this any clearer: the failure of this state to recognize our marriage is financially hurting our marriage” said Chris, an attorney at Faegre & Benson. “Why is the state of Minnesota making it more difficult for us to provide OIivia with a stable home?”
Dale Carpenter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, prefaced his testimony by stating that he’s a lifelong conservative Republican. He argued that marriage is a powerful legal institution that encourages healthy, monogamous relationships — whether gay or straight.
There have been no negative effects on heterosexual families or on children raised in those families,” Carpenter testified of the increasing prevalence of gay marriage. “No slippery slope to polygamy or anything else.”
But opponents of same-sex unions also had their say. Teresa Collett, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, argued that gay marriage would damage society in eight specific ways. Among the harmful effects, according to Collett: retaliation against individuals who oppose homosexual unions and elimination of tax-exempt status for churches that fail to sanction such marriages.
“Make no mistake, marriage as a civil institution, as a legal institution, is grounded not merely in religion, but in the biological reality that sex makes children and children need a mom and a dad,” she said.
Barb Davis White, an African American who is running for Congress in the 5th Congressional District, argued that gay sex is physically dangerous and that children need both a mother and father in their lives.
“Rosa Parks didn’t move to the front of the bus to support sodomy,” she said.
No votes were taken on the bills and no additional hearings are scheduled.
Homosexuality in India
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Homosexuality is generally considered a taboo subject by both Indian civil society and the government. Public discussion of homosexuality in India has been inhibited by the fact that sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly. In recent years, however, attitudes towards homosexuality have shifted slightly. In particular, there have been more depictions and discussions of homosexuality in the Indian news media[1][2][3] and by Bollywood.[4] On 2 July 2009, a Delhi High Court court ruling decriminalised homosexual intercourse between consenting adults and judged Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to be conflicting with the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.[5]
Religion has played a significant role in shaping Indian customs and traditions. While homosexuality has not been explicitly mentioned in the religious texts central to Hinduism, the largest religion in India, some interpretations have been viewed as condemning homosexuality.[6] Scholars differ in their views of the position of homosexuality within India's main religious traditions. There have been arguments that homosexuality was both prevalent and accepted in ancient Hindu society.[7]
Several organisations like the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, National AIDS Control Organisation,[8] Law Commission of India[9], Union Health Ministry,[10] National Human Rights Commission [11] and The Planning Commission of India[12] have either implicitly, or expressly come out in support of decriminalising homosexuality in India, and pushed for tolerance and social equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. India is among countries with a social element of a third gender.
Contents [hide]
1 History and religion
2 LGBT culture in India
2.1 Advocacy for legalising homosexuality
2.1.1 International pressure
3 Legal status
4 Recognition of same-sex couples
5 Queer Media Collective
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
[edit] History and religion
A monk caresses a layman, from the Temple of Visvanatha, Khajuraho, Central India, 10th century CE.The Manusmriti, which lists the oldest codes of conduct that were proposed to be followed by a Hindu, does include mention of homosexual practices, but only as something to be regulated. Though homosexuality was considered a part of sexual practices, it was not always well accepted. There were punishments prescribed for homosexual behaviour. For instance, the verse referring to sexual relations between an older woman and a virgin (woman) reads"...a woman who pollutes a damsel (virgin) shall instantly have (her head) shaved or two fingers cut off, and be made to ride (through the town) on a donkey",[13] suggesting a severe punishment. However, the verse referring to sexual relations between two virgins suggests a relatively milder punishment – "...a damsel who pollutes (another) damsel must be fined two hundred (panas), pay the double of her (nuptial) fee, and receive ten (lashes with a) rod".[14] These provisions, quoted out of context, seem homophobic, but in fact they are concerned not with the gender of the partners but with the loss of virginity that rendered a young woman unworthy of marriage. For instance, the punishment for a forced sex act between a man and a woman states "...if any man through insolence forcibly contaminates a maiden, two of his fingers shall be instantly cut off, and he shall pay a fine of six hundred (panas)",[15] which seems more severe in comparison to the punishment prescribed for the same act between two virgins. There is also no penalty prescribed for two non-virgins who have sex together.
The punishment for male offenders was less severe: "...an unnatural offence with a man, are declared to cause the loss of caste (Gatibhramsa)".[16] "...man who commits an unnatural offence with a male...shall bathe, dressed in his clothes".[17] The punishment seems extremely mild, as this is supposedly how most villagers traditionally took their baths.
The skewed treatment may have been due to gender bias, considering that the Manusmriti is the same scripture that has stated that the status of woman in the society is the same (or even lower than) that of a man’s land, his cattle and other possessions.[18]
The unabridged modern translation of the classic Indian text Kama Sutra[19] deals without ambiguity or hypocrisy with all aspects of sexual life—including marriage, adultery, prostitution, group sex, sadomasochism, male and female homosexuality, and transvestism. The text paints a fascinating portrait of an India whose openness to sexuality gave rise to a highly developed expression of the erotic.[20]
In "Same-Sex Love in India : Readings from Literature and History", authors Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai analyse the history of homosexual behaviour in India, drawing from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and modern fictional traditions. The preface to the book states that it 'traces the history of ideas in Indian writing traditions about love between women and love between men who are not biologically related.' The book has a collection of stories from ancient texts like Mahabharata, Panchatantra, Kamasutra, Shiva Purana, Krittivasa Ramayana, The Skanda Purana, Amir Khusro, and Baburnama; along with contemporary Indian literature that support the idea.[citation needed]
[edit] LGBT culture in India
There is a vibrant gay nightlife in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore, including discos and nightclubs. The reports of harassment of homosexual individuals and gatherings by the police has seen a gradual decline since 2004[citation needed]. The majority of Indians[citation needed], according to various polls and surveys[which?], still look down upon the LGBT community. However, many social and human rights activists have been working to promote an increased acceptance of homosexuality.[21][22] Time Out (Delhi) has a dedicated column covering gay events in Delhi every week. Now with the emergence of several LGBT support groups across the nation, the much hidden queer community has increased access to health services and social events[2]
In 2005, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who hails from Rajkot in the Gujarat state, publicly came out as gay. He was quickly anointed by the Indian and the world media as the first openly gay royal. He was disinherited as an immediate reaction by the royal family, though they eventually reconciled. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show,[23] and is currently appearing on BBC Three's Undercover Princes.[24]
In 2008, Zoltan Parag, a competitor at the Mr. Gay International contest said that he was "scared" to return to India fearing discrimination. He said, "Indian media has exposed me so much that now when I call my friends back home, their parents do not let them talk to me".[25]
On 29 June 2008, four Indian cities (Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Puducherry) celebrated gay pride parades. These were the first pride parades in Delhi, Bangalore and Puducherry. About 2000 people turned out in these nationwide parades. Mumbai held its pride march on 16 August 2008, with Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley also joining in the festivities.[26] [26]
On 16 April 2009, India's first gay magazine Bombay Dost, was re-launched by Celina Jaitley in Mumbai.[27]
On 27 June 2009, Bhubaneswar, the capital city of the Orissa state, saw its first gay pride parade.[28] The same day, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily announced that the Union Home Minister has convened a meeting with Union Law Minister, Union Health Minister and Home Ministers of all states to evolve a consensus on decriminalising homosexuality in India. On 28 June 2009, Delhi and Bangalore held their second gay pride parades, and Chennai - generally considered to be a very conservative city - held its first.[29]
The Internet has created a prolific gay cyber culture for the South Asian community. Gay dating websites provide an alternative way for meeting people; online communities also offer a safe and convenient environment for meeting gays all around India.[30] The blogsphere has also not been immune to the modern emergence of a queer desi identity. Web logs highlight stories and issues specific to this marginalised community.[citation needed] With India becoming more open to homosexuality, several organisations in the country have recently started promoting the country as a destination for gay tourists from around the world.[31]
Though Bollywood has gay and trans characters, they have been primarily ridiculed or abused. There are few positive portrayals of late like Onir's My Brother Nikhil, Reema Kagti's Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., and Parvati Balagopalan's Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula but they have been sporadic and not mainstream. There have also been a few independent films that deal with homosexuality like Sridhar Rangayan's Gulabi Aaina - The Pink Mirror, Yours Emotionally, 68 Pages and Ashish Sawhney's Happy Hookers. The first Indian film to deal openly with homosexual relations was Fire by Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta. With its 1997 release in India it stirred up a heated controversy throughout the country. Recently Bollywood has appeared more tolerant toward homosexual relationships and has begun to portray them in a better light, such as in Dostana and Men Not Allowed.
[edit] Advocacy for legalising homosexuality
The Naz Foundation (India), a New Delhi based NGO is at the forefront of the campaign to decriminalise homosexuality. The organisation aims to sensitise the community to the prevalence of HIV, as well as highlight issues related to sexuality and sexual health. The organisation has strong linkages with human rights groups and agencies such as Lawyers Collective, Human Right Law Network, Amnesty International, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Naz India has collaborated with these agencies to address cases of sexual rights abuse. Naz India’s efforts in sensitising the government to different issues related to the epidemic include the amendment of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code commonly known as the ‘Anti-sodomy Law’. This act criminalises same sex sexual behaviour irrespective of the age and consent of the people involved, posing one of the most significant challenges in effective HIV/AIDS interventions with sexual minorities.[32] In December 2002 Naz India filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to challenge IPC section 377 in the Delhi High Court.[33]
In September 2006, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and acclaimed writer Vikram Seth came together with scores of other prominent Indians in public life to publicly demand this change in the legal regime.[34] The open letter demands that 'In the name of humanity and of our Constitution, this cruel and discriminatory law should be struck down.'
On 30 June 2008, Indian labour minister Oscar Fernandes backed calls for decriminalisation of consensual gay sex, and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for greater tolerance towards homosexuals.[35]
On 4 July 2008, gay activists fighting for decriminalisation of consensual homosexuality at the Delhi High Court got a shot in the arm when the court opined that there was nothing unusual in holding a gay rally, something which is common outside India.[36]
On 23 July 2008, Bombay High Court Judge Bilal Nazki said that India's unnatural sex law should be reviewed.[37]
Former Indian health minister Anbumani Ramadoss advocated legalising homosexuality in India. On 9 August 2008, he campaigned for changing "Section 377" of the Indian penal code, which makes homosexuality an unnatural act and thus illegal. At the International AIDS Conference in Mexico city, he said, "Section 377 of IPC, which criminalises men who have sex with men, must go."[38] His ministerial portfolio had put him at odds with the Indian Home ministry in seeking to scrap Section 377.[10] In late 2008, he changed his argument saying he does not want the "scrapping" of Section 377 but a mere "modification" of the law treating homosexuality as a criminal offence punishable up to life imprisonment. He said he wants Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resolve the matter, while he wanted to avoid discord with the home ministry, who said the altered law would then result in an increase in criminal incidences of sodomy or offences involving sexual abuse of children, particularly boys. In doing so he alleged that the law even penalises health workers for "abetting," while making this a cognisable and non-bailable offence. "The entire objective of getting homosexuality decriminalised is primarily to reach out to an estimated 4.5 million MSMs across the country as about 86 per cent HIV/AIDS-affected persons in India are ‘Men Having Sex with Men’ (MSM). My concern is purely on health grounds because Section 377 in its present form interferes with health ministry’s efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS epidemic, as even the doctors treating gay patients could be punished. Hence unless we take appropriate steps it would be difficult to contain the spread of the virus." He added the last comment saying the disease through blood transfusion and parentage declined while the other methods were hindering tackling the epidemic.[39]
[edit] International pressure
The United Nations urged India to decriminalise homosexuality by saying it would help the fight against HIV/AIDS by allowing intervention programmes, much like the successful ones in China and Brazil. Jeffrey O'Malley, director of the United Nations Development Programme on HIV/AIDS, said "countries protecting homosexuals from discrimination had better records of protecting them from getting infected by the diseases. [But] unfortunately in India, the rates of new infections among men who have sex with men continue to go up. Until we acknowledge these behaviours and work with people involved with these behaviours, we are not going to halt and reverse the HIV epidemic. Countries which protect men who have sex with men... have double the rate of coverage of HIV prevention services—as much as 60 percent."[40] In talking to the The Hindu, he added that "The United Progressive Alliance government here is in a difficult position as far as amending Section 377 of the Constitution is concerned because of the coming elections as any changes could be misrepresented. We need to change the laws, sensitise the police and judiciary....But when discriminatory laws have been removed, marginalised people have got access to treatment and prevention facilities like condoms." Warning of the urgency he said, "India has achieved success in checking the spread of this dreaded disease through commercial sex workers but transmission through gay sex, and injectable-drug users is still an area of concern. Injectable-drug use can also be controlled through targeted interventions but is difficult to control or change people’s sexual orientation."[41]
[edit] Legal status
Part of a series on
lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender (LGBT) rights
Laws around the world
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Same-sex marriage
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See also: Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
Indian law does not recognise same-sex marriages, nor does it provide for civil unions. Until July 2009, homosexual intercourse was a criminal offence under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which made it an offence for a person to voluntarily have "carnal intercourse against the order of nature." Whilst convictions under this section were extremely rare, with no convictions at all for homosexual intercourse in the twenty years to 2009, Human Rights Watch have said that the law has been used to harass HIV/AIDS prevention activists, as well as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and other LGBT groups.[42] The group documents arrests in Lucknow of 4 men in 2006 and another 4 in 2001. The People's Union for Civil Liberties has published two reports of the rights violations faced by sexual minorities[43] and, in particular, transsexuals (hijras and kothis) in India.[44]
In recent years, the continued existence of this section had become controversial. The Law Commission of India had historically favoured that the retention of this section, but in its 172nd report, delivered in 2000 it recommended its repeal, as did the then Health minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, in 2008. On 2 July 2009, in the case of Naz Foundation v National Capital Territory of Delhi, the High Court of Delhi struck down much of S. 377 of the IPC as being unconstitutional. The Court held that to the extent S. 377 criminalised consensual non-vaginal sexual acts between adults, it violated an individual's fundamental rights to equality before the law, freedom from discrimination and to life and personal liberty under Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution of India. The High Court did not strike down S. 377 completely - it held the section was valid to the extent it related to non-consensual non-vaginal intercourse or to intercourse with minors - and it expressed the hope that Parliament would soon legislatively address the issue.
Decisions of a High Court on the constitutionality of a law apply throughout India, and not just to the territory of the state over which the High Court in question has jurisdiction.[45] As a result, the decision of the Delhi High Court has the effect of striking down S. 377 throughout the territory of India, with the exception of the State of Jammu and Kashmir which has its own penal law. However, the decision does not bind courts outside Delhi, although it has persuasive value, which means that the High Court of any other state could in theory dissent from the decision of the High Court of Delhi and hold the section to be valid.
[edit] Recognition of same-sex couples
There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples under Indian law. During a recent visit to India by the Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was asked by a journalist what he thought of the new law allowing gay marriage in Canada. His reply was that "there would not be much appreciation for a law like that in India," and he went on to talk about how they were culturally very different societies.
The supreme Sikh religious body, the Akal Takht, has issued an edict condemning gay marriage and has told Sikhs living in Canada not to support or allow gay marriages in gurudwaras. In 2005, two unnamed women in Hyderabad asked the Darul Qaza, an Islamic court, for a fatwa allowing them to marry, but permission was denied with a rebuke from the chief qazi. None of the principal Christian denominations in India allow same-sex marriage.
However, since 1987, when the national press carried the story of two policewomen who married each other by Hindu rites in central India,[46] the press has reported many same-sex marriages, all over the country, mostly between lower middle class young women in small towns and rural areas, who have no contact with any gay movement. Family reactions range from support to disapproval to violent persecution. While police generally harass such couples, Indian courts have uniformly upheld their right, as adults, to live with whomever they wish. In recent years, some of these couples have appeared on television as well. There have also been numerous joint suicides by same-sex couples, mostly female (male-female couples also resort to suicide or to elopement and religious marriage when their families oppose their unions). In "Same-Sex Love in India : Readings from Literature and History", author Ruth Vanita analyses dozens of such marriages and suicides that have taken place over the last three decades, and explores their legal, religious, and historical aspects. She argues that many of the marriages can arguably be considered legally valid, as under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, any marriage between two Hindus performed according to the customs prevalent in the community of one of the two partners is legally valid. No license is required to marry, and most heterosexual Hindu marriages in India today are performed by religious rites alone, without a marriage license and are never registered with the state. State recognition is not sought by most couples because it confers few benefits. Most couples seek the validation of family and community, and several female couples in rural areas and small towns have received this validation.[47]
There have also been a couple of high profile celebrity same-sex marriages, such as the civil union of designer Wendell Rodricks with his French partner Jerome Marrel, conducted under French law in Goa, India. LGBT rights organisations have demanded the right to same-sex marriage, and, inspired both by news from the West, have discussed the issue.[48]
[edit] Queer Media Collective
The Queer Media Collective (QMC) is a group of professional journalists who aim to recognise and reward balanced treatment of gay, lesbian and other queer issues in the Indian media and entertainment industry. This group held their first ever meeting in Mumbai in late 2007. The group now has members in Delhi and Bangalore.[49]
The first event hosted by the group was the Queer Media Collective Awards 2008.[50]
[edit] See also
LGBT portal
India portal
LGBT rights in Asia
Ashok Row Kavi
Fire (1996 film)
Homosexuality and Hinduism
Human rights in India
Lesbian Association of India
Non-westernized concepts of male sexuality
Parvez Sharma
Sridhar Rangayan
Trikone
Monday, February 22, 2010
जिस बात से भय लग रहा था
जिस बात से भय लग रहा था कि कहीं हम जैसे लैंगिक विकलांगों के समाज में स्वीकारे जाने पर हमारी पहचान न विकृत हो जाए। आजकल जिस तरह से लैंगिक विकलांगता को एक तीसरा लिंग जताया जा रहा है ये सबसे खतरनाक साजिश है कुछ कुटिल दिमागों की जो कि अपनी विकृत और बीमार मानसिकता को इस तरह से सामने लाकर भोले बन रहे हैं। मुंबई में होने वाली इस तरह की सौंदर्य प्रतियोगिताएं क्या भला कर पा रही हैं ये सवाल कोई नहीं उठाने का साहस करता। स्त्री एवं पुरुष समलैंगिक संबंधों को अपनी सैक्स प्रायोरिटी(काम वरीयता) बता कर रुग्ण कामुकता के लोग अपने लिये समाज में सहानुभूति पैदा कर रहे हैं और साथ में एक जो धूर्तता कर रहे हैं वह है हम जैसे लैंगिक विकलांगों को कुछ पैसों का लालच दिखा कर अपने कार्यक्रमों में शामिल करना। मैं इस तरह के आयोजनों का पूरी ताकत से विरोध करती हूँ, थू है उन आयोजकों पर जो कि अपने लाभ के लिये बेचारे कम पढ़े-लिखे और अपना भला बुरा न समझ पाने वाले लैंगिक विकलांग बच्चों को इस्तेमाल कर रहे हैं। ये प्रतियोगिताएं मात्र वैसी ही हैं जैसे कि अंधों या लंगड़ों के लिये अलग से सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिता कराई जाए।
मूल मुद्दा शिक्षित करके समाज की मुख्यधारा से जोड़ना है ताकि देहव्यवसाय या मजबूरी में नाच गाकर पेट पालने की पीड़ा को समाप्त करा जा सके।
Thursday, February 25, 2010
लैंगिक विकलांगों को सेक्स का खिलौना बनाने के बौद्धिक प्रयास
हमारे देश में समलैंगिकता को जब से उच्च न्यायालय ने अपराधबोध से मुक्त क्या कराया(भले ही उच्चतम न्यायालय में अभी भी इसके विरुद्ध अपील करी गयी है) उनकी चांदी हो गयी जो कि लैंगिक विकलांगो को सेक्स के खिलौने मानते हैं। मुंबई में लैंगिक विकलांगों के हितों के नाम पर काम करने वाले हम जैसे ही एक बंदे लक्ष्मी नारायण त्रिपाठी ने काफ़ी नाम कमाया है। अस्तित्त्व नाम से एक गैर सरकारी संगठन भी चला रखा है। विदेश यात्राओं से लेकर टीवी कार्यक्रमों में दिखना इनका शगल है। जिस तरह हर समुदाय में होता है कि उनके ही स्वयंभू नेता उन्हीं का दोहन और शोषण करते हैं हमारे समुदाय में भी हो रहा है। शबनम मौसी नाम सब जानते हैं उन्होंने लैंगिक विकलांगता को राजनैतिक ताकत हासिल करने के लिये इस्तेमाल करा और लक्ष्मी नारायण त्रिपाठी प्रसिद्धि और पैसा कमाने के लिये इस्तेमाल कर रहे हैं।
अभी हाल ही में मुंबई में एक सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिता का आयोजन करा गया जिसमें कि तमाम जगहों से लैंगिक विकलांगों को बुलाया गया और लाखों रुपये का खर्च कार्यक्रम के आयोजन में दर्शाया गया। जीनत अमान और सेलिना जेटली जैसे भ्रष्टबुद्धि फिल्म अभिनेत्रियो का भी इस कार्यक्रम में सहयोग रहा। इन लोगों ने बड़े बड़े व्याख्यान दे डाले कैमरे के सामने कि जैसे ये कोई क्रान्तिकारी पहल कर चुके हों।
इन सभी से सवाल कि क्या समाज की मुख्यधारा से लैंगिक विकलांगों को जोड़ने का एक यही रास्ता है? सौन्दर्य स्पर्धाओं के बाद ये कहाँ खो जाते हैं सेलिना जेटली की तरह माडलिंग या फिल्मों में आकर सम्मानपूर्वक जीवन क्यों नहीं जी पाते? क्यों नहीं लैंगिक विकलांग बच्चों के लिये आजतक लक्ष्मी नारायण त्रिपाठी या शबनम मौसी ने स्कूल की मांग करी या खुद ही खोल दिया? क्यों नहीं ये आगे आकर CRY जैसी संस्थाओं का सहयोग लेकर बच्चों को पढ़ाती लिखाती हैं? क्यों नहीं इन आयोजकों ने मुंबई में ट्रेन में भीख मांगने या कमाठीपुरा में सेक्स के भूखे दरिंदों की भूख मिटा कर अपने पेट की भूख मिटा कर दर्दनाक जीवन जीने वाले मासूम लैंगिक विकलांगों को इस आयोजन की सूचना तक न दी?(ये कहेंगे कि हमने तो अखबारों में सूचना दी थी तो जरा ये कुटिल बताएं कि कितने हिजड़े अखबार पढ़्ने के लायक बनाए आजतक इन लोगों ने???)।
आखिरी सवाल कि इन आयोजकों ने कैसे निर्धारित करा कि सारे प्रतिभागी लैंगिक विकलांग(हिजड़े) ही हैं, क्या कोई डॉक्टरी सर्टिफ़िकेट था? यदि नहीं तो लाली पाउडर लगा कर तो शाहरुख खान से लेकर आमिर खान तक सभी भाग ले सकते थे। कोई उत्तर नहीं है किसी के पास ......... इस दिशा में कोई प्रयास न करा जाएगा कि लैंगिक विकलांगता के चिकित्सकीय पैमाने निर्धारित हों और इस आधार पर उन्हें शिक्षा से लेकर नौकरियों में वरीयता दी जाए, आरक्षण दिया जाए। ऐसे तो अंधे भी सुंदर होते हैं तो क्या उनके अंधेपन को लेकर उन्हें अलग सा जीव मान लिया जाए और उनकी सौन्दर्य स्पर्धाएं कराई जाएं? क्यों ये विचार इन मासूमों के दिमाग में ठूँसा जा रहा है कि ये सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिता में ही अपना टैलेंट दिखा सकते हैं ? कभी इनकी कुश्ती या दौड़ की प्रतियोगिता रखकर देखा जाए, बस इतना बताना है कि हम जैसे मनुष्य जैसे दिखने वाले प्राणी सचमुच मनुष्य ही हैं तुम्हारे ही पेट से पैदा हुए, हमें एलियन या दूसरे ग्रह से आया न समझो। भड़ास परिवार का प्रयास जारी रहेगा सर्वशिक्षा के बारे में...........
जय जय भड़ास
(this is what I meant by taking care of HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL...in HUMANITARIAN ground
and people who feel these discussions are adult topics and can give bad impression on young kids/youth...then while media and experts need to give balanced/scintific/medical opinion...parents/guardian also need to check what stuff and how many hours their kids are watching TV/magazine or into internet....and definitly answer their queries with logic/and according to their age. These articles written by others are on the same line what I have originally written here in this blog and orkut....now I'll write about it when its very neccessary as I think I have written all ...and as I have already got lots of flake becoz of writing/discussing on these topics....!!!
जय जय भड़ाs
TRP से बचाओ .. यह दौड़ है जहा हर कोई दौड़ रहा ..यह पेशा नहीं ,यह व्यवसाय नहीं ..यह एक धर्म था ,जो बदल कर सनसनीखेज़ हो गया ,जब जब टीवी चैनलों पर बाढ़,भुखमरी आदि की खबरें दिखाई गई ..जब जब वहाँ की TRP ने उसको एक सिरे से खारिज कर दिया ..अब सवाल आपको करना है,क्या देखना चाहते है आप,चयन कीजिए ...सनसनीखेज़ खबरों की चयनता पर सवाल उठाये ...पत्रक...ारिता के इस नए व्यापार को बचाए .TRP हटाओं पत्रकारिता को बचाओ ...मेरी नहीं ...हम सभी की पहल.
Yeh vichaar main bhi pahle vyakt ker chuki hoon....koi khaabar sansanikhej tabtak nahin hoti...jabtak usse sansanikhej banaker pesh na kiya jaye...mere mutabik hur khaber ka ek gambhir pahlu hota hai...aab yeh media per nirbhar karta hai ki woh usse kitni gahrai tak samajh ker...hur pahloo ki chaanbeen ker ke parosti hai?...sirf tatya dikhati bher hai ? ya...ek opinion(vichaar taiyaar karti hai)?....lakin darshakon per bhi nirbhar karta hai ki vah baton ke sandharbh ko samajh ker...sahi paripekshya mein khabaron ko lein...sirf media ki aalochaana na karein!!!......Shubhkamnayein.
I don't know why I didn't feel bad!...I know if it was My Daughter I couldnot have accepted it normally...so as his parents...!!
Yesterday I saw a story anchored by Ravish Kumar....saying 100yrs back Hindi and urdu litreature were in controversy as they characterised such characters...'Ismat Chugtai's-'Lihaaf'...Films like 'Fire',Kal Ho Na Ho', Dostana',Fashion etc...were hinting towards it...and making it more normal...it existence I came to know, when I was In IP College Hostel in DELHI, and heard some rumours...that we thought was some pshycological problem.... Americans and Europians also did not accepted it just like that...whole day our TV media has shown their(Homosexuals) struggle for existence,dignity, acceptibility,respect and rights....worldwide.As maybe they are not a big vote bank but their life is not a joke...as it usually projectd in fictions.
In our country it is not very easy struggle even in 2009...we fight over religion and caste...intercaste and inter religion, even interregion, marriages are still not very acceptable(cases of honour killings still exists).....How one can accept their kids relations(preferences) with same gender...normally and naturally...???
But people are accepting it more than before as this fight is going on for last many years...when I asked Q's to this boy ...my daughter and her friend asked me- How this question came to my mind?...They said he is as NORMAL as we all are....but later on she covered 'Pride parade as a amateur photographs which are uploaded in her FACEBOOK account where a poster is displayed very prominently..."BEING GAY IS NOT NORMAL, ITS COMMON"...well, she has 2 classmates who're gay and friends...quite harmless person!.
Well now I just gave second thought to it-...'If they are genetically bit different from us which they usually discover in their teen age...what is the remedy?...Just urge or attraction for same gender can be controlled by Yoga or some psychatric treatment or counselling....but if it is a harmonal change(as biology science says...its a secreation of one harmone in excess in girls/boys body...which make her masculine or vice versa)..., then...only expert Doctors can explain in a better way......why many person get their sex changed by surgery...which is not very cheap and easily available for every one in our country, its very painful and not always successful...!!! Though medicines like VIYAGRA for male and then for females...don't know how much is successful.
I think it is good and sensible move from HC that they decriminalised it...we can not deny their existence...it is better way to prevent them from any diseases also, as they were not afraid of law now...and yes! one should not compare these 'cases' with other crimes like...stealing,abusing, domestic violence...etc... !!!
I don't want to hurt anyone by writing this but can't one can see the looks and gestures( of them) which shows that we can not impose feminity(that you are girl) or Masculanity(that you are a boy)...on any of them(in both the gender)...if they don't want to?...as its not just their life style...but by birth(genetically)they are like this...!!
I just suggested him that he should finish his studies(its his last yr as well...as he is living with his parents and thinking of shifting out after getting job after passing out from college)...and get married...to a person of his liking and after few years adopt a child(as he told me)...and live happily ever after!!!
But it is not so easy and fairy tale like story for them?...No! as he told(msged me) 'Abhi its miles to go'...They still have to fight for anti discrimination laws(Change in mindset is more difficult and slow process)...Property and Civil Union(marriage)rights... I think even they need to get right to get married at the age of 18/21(Let them themselve decide who is male and female in them(as they do) and can have all the similar rights...as we all has), so that 'underage' sexual activities or abuse, can come under IPC 376/(right now this law is here for protection of females)or some similar law can be made.....and that need to be considered as a criminal activity....as it is shown in movie PAGE3..how vulnurable and poor kids were abused...it was horrifiying....!!.
In child adoption rights...they should have rights which we all have...asps,like those parents who cannot conceive due to some medical reasons...as we know in the era of divorce becoming common phenomenon...even single parents raise their kids nicely..and adopt a child as well!If we all has these rights then they also need it!
I hope I am not thinking negatively...4-5% harmless people who just want to live their way without hurting others as they are bit different harmonally and genetically...let them live...but Parents should beaware and try to make their children aware about their teenage that ...'When kids "discover their emotions and they need not get confused between normal good friendships between same gender...and desire or urge(preferences) for them.... in initial stage it may get curbed!!!...only expert doctor can explain it in a better vocabulary and nuances(technical)....I am sure it won't ruin our culture...as I knew this boy for few years now....he likes classical music...and love Art,music, our Tradition, Culture and Heritage....so actually they are as NORMAL as we all are!!! Ishvar ne unhen aissa banaya hai to woh qua karein???
I have not done thorough research on this subject but have read few articles related to it, including in wikipedia encyclopedia on internet!.... Actually there is very thin line between discussions on health and law related topics and perversion. It should not be presented or discussed in a frivilous or non serios way, though it need to be simplfied for common people.
Aditi and her friends has been to Pride Parade in Delhi in support of his cause and to cover it,...has read about this issue and shown me few clippings in internet about GAY MARRIAGES is LEGAL in different countries, and said--after earning money he may shift out to any of these countries, get work and may be get married either!! Even she is bit conservative like we all are but do think in humanitarian ground that any sensible person do not want to live complicated life like Homophobians are living, but they are genetically like this so, what does one can do?....and if one is talking about bad people then, it can be anyone...not only them???
And I don't think any issue is small/non-serious issue when it is related to life of certain people and it effects them emotionally, as well as professionally many times...LGBT. Today Central Govt has cleared and moved this IPC 377...to SC's hand...now last verdict will come after few days...definetly we don't have to look towards west for every answer...it is there in our culture...which we don't even bother to take seriously before. Saw Sagarika discussing on pre-marital woman's frigidity or Man's impotency...and its repercussion on married life later on as many person couldn't come out in open and neither resist marriage, or at times forced to get married...It remind me of my daughter's intelligent remark that no GAY want to go for normal relationship, (SHE DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOCIETY NEED TO OPEN UP AND BECOME BIT BROAD MINDED BEFORE DISCUSSING THESE TOPICS SERIOUSLY, WITHOUT MAKING IT NON-SERIOUS). ...it can ruined 2people's life...thats why she supported PRIDE PARADE(she has worked for NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT IN SCHOOL...I do see my reflection in her...,though she is an artist like her father,who understands Indian culture and tradition,maybe not too much of rituals, thats why I am quoting her here).. SAGARIKA had few senior experts...who were discussing it without making it frivilous and sounding non-serious,technically or scintifically ignorant, and cheap...thanks to you...Now I can see, even writing in GOSSIP BLOG/PERSONAL BLOG can produce positive serious discussions AND RESULTS...I am happy....thanks to you all.
Mr.Kirsten(our Cricket coach) has taken U-TURN about his one line suggestion, about sex in a whole dossueir, which included cricket, its tecniques,food/health diets,discipline and daily routine,medication/fitness etc..., which got highlighted tremendously...good sir, let these player decide their right/wrong about this matter...as they are not a child(except Ishaant/Pragyan/Suresh raina/virat kohli) and definitly worldly exposure must have made them SAMAZHDAR...if they want PERFECT INDIAN BRIDE(WIFE) for themself...they need to follow Indian family values...which varies in different part of country and families...north-south-east-west...rural-urban...smalltown...metropolitan cities....swedeshi or vedeshi return families-NRI(but kamobesh basic feelings/SANSKAR are the same)....when I talked about KAM DEVI-DEVTA on the occasion of VALENTINE DAY...ATANKVAAD/TALIBAANIZATION by PRAMOD MUTHALIK and others,in different part of the country...I didn't meant that we should have a free society as it was in Aadikal, as it is a evolved samaj now...I just said it all existed in our society...we had it in mythology, in AJANTA ELORA, AND OTHER CAVES...OR BOOK LIKE KAMSUTRA...on which many films are also made....one need to have few more chapters added in School's Biology Science course on sex education as MAHATMA GANDHIJI has said(IN GENERAL CONTEXT)... '(HER VYAKTI APNE RAHASYEON KI GUFAON KO APNE SAATH LIYE GHUMTA HAI)'....one cannot cut out romance from people, specially growing up kids/youths life...Parents,Family, Friends or Guardians...has always guided them in right direction...and they need to do so without unneccessary violence...and hulla gulla...and teach them about flipside of this beautiful feelings or phase of life...which can 'marr' their future(without putting unneccessary fear in them-here I talked about MODULE, as I attended a Leadership and ADOLECENT PROBLEMS -a one week workshop...conducted by CEDPA and women organization I worked for, or films like JULIE and KYA KAHANA, DOSTANA, TAARE ZAMEEN PER etc)...as we all are social animals, with variety of emotions...and its not important that always whom you are dating/engaged with, can be your future wife/husband....so thats why I mentioned JODHA-AKBAR movie as well. Actually these discussion were going on for years and many people got beaten up(eg;MATUKNATH of Bihar by his sasuralwala's and few officewala's...they painted his face with blue ink.. etc)
...Hussain Saheb(in exile) and others themself decide why they want to paint only Hindu Goddesses NUDE??...just becoz its a liberal religion?? or artists are allowed to paint whatever they want-they have freedom of expression!-In anatomy class(in Aditi's class sketched people wearing shorts)??? Even Sudhirji sketched it with imaginations, for anatomy practice(one can imagine their wife/husband after marriage)...but they were not God/Goddesses.
BUT THEN why to hurt any religion's feelings unneccessary?? But doing TODH-PHODH,violence is also not our SABHYATA/TAHZEEB!!Even Sudhirji got death threatening by unknowns, and has forced to keep security person for six months,which he himself refused...(which people said they were Shivsainiks, may be wrong information)...now even MNS is busy doing THODH-PHODH.
Or last and holy option for these people is they all should take SANYAS...and practice HATTH YOGA/PRANAYAM which helps in keeping sexual desires undercontrol...even god Shiva used to do it...as mythology says!!
Why Swami Vivekanada was/is a Youth Icon internationally,we all know his qualities...who took JAL-SAMADHI at the age of 32...who was fit without getting indulge in any sexual activities...and was a good FOOTBALL PLAYER...and advocated people to play regularly and stay fit!!!
(BUT then in our Shastras 100yrs of our life is divided into 4 Ashrams( Brahmacharya ashram,Grihastra Ashram,Vanna ashram and Sanyaas) and its age deadline is mentioned, which is according to our biological need, mental maturity and ability, capability of earning so that one can take responsibilities of family...easily..it was 25yrs...was not wrong, as if child is born timely, one can be free on time at later yrs of life...that is 50yrs old...but then its a family's and personal choices and priorities.)
Vaise that Module has many chapters for young audiences and teachers....it covers personality devolopment, Career Consultation,biological changes in body and its scientific knowledge, health problems(which one can say sex education also), Psychological/emotional problems....etc, including discrimination between boy and girls...at home, in education,....its law...and how to deal with and motivate masses....by doing group discussions,improvise skits, interactive talks,songs...audio-visual etc.As latest reports(12/11/09) says how in other advanced,devoloped countries(where awareness/and education level is more) even 12yrs old girls are becoming unwed mother, it is alarming!!!
By the way Mr Obama realised that queer are Human Beings, and news says in America these people are now allowed to join Army. Sir with due respect,even we had Shikhandi in Mahabharata...was a warrior who killed Bhishm Pitahmah...so we are ahead of you all!!....I am sure(hope/wish) they won't have dearth of jobs here also in comparision to other countries....but people do discriminate in selections after knowing that person belongs to LGBT. Its nice to know that yesterday(12/11/09), our election commission took this decision that Transgenders can vote and fight election as well in category of (anyaa)...good,they got their constitutional right to vote and get vote!! In Bihar few months back(after PRIDE PARADE HULLA-GULLA) Transgenders got right to work in Sarkari offices BY filling their sex coloumn in forms as T-transgender, and not M or F....its a good beginning for people who till now were deprieved of all human,basic,fundamental,constitutional rights OF OUR COUNTRY. I am sure very soon they will be included in physically handicapped category(laangik viklangata-sexual imparity) and encouragged to study...go to school, be educated and be in mainstream as much as possible!!! I am sure people around them and their real family will start accepting them...for that we need change in mindset WORLDWIDE.
Recent resolution against homosexuality by ULEMA's in DEOBAND's meeting is not totally Wrong but as I have written about it ,I need to clarify and conclude it that talking to persons who belongs to LGBT Community, they themselve are not happy with their genetical structure(DNA) and feel repulsed by frustration existes in these peole's life in general....but my request is that just don't see this issue with one angle of SEX or SANSKAR...ofcourse this is true that...L-lesbianism or B- bisexuals are as much wrong as People indulged in BIGAMY, Extramarital affairs etc are, and these people needed treatment from Psychologists or Yogagurus to curb their these desires/attractions towards same sex....but T- TRANSGENDERs OR G-GAYs are GENETICALLY and Biologically DIFFERENT, about which they cannot do anything except may be going for a surgery which is not very cheap, or always successful,very painful and even easily available in our country!!!....Have anyone ever thought that we need to encourage TRANSGENDER OR HIZRAAS(they can be recognised by birth)...to go to school and make them educated, let them mingle with normal childs and live mainstream life...or feel as previledged as handicaped childs or special childs and give them reservation!!!....can't they be intelligent enough to be a doctor, engineer, soldier,etc... or an asset to the country???...or they are only supposed to live in a separate basties(Dayara) with their community people and not with their real parents or real siblings, and do singing- dancing,...in celebrations etc for livelihood???, Ain't they are human beings...don't they need food, cloths,house and basic emenities...and for that Money??!!!Don't they have fundamental,constitutional,civil...basic rights???...If SC,ST,OBC,minorities,Women,Handicapped... etc get backing for upliftment...why no one ever thought or think about them??? What we always do is just to oppose them???...there are quite a few exceptional cases of these people fighting Panchayaat elections in recent years...but then I am sure we all know the details and data's....and realities!!! So I don't think GAYs and TRANSGENDERs PRIDE PARADE was a wrong step.Though I am not a supporter of L-Lesbianism or B-bisexuality.By the way recently, America allowed Gays(even they face all kind of discriminations at home and in society-ask Bobby Darling!!!), to join Army.
Don't know about Transgenders or much details about it....have to do Google search for it.Must have much work is happenning as queer movement is worldwide phenomenon...though how less they are in numbers..their oraganizations are working/trying for demands with different govts...I am sure.
Well on 14/11/09 it is decided that Trangsgenders/Eunuchs can vote and fight elections as 'AANYA' CATAGORY...its a big achievement for them as till now even IN OUR CONSTITUTION ONLY MALE AND FEMALE'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS ARE MENTIONED....FOR OUR CONSTITUTION THESE TRANSGENDERS DO NOT EXISTS. Yesterday(15/11/09) saw a documentary on these people on NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL...named LADYBOY.
Today 12/12/09...Austrian Government has passed a bill...that gives 'LGBT's right to getting married there and if one of them die after marriage, then other will get pension like any other normal marriage.
10/12/09 Supreme Court directed that why not prostitution made legal if its not possible for Government to stop or curb it, then make it legal!!!...Well, as in many country years back(read it in wikipedia in google, I read it during article 377 got scrapped...and discussions were on) it was legalised so that Govt. used to get revenues from them. and these people used to get benifited of medical facilities/and get rehabilitated...!!
In present existing law in our country, it is a criminal activity....!!!This directive was given in context of petition filed by an NGO 'BACHPAN BACHAO AANDOLAN'....saying, poor girl child trafficking has increased due to poverty(bacchiyan biik rahin hain), which is really sad and scary(aajkal...aajkal many serials are on Tv where they have shown girl child being sold and married for money...well, as now by latest report, our 37% population are under Below Poverty Line instead of earlier 30%....even Sudhirji has made very good cartoon on it when SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE film got an OSCAR, and I had written about it here.
In fact generally this term are used for...any act, which lacks in Moral values/sanskar considered by our 'Society'...'rigid or progressive'...'wrong'...whether it is making money greedly...or just liking someone without family permission-as it was shown in DEVDAS, film based on SHARATCHANDRA novel, or for Anarkali of Akbar-Salim, Moughal era !!!
Definitly even LGBT are considered somewhere near, and bad.??? Do we need to change our views somewhere and make it a bit libral??? I think movies has always dipicted all kinds of Issues....we do relate with it thats why..it becomes a hit...but taking things personally and reacting accordingly....do become a cycle...a circle ....which is bad(vicious).....but,then its good to see a positive side....as Bhagwan or Shaitan both exists in our own personality...which way we want to devolop our personality....its a person's choice.
In fact once -few months back I commented, while chatting/discussing on net with one of my school/college ...My Doctor turned Beaurocrat friend, living in Goa now...samething, about profession like Bar dancers, or about LGBT,...etc...to legalise it, if cannot curb it, as diseases like AIDs are spreading in even our country speedily.Well, it was just a suggestion....well, but not worthless.
Well I saw a glimpse of a TV News programme on IBN7 in the evening....yesterday...on 14/12/09....both the sides of this sensitive ISSUE....Many NGO's must be trying to rehabitilate these effected people, ....in their medical problems, in education problems, in getting other basic eminities...and rights...and in educating about their duties...helping them come out from this profession and do some work for livilihood...which can give them self respect and make them self relaint.....though getting acceptibility in Society even afterwards, by common people is not easy(maybe some of them misusing their power as it was mentioned by Mr Thomas, an activist)....when RajaRammohan Rai started speaking against SATI-PRATHA,to save his bhabhi accidently,and for WIDOW MARRIAGES...he has to face great resistance...even from his own people and people around him....!!!
Its good to see Media or People are not over reacting now and 'no UNMADD' is seen in general, though fluctuations in mood of people are still there, at times in favour or at times against.
Let me come to the point now....in last few years Bar Dancers-Girls has faced tough time in few states/Big cities...after 'SUDDEN CLOSURE' of these Bars....as we have already over populated 'poor people'...and when one's family is dying of hunger...till what time they think about moral values(everyone cannot eat 'ghas ki roti' till they survive, as Maharana Pratap and his family did, He was a rare great example)...I am sure very few females/transgenders go for it(prostitution) volunteerily/willingly....not talking about pimps/goons now, (who surely needed to be punished,whatever maybe the situation are).
(I am concluding these topics...)About making it legalize and decriminalizing it ???....even during scrapping article 377, I had written my suggestions here was that under aged kids need to be protected like in normal case underaged(18/21 0f age are prohibited and article 376 is for protection from sexual abuse cases))sexual activity...I had written that I am not in favour of Lesbianism or Bisexuality...it needed medical help to curb such desires....may be it occurs because of Harmonal changes.But lets not get confused between....(just becoz even it was considered a criminal activity earlier), and mix up both.
No! I am not in favour of decriminalising or legalising it totally..100%, but definitly I do think that there need to be something concrete done so that these people don't live such inhumane life(definitly work is happenning),...do you think it can only happen by giving them lecture over moral values(..though that is also neccessary)....trying them to change their heart without giving them option of decent livilihood....some vocational teaching...as it is given in some jails and job opportunities or options for earning, identity cards so that they get voters rights....so that their kids can go to school and study...get educated and be out of this profession...can get facilities and human rights without knowing his/her father's name....and so that no new person get into it, can be saved from diseases....they can be stopped/saved....it sounding like utopia....definitly...persons who go/visit to such places as clients....need to be taught moral values ...but its not easy..(Mahatma Gandhi has done it)....!!! Its better to give some respite to these 'effected' people legally....and not be taken too 'harsh action suddenly' -in preventing them from it!!!
A survey by Ministry of Women and child Welfare and Human right watch...says-" there are 2.8 million sex workers in our country,though our constitution does not speak about male sex workers(giglo), and it doubled in recent decade which is worrysome as 35.47 of them are below 18yrs."
Besides my own suggestions...I added this article here(as I am not working on this Issue, neither following it religiously....but do read/and aware of news ), if someone want to read it!!!....This article is written by an Expert of this field and is quite NEAR to my thinking and views...and what I meant by Legalising or decriminalising it a 'bit'...to give them respite to come out of it...and not to push them in more difficult situations,( I searched this article today,right now 7am....15/12/09)!!! 16/12/09, I have read that Mr Bill Clinton and Mr Bill Gates has suggested that it should be legalised to promote use of condoms in them,... (as they are star campaigner of AIDS....!!!)18/12/09, I saw a report on Sonagachi redlight on 'Discovery Channel'....in the evening...few NGO's are working very hard taking their kids along...educating and making them aware and they are part of that NGO,busy spreading awareness through dance/drama...and in other creative form..
LEADER ARTICLE: Sex Workers Need Legal Cover
Ratna Kapur10 September 2007, 12:00am ISTText Size:
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The cabinet is all set to amend the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and criminalise clients who visit sex workers. The Bill is ostensibly being
adopted in the hope of containing human trafficking. Yet in trying to achieve this result by directly targeting the rights of women in the sex industry, the government is heading down a dangerous path.
The new law regards sex work as per se exploitative and enables the police to charge clients who bargain with sex workers for sexual services. Even if the client offers gifts or other consideration to the sex worker, he can be charged under the broad terms of the new law. By implication, sex workers would have to provide their services for free, in order to avoid the application of this provision.
If clients have sex with a trafficked woman, then the client is automatically deemed to be a trafficker. The provision renders all clients liable to be charged until it is established that the sex worker was not trafficked. Given that there is no definition of trafficking in the law, it is impossible to know how this fact is to be established. The Act also renders children and other members of a sex worker's family liable to be removed from the premises. It allows moving against members who are dependent on the earnings of a sex worker.
All of these provisions operate to undermine the life and work of the woman as a parent, caregiver and sex worker. The amendments effectively ban sex work by demanding circumstances that will make it impossible for the woman to function. The impact of these new provisions is a far cry from the original intention of lawmakers to amend the law for the purpose of combating trafficking.
According to the UN Protocol on Trafficking, trafficking is a crime that takes place when a person is moved from one place to another against his or her will into a situation of exploitation. The protocol does not target sex workers or criminalise consensual sexual conduct. Its explicit purpose is to stop the exploitation of migrant labour coerced into moving by deceptive individuals and criminal networks. Its implicit purpose is to encourage states to adopt measures to ensure the safe legal passage of migrants.
In the current context of the dubious 'war on terror', xenophobia and anti-immigration politics of many countries, the possibility of safe legal passage especially for low skilled or semi-skilled labour is limited. Instead, migrants are resorting to smugglers and traffickers to facilitate their movement. The closing down of legal routes merely encourages clandestine movement.
The new amendments neither target trafficking nor protect women. Instead, the reforms are driven by a morally conservative and myopic vision. By criminalising clients, the new law will drive prostitution and sex workers underground. As a result the women will be more vulnerable to abuse and, more importantly, trafficking.
The government is putting a powerful weapon in the hands of the police — to extort money from both sex workers and clients who want to avoid charges.
In the current climate of HIV/AIDS, driving prostitution underground will weaken if not altogether destroy links between vulnerable communities and groups providing information about the virus.
India has the highest rate of HIV infections in the world, which is spreading most rapidly among married, heterosexual women. To enact legislation that will drive the virus further into the realm of illegality is not only an irresponsible act; it is sentencing millions to a life of greater stigma, discrimination and violence.
All of these consequences have been documented in the evaluation of the Swedish law that sought to eliminate trafficking by criminalising the clients of sex workers. While sex workers were pushed off the streets, prostitution did not stop. In fact, trafficking increased, women were denied any legal mechanisms for redress, and tracking HIV infections became virtually impossible.
The Sonagachi Sex Workers' Project in Kolkata has been hailed as a model project for bringing down the rate of HIV infection and stopping child trafficking because of the active participation of the sex workers. Similar projects in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which involve the sex workers and encourage aggressive condom promotion among female sex workers, have also resulted in reduced HIV infections. Such results highlight the need to intensify programmes that create an enabling environment for sex workers to negotiate for condom use and safe sex practices.
The government is turning against the very community whose support is critical in fighting the battle against both trafficking as well as HIV/AIDS.
The moral agenda that is driving these particular reforms is going to help nobody. It will keep the nation ignorant about the causes of trafficking, which is driven by poverty. It will lead to the demand for closing of borders and alienate a community that can be an ally in the fight against HIV.
Instead of going down this destructive route, the government should encourage self-help groups that will monitor trafficking into sex work and organise the community to manage its own health needs including HIV prevention and support. It should enact a comprehensive migration policy, which enables workers to access their rights and legal services to fight any violence that they may experience from employers, clients or co-workers.
(The writer is director, Centre for Feminist Legal Research.)
I have mentioned here in this blog earlier about...all aspects of sexual harrassment of male or famale,old/young/child(including Rape...DNA test of child born, becoz of it and his/her human rights,laws and status...as I have done write-up on this for Rashtriya Sahara's 'Hastkhshep pages-4pages'...and even in this blog!!!
I have written about poor girls/women getting sold for marriages for money, to be a
sarrogate mother, or otherwise...in this blog!!!
Do these girls are alone culprit or even people come as a client need to be taught moral values and corrected.???
I am not in support of what is 'bad and Evil' in society....but do think that along with the dose of moral values, one need to provide, education and job opportunities for earning livilihood, to give these people decent opening and alternative...it applies on THEIVES,Beggars,Criminals,naxals,terrorist, underworld and places like Casino..or anything considered bad and evil for society...as reports shows that even child and women are getting involved in these activities now....and one big reason for it is only POVERTY....!!!One need to find solution like doctors does, be a social docter and see the pulse of society and environment around and its root causes...Physical/Psychological/socio-economical...Problems....and reasons and find solutions and better and decent opportunities...and the way for it!!!...and inspiring,encouraging,motivating/convincing people for reforms, as may be many wants to live like the way they are only. Support them till its neccessary and Punish them, mildly or strictly where it is important.
If people think writing here in this blog,FB,Orkut,Twitter(Digital friends)/talking on phone with
family/friends is a 'WRONG WAY, tarika galat hai'...then I do feel that correction can also be done like this only(as snake bites can be treated with medicine made by snakes venom easily) ...Its good that now its easier to convince people what/and how things are happenning here inside and outside,...and its better to become good example.(And if still people think...I am going through some mental ailment...due to which I became depressed, then let it be...I can live and work and enjoy my life without complain...with my this 'weakness'. Now,I am trying to make it 'my strength', without speaking lies,as mostly I did that( if possible), in handling things/situations.)Wish me good wishes.
I hope now people will stop asking me 'AAP KYA KER RAHIN HAIN, OR AAPNE KIYA KYA' all the time....about me or other members of family.
Sudhirji's friend Semone and her husband Philip came from Switzerland ...came for dinner...I treated her with Rajasthani food...Gatta,Dal-Batti- Churma,Sangari-Kaire...etc....!!
While discussing certain topics she told us that she wants to adopt a child from some Mother Teresa Sansthan...in Delhi, We were told that how becouse of education system in their country,they finish their studies late and as most of women are careerist,they don't get married until late 30's or by 40...by then becoz of biological problems or other compulsions they don't want to or can not reproduce child...so adopt it from devoloping countries. And hence ratio of Europian child and non Europian adopted child is increating and creating other kind of problems....!!!She said as awareness about sex education,family planning are 100% there.....She said that what is written in Indian shatras about 25yrs deadline for marriage is not wrong.!!
Well! Thats why I have written earlier in this blog that ,its alarming that after so much of awareness why 12yrs old kids are getting pregnent in these countries(where bal vivah is not allowed)....its need to be checked??....This is where family values counts...but still if some wrong happen, should family/one go for honour killing/suicide or find some solution for it in that situation....!!
दुनिया बनाने वाले भगवान,अल्लाह,GOD का लिंग-निर्धारण हो गया
ईश्वर की गलती हूं मैं और मेरे जैसे लोग
भड़ास परिवार से जुड़े सभी पुराने लोग जानते हैं कि मैं एक लैंगिक विकलांग(हिजड़ा) हूं लेकिन मेरी इस कमी को मेरे इस परिवार ने कभी मेरे परिचय में आड़े न आने दिया। भड़ास परिवार से दिया गया प्रेम और हमारे बड़े भाई अवतार स्वरूप डा.रूपेश श्रीवास्तव जी ने हमें हमारी परंपरागत पहचान से हट कर जो नई पहचान दी है उसके लिये यदि हम अपनी चमड़ी के जूते भी बना कर उन्हें पहना दें तो कम है। हमारे रिश्ते में इस औपचारिक बकवास की गुंजाइश नहीं है। बात ये है कि मेरे दिमाग में हमेशा से यह सवाल रहा कि दुनिया बनाने वाली शक्ति भी क्या लैंगिकता की मोहताज होगी? या फिर वह एकोSहं बहुस्यामि के विचार के अमीबा या हाइड्रा की तरह बढ़ा होगा? वह क्या है पुल्लिंग? स्त्रीलिंग?? या फिर उभयलिंगी केंचुए की तरह??? या फिर मेरी तरह नपुंसक षंढ??????? भाईसाहब से करे गए मेरे हजारों सवालों में से बस यही अनुत्तरित रहा है क्योंकि भाई मानते हैं कि ईश्वर के विषय में चर्चा करने की क्षमता उनमें नहीं है जब वो मिल कर स्वयं अपने बारे में बताएगा तब उसकी बात करेंगे। लेकिन मुझे लग रहा है कि मुझे मेरे सवाल का उत्तर सेमेटिक रेलिजन्स में मिल गया है। मुस्लिमों की मजहबी पुस्तक कुरान और ईसाइयों की धर्मपुस्तक बाइबिल में बताया गया है कि अल्लाह या परमेश्वर ने आदम यानि एडम(प्रथम मनुष्य) को अपने ही रूप में बनाया(फ़रिश्तों से आदेश देकर बनवाया) और स्पष्ट है कि आदम तो पुरुष हैं और उनकी एक पसली से प्रथम स्त्री हव्वा का निर्माण करा। कहा गया है अल्लाह या परमेश्वर प्रकाश(नूर) है। अब सवाल ये खड़ा हो गया है कि क्या ये एक रहस्य है या बहुत बड़ा झूठ कि एक तरफ़ उसे अपने जैसा यानि पुरुष लिखा है और दूसरी तरफ प्रकाश। यदि दुनिया बनाने वाला प्रकाश है तो उसे आदम को सूरज, जुगनू , ट्यूबलाइट या बल्ब की तरह का बनाना चाहिए था यदि हाड़मांस(लिंगधारी) बनाया तो ये नहीं बताना था कि in his own form........ अपनी ही सूरत में........। यदि आदम को लिंग है तो शतप्रतिशत ईश्वर को भी होना चाहिए अन्यथा ये बातें मात्र कल्पना हैं और वो भी पुरुषों की जिन्होंने सभ्यता के विकास क्रम में नर और मादा मानव की पसलियों में अंतर देख कर ये कहानी रच ली और खुद को ईश्वर की सूरत में जता दिया। ये विशुद्ध तर्क है मेहरबानी करके कोई इसे कुतर्क कह कर मुझे शान्त कराने का आग्रह न करे। यदि समुचित उत्तर है तो अवश्य शंका का निराकरण करे। यानि कि हमारे जैसे लोग उस परमात्मा की गलती हैं क्योंकि हमारे जैसे लोगों का तो कहीं जिक्र ही नहीं है कि उसने मुखन्नस(हिजड़े) भी बनाए हैं कभी। क्या सचमुच परमात्मा गलतियां करता है??????????
अर्धसत्य पर लिखी हुई मेरी एक पुरानी पोस्ट में मेरे दिल में उठे इस सवाल का जिक्र है
जय जय भड़ास
प्रस्तुतकर्ता हिज(ड़ा) हाईनेस मनीषा पर 10:10 PM 12/1/2010
लेबल: अल्लाह, ईश्वर, परमेश्वर, भड़ासअर्धसत्य, लिंग, हिजड़I
‘Gay marriage’ and homosexuality: Some medical comment
JOHN SHEA, M.D., JOHN WILSON, M.D., ET. AL.
The media portrays the homosexual lifestyle and relationships as happy, healthy and stable. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences. In addition, many 'committed' homosexual relationships only last a few years raising doubts about whether children raised in same-sex households are being raised in a protective environment.
Notice to Reader: "The Boards of both CERC Canada and CERC USA are aware that the topic of homosexuality is a controversial one that deeply affects the personal lives of many North Americans. Both Boards strongly reiterate the Catechism's teaching that people who self-identify as gays and lesbians must be treated with 'respect, compassion, and sensitivity' (CCC #2358). The Boards also support the Church's right to speak to aspects of this issue in accordance with her own self-understanding. Articles in this section have been chosen to cast light on how the teachings of the Church intersect with the various social, moral, and legal developments in secular society. CERC will not publish articles which, in the opinion of the editor, expose gays and lesbians to hatred or intolerance."
Despite the impression given by the media, the actual number of homosexuals is quite small. Essentially all surveys show the number of homosexuals to be only 1-3% of the population. The number of homosexuals living in 'common law partnerships' is even less, only 0.5% of all couples. This contrasts with 70% of all households with a married couple. The pressure for introducing same-sex marriages comes from a very small section of society.
According to Statistics Canada, 1.3% of men and 0.7% of women considered themselves to be homosexual.
Recent studies in many different countries show that the prevalence of homosexuality is less than 3% of the population: In a US study, the prevalence of homosexuality was estimated to be 2.1% of men and 1.5% of women. (Gilman SE. Am J Public Health. 2001; 91: 933-9.) Another US study estimated the prevalence of the adult lesbian population to be 1.87% (Aaron DJ et al. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003; 57: 207-9.) In a recent British survey, 2.8% of men were classified as homosexuals (Mercer CH et al. AIDS. 2004; 18: 1453-8). In a recent Dutch study 2.8% of men and 1.4% women had had same-sex partners. (Sandfort TG et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001; 58 :85-91.) In a New Zealand study, 2.8% of young adults were classified as homosexual or bisexual. (Fergusson DM et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 876-80)
In 2001, there were just over 8.3 million families in Canada, of which nearly 6 million (70%) were married couples and 1.1 million common-law couples. The 2001 Census was the first to provide data on same-sex partnerships. A total of 34,200 couples (or 0.5% of all couples) identified themselves as same-sex common-law couples. (www.statcan.ca/Daily/ English/021022/d021022a.htm)
2. Health risks of the homosexual lifestyle.
The media portrays the homosexual lifestyle and relationships as happy, healthy and stable. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences. Many 'committed' homosexual relationships only last a few years. This raises doubts as to whether children raised in same-sex households are being raised in a protective environment.
A. There are very high rates of sexual promiscuity among the homosexual population with short duration of even 'committed' relationships.
A study of homosexual men shows that more than 75% of homosexual men admitted to having sex with more than 100 different males in their lifetime: approximately 15% claimed to have had 100-249 sex partners, 17% claimed 250-499, 15% claimed 500-999 and 28% claimed more than 1,000 lifetime sexual partners. (Bell AP, Weinberg MS. Homosexualities. New York 1978).
Promiscuity among lesbian women is less extreme, but is still higher than among heterosexual women. Many 'lesbian' women also have sex with men. Lesbian women were more than 4 times as likely to have had more than 50 lifetime male partners than heterosexual women. (Fethers K et al. Sexually transmitted infections and risk behaviours in women who have sex with women. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2000; 76: 345-9.)
Far higher rates of promiscuity are observed even within 'committed' gay relationships than in heterosexual marriage: In Holland, male homosexual relationships last, on average, 1.5 years, and gay men have an average of eight partners a year outside of their supposedly “committed” relationships. (Xiridou M, et al. The contribution of steady and casual partnerships to the incidence of HIV infection among homosexual men in Amsterdam. AIDS. 2003; 17: 1029-38.) Gay men have sex with someone other than their primary partner in 66% of relationships within the first year, rising to 90% of relationships after five years. (Harry J. Gay Couples. New York. 1984)
In an online survey among nearly 8,000 homosexuals, 71% of same-sex relationships lasted less than eight years. Only 9% of all same-sex relationships lasted longer than 16 years. (2003-2004 Gay & Lesbian Consumer Online Census; www.glcensus.org)
The high rates of promiscuity are not surprising: Gay authors admit that 'gay liberation was founded … on a sexual brotherhood of promiscuity.' (Rotello G. Sexual Ecology. New York 1998)
B. Among homosexuals, highly risky sexual practices such as anal sex are very common.
The majority of homosexual men (60%) engage in anal sex, frequently without condom and even, if they know that they are HIV positive. (Mercer CH et al. Increasing prevalence of male homosexual partnerships and practices in Britain 1990-2000. AIDS. 2004; 18: 1453-8) As a result, a large number of diseases are associated with anal intercourse, many of which are rare or even unknown in the heterosexual population such as: anal cancer, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Herpes simplex virus, HIV, Human papilloma virus, Isospora belli, Microsporidia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C and others. (www.netdoctor.co.uk; www.gayhealthchannel.com;)
There is a significant increase in the risk of contracting HIV when engaging in anal sex. Young homosexual men aged 15-22, who ever had anal sex had a fivefold increased risk of contracting HIV than those who never engaged in anal sex. (Valleroy L, et al. HIV prevalence and associated risks in young men who have sex with men. JAMA. 2000; 284: 198-204.)
The term 'barebacking' refers to intentional unsafe anal sex. In a study of HIV-positive gay men, the majority of participants (84%) reported engaging in barebacking in the past three months, and 43% of the men reported recent bareback sex with a partner who most likely is not infected with HIV, therefore putting another man at risk of contracting HIV. (Halkitis PN. Intentional unsafe sex (barebacking) among HIV-positive gay men who seek sexual partners on the Internet. AIDS Care. 2003; 15: 367-78.)
While many homosexuals are aware of HIV risk, a large number are unaware of the increased risk of contracting non-HIV STDs, many of which have serious complications or may not be curable. (K-Y lubricant and the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association survey)
While 'always' condom use reduces the risk of contracting HIV by about 85%, Condoms, even when used 100% of the time, fail to give adequate levels of protection against many non-HIV STDs such as Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Herpes, Genital Warts and others. The only safe sex is, apart from abstinence, mutual monogamy with an uninfected partner. (Sex, Condoms, and STDs: What We Now Know. Medical Institute for Sexual Health. 2002)
C. Homosexuals have very high rates of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV which pose a major burden to the health service.
Over 70% of all AIDS diagnoses in Canada in adults over the age of 15 up to June 2004 were in homosexual men (13,019 out of 19,238). 60% of all positive HIV tests are found in homosexual men. This contrasts with just over 15% of all positive HIV tests which are due to heterosexual contact. (Public Health Agency of Canada. HIV and AIDS in Canada. November 2004).
The recently observed dramatic increases in syphilis in many large cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, but also in London and Manchester, UK are in the majority observed in homosexual men. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Trends in primary and secondary syphilis and HIV infections in men who have sex with men. MMWR 2004; 53: 575-8. and Nicoll A. Are trends in HIV, gonorrhoea, and syphilis worsening in western Europe? BMJ 2002; 324:1324-7.)
D. There are increased rates of mental ill health among the homosexual population compared to the general population. Many studies show much higher rates of psychiatric illness, such as depression, suicide attempts and drug abuse among homosexuals then among the general population. The homosexual lifestyle is associated with a shortened life expectancy of up to 20 years.
In a New Zealand study, data were gathered on a range of psychiatric disorders among gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people. At the age of 21, homosexuals/bisexuals were at fourfold increased risks of major depression and conduct disorder, fivefold increased risk of nicotine dependence, twofold increased risk of other substance misuse or addiction and six times more likely to have attempted suicide. (Fergusson DM et al. Is sexual orientation related to mental health problems and suicidality in young people? Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 876-80.)
In a recent US study of the mental health of homosexuals, it was found that gay/bisexual men had a more than 3-fold increased risk of major depression and a five-fold increased risk of panic disorder. They were three times as likely to rate their mental health as only 'fair' or 'poor' and to experience high levels of distress. Gay/bisexual women had a nearly four-fold increased risk of general anxiety disorder and both groups were more than three times as likely than the general population to require treatment in a mental health setting. (Cochran S. et al. Prevalence of mental disorders, psychological distress, and mental health services use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in the United States. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003; 71 :53-61.)
It is claimed, that the high rates of mental illness among homosexuals are the result of 'homophobia'. However, even in the Netherlands, which has been far more tolerant to same-sex relationships and which has recently legalised same-sex marriages, high levels of psychiatric illness, including major depression, bipolar disorder ('manic depression'), agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and drug addiction are found. (Sandfort TG, et al. Same-sex sexual behavior and psychiatric disorders: findings from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001; 58 :85-91.)
Furthermore, if 'homophobia' and prejudices were the cause of the high rates of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts among homosexuals, one would similarly expect to find higher rates of suicide attempts and suicide among ethnic minorities exposed to racism. However, this is not usually the case.
In a Vancouver study, life expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to 20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to continue, it is estimated that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged 20 years will not reach their 65th birthday. (Hogg RS et al. Modelling the impact of HIV disease on mortality in gay and bisexual men. International Journal of Epidemiology.1997; 26:657-61)
3. Homosexuality and pedophilia.
Any attempts to legalise gay marriage should be aware of the link between homosexuality and pedophilia. While the majority of homosexuals are not involved in pedophilia, it is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among pedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable.
One well known historic example on the link between homosexuality and pedophilia is found in ancient Greece. Greek mythology is saturated with stories of pedophilia and ancient Greek literature praises pedophilia. The age group of boys that were used for 'sexual pleasure' was probably in the range of 12-17. Male prostitution was very common with brothels in which boys and young men were available. There is evidence for an extensive trade in boys. (Churchill W. Homosexual Behavior among Males. Hawthorn. New York. 1967)
There are links between pedophilia and homosexuality. The political scientist Prof. Mirkin wrote in a paper that: 'pedophile organizations were originally a part of the gay/lesbian coalition…' (Mirkin H. The pattern of sexual politics: feminism, homosexuality and pedophilia. Journal of Homosexuality 1999; 37: 1-24.). There is an overlap between the 'gay movement' and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable through organisations such as the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), as admitted by David Thorstad, Co-founder of NAMBLA writing in the Journal of Homosexuality. (Thorstad D. Man/boy love and the American gay movement. Journal of Homosexuality. 1990; 20 : 251-74)
The number of homosexuals in essentially all surveys is less than 3%. (Statistics Canada found only 1% of the population who described themselves as homosexual.) However, the percentage of homosexuals among pedophiles is 25%. (Blanchard R et al. Fraternal birth order and sexual orientation in pedophiles. Archives of Sexual Behavior 2000; 29: 463-78.) Therefore, the prevalence of pedophilia among homosexuals is about 10-25 times higher than one would expect if the proportion of pedophiles were evenly distributed within the (hetero- and homosexual) populations.
4. 'Gay marriage'.
Gay activists claim that there is no difference between children raised in a homosexual as opposed to a heterosexual household. However, essentially all studies that show that there is no difference have been criticised because of poor research quality. Despite the shortcomings, the studies seem to suggest that children raised in same-sex parents may be more sexually promiscuous and more likely to become homosexuals.
In a review of all the studies that purport to find no difference between children raised in families by same-sex parents and parents of different sex, major methodological flaws have been noted. For example, the studies have very small sample sizes, biased sample selection, or lack of control groups. (P. Morgan, Children as Trophies? Christian Institute. Newcastle upon Tyne, 2002)
Despite the limitations of the studies of same-sex parenting some differences are found. Children raised in same-sex parents are more likely to become sexually promiscuous and are more likely to become homosexual themselves. (Riggs SC. Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents. (letter) Pediatrics 2002; 109: 1193-4.)
However, the main concern remains the inherent instability of same-sex marriages. In the above mentioned Dutch survey, the average length of a 'committed' homosexual partnership was only 1.5 years. In the mentioned survey of nearly 8,000 gays, 71% of relationships did not last 8 years. Furthermore, violence among homosexual partnerships is two to three times as common as in heterosexual relationships. Such an environment does not provide the stability required for raising children. Former homosexual Stephen Bennett who is married to his wife and has two children states: 'Granting homosexuals the right to marry or adopt children is deliberately creating dysfunctional families.'
5. Biological evidence regarding gender development.
Despite all the impressions given by the media, homosexuality is neither an entirely innate condition nor is it unchangeable. The so-called 'gay gene' has never been found. There are studies that show it is possible to change sexual orientation from predominantly homosexual to predominantly heterosexual orientation.
A recent review by authors sympathetic to the gay movement shows clearly that homosexual development cannot be only determined by genes. Evidence from biology shows clearly that gays are not simply born that way. Environmental influences play a significant role in the development of gender identity and sexual behavior. (Bailey JM. "Biological perspectives on sexual orientation". In: Garnets LD and Kimmel DC: Psychological perspectives on lesbian, gay, and bisexual experiences. Columbia University Press, New York. 2003)
There is no convincing evidence for a 'gay gene'. Indeed, if there were a 'gay gene' those who carry it would probably be at a disadvantage in the natural selection process of evolution:' If there was a 'gay gene' this gene would cause a significant problem: homosexuality is associated with low fertility, indeed if a homosexual has only sex with same-sex persons he will have no offspring.' (Bailey JM. Biological perspectives on sexual orientation. 2003)
One way of finding out whether a condition is genetically determined is to examine the behavior of identical twins (who have the same genetic material) and comparing them with non-identical twins. It is assumed, that twins grow up in the same environment. There have been several studies investigating whether the identical twin brothers of homosexual men are also homosexuals. Concordance (both identical twins being homosexual) was found in only 25-50% of identical twin pairs. 'Genes' therefore cannot entirely explain homosexual orientation and behaviour. (Pillard RC and Weinrich JD. Evidence of familial nature of male homosexuality. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1986: 42; 808-12. King M and McDonald E. Homosexuals who are twins. A study of 46 probands. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1992; 160: 407-9.)
Recently, a study was published by Professor Spitzer, a prominent psychiatrist. He is viewed as a historic champion of gay activism by playing a key role in removing homosexuality from the psychiatric manual of mental disorders in 1973. In his study, he examined whether a predominantly homosexual orientation will, in some individuals, respond to therapy. He examined 200 respondents of both genders who reported changes from homosexual to heterosexual orientation lasting 5 years or more. He writes: 'Although initially skeptical, in the course of the study, the author became convinced of the possibility of change in some gay men and lesbians.' Although examples of "complete" change in orientation were not common, the majority of participants did report change from a predominantly or exclusively homosexual orientation before therapy to a predominantly or exclusively heterosexual orientation in the past year as a result of reparative therapy. These results would seem to contradict the position statements of the major mental health organizations in the United States, which claim there is no scientific basis for believing psychotherapy effective in addressing same-sex attraction. (Spitzer RL. Can some gay men and lesbians change their sexual orientation? 200 participants reporting a change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation. Arch Sex Behav. 2003; 32: 403-17; discussion 419-72. – further evidence see www.narth.com)
6. Benefits of traditional marriage.
There are significant benefits from (heterosexual) marriage for individual and society. Heterosexually married couples are, on average, healthier, have fewer psychological problems and live longer than cohabiting or single individuals. Government policy therefore should be to support and strengthen heterosexual marriage.
In reviews by Professor Oswald, Professor of Economics at Warwick University, UK it was found that marriage reduces mortality. The excess mortality of men who are not married is similar to the excess mortality by smoking. Marriage has a much more important effect on longevity than income does. For men, the effect is positive and substantial. It almost exactly offsets the large (negative) consequences of smoking. For women, the effect is approximately half the size of the smoking effect.
Marriage is associated with greater happiness, less depression, less alcohol abuse and less smoking. Marriage gives a beneficial effect in terms of reducing alcohol abuse especially for men and reducing depression for both men and women.
Health benefits of marriage appear to be limited to marriage. Cohabitation does not confer the same degree of benefit than marriage. Formal marriage itself seems to matter. In the few studies that compare marriage and cohabitation, the results tend to show a beneficial effect from being married. (Gardner J, Oswald A, Is it Money or Marriage that Keeps People Alive? August 2002. Wilson CM and Oswald AJ: How Does Marriage Affect Physical and Psychological Health? A Survey of the Longitudinal Evidence. (January 2002; both papers available on Prof Oswald's website – see 'further reading')
7. Adverse effects of family breakdown.
There is a wealth of evidence linking family breakdown with many adverse health outcomes for children and society as a whole. Government policy therefore should be to strengthen the marriage-based family of husband and wife. 'Gay marriages', with their inherent instability, will contribute to the many adverse effects family breakdown has on children and on society as a whole.
At the root of many of the problems we see in children and young adults — such as emotional and behavioral difficulties, poor school performance, substance misuse, precocious teenage sexuality including teenage pregnancy and juvenile delinquency — is the dramatic increase in family breakup and 'relationship turnover' of parents, adversely affecting their children (For an overview see: Rebecca O'Neill. Experiments in living. CIVITAS. 2002)
As a result of family breakdown, children have on average more ill health including higher mortality, emotional problems (including a higher suicide rate).
Children from broken families have poorer school performance including poorer performance in maths, reading and writing.
Children from broken families are more likely to live in poverty. As a result of family breakdown, many single parent families live in poverty.
Children from broken families are also more likely to have problems with substance misuse and poor sexual health including teenage pregnancy.
Furthermore, children from broken homes are more likely to be engaging in criminal activity and are disproportionally over-represented in the prison population.
In a study of more than 170 US cities, a clear link between divorce rate and crime was found. Low rates of divorce were associated with reduced crime rates. (Sampson RJ, Crime in Cities. Tonry & Morris eds., Crime and Justice, Chicago 1992)
Further reading:
Health risks of gay sex
Effects of family breakdown on children and society by CIVITAS, London, UK
Marriage research (by Prof Andrew Oswald)
Therapy of homosexual orientation: www.narth.com (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
John Shea, M.D., John Wilson, M.D. et.al. "'Gay marriage' and homosexuality: some medical comments." Lifesite (February, 2005).
Originally published to Lifesite.
THE AUTHORS
John Shea, MD, FRCP (C), Radiologist; John K. Wilson MD, FRCP (C), Cardiologist; Paul Ranalli MD, FRCP (C), Neurologist; Christina Paulaitis MD, CCFP, Family Physician; Luigi Castagna MD, FRCP (C), Paediatric Neurologist; Hans-Christian Raabe MD, MRCP MRCGP Internist; W. André Lafrance MD, FRCP (C), Dermatologist.
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February 22, 2010
Gay Marriage Leads D.C. Archbishop to End Foster Care Program
Catholic Charities has given its caseload of 43 children, 35 foster families, and 7 staff members to a Maryland-based family-care agency so as not to disrupt client care.
Julia Duin
The other shoe has dropped here in Washington, D.C., in a long conflict between the local Catholic diocese and the District of Columbia.
After warning for months that the District's pending same-sex marriage law — slated to go into effect March 2 — put its 80-year-old foster care program in jeopardy, the Archdiocese of Washington formally ended its program February 1.
It is the third Catholic diocese in the country to do so. The archdioceses of San Francisco and Boston stopped their adoption programs in 2006 after their respective states legalized gay marriage (California has since repealed its law) and made it clear that local Catholic Charities affiliates would have to work with homosexual couples.
The District's law would obligate all outside contractors working with the city to recognize gay couples by giving spousal benefits to such couples and allowing them to adopt available children. The Archdiocese of Washington refused to do this. Its Catholic Charities affiliate has turned over its caseload of 43 children with 35 foster families — along with 7 staff members — to Bethesda, Maryland-based National Center for Children and Families so as not to disrupt client care.
The foster care and adoption programs were among the 63 social service programs that the District paid Catholic Charities about $22.5 million to run. Of that amount, $2 million went to the foster care program. Because of the large amounts of money involved, it is highly unlikely that Catholic parishioners could raise enough funds to make up the difference.
When Donald Wuerl became the archbishop of Washington in 2006, many of us thought his main battle would be dealing with pro-choice Catholic politicians. Instead, his Rubicon has proved to be the D.C. marriage issue, a battle I am guessing he did not anticipate. He is now caught between the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea. The Vatican is adamant against allowing gay couples to adopt. As for the District, one of the most liberal areas in the country, it is not surprising that, with a Democrat in the White House, local gay activists began pushing for the right to legally marry.
When the D.C. city council passed a bill allowing gay marriage in fall 2009, the archdiocese served notice that the bill did not contain a meaningful religious exemption for contractors who believe marriage is solely between a man and a woman. A storm of invective ensued, mostly from politicians and activists who blamed Catholics for manipulating the political process. Two hundred local clergy, including the local Episcopal bishop, banned together to denounce the archdiocese. Most of the local media trashed Archbishop Wuerl for his stand.
Wuerl and his bishops fought back, insisting they were not abandoning the city's poor nor its children by threatening to pull out of its social service programs. They pointed out the city had changed the rules on the ground, making them ineligible for contracts, grants, and licenses for programs ranging from immigration services to foster care.
The outlook for religious organizations involved in charity work is not good. The Salvation Army lost $3.5 million in social service contracts with the city of San Francisco because it would not provide health benefits to gay employees' partners. The Boy Scouts are not allowed to meet in government-owned buildings because of its stance on gay Scout leaders. A spokesman for a D.C. Catholic Charities affiliate told me that coupled gays are employed among its 850-member work force, so that it's a matter of time — after March 2 — before someone threatens a lawsuit unless his or her gay partner gets health insurance. The juggernaut is here.
There is much strong sentiment on this issue. When I wrote a front-page piece on the issue last week, I got 57 comments off the bat, the majority of which criticized Catholics. An anonymous local Catholic blogger set out the issue quite clearly by saying that the question is not if, but when the archdiocese is going to end up in court over this.
Catholic dioceses around the country undoubtedly are watching what happens in Washington. The city council has rammed through the legislation — which it refused to put to popular vote — even though they knew this would tie up the more conservative religious groups. Meanwhile, most observers in D.C. agree that Archbishop Wuerl was left with no morally acceptable choice but to withdraw the foster care and adoption programs, which are on the front lines of this debate. Expect him to eventually pull out of the other $20.5 million worth of contracts as well.
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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on February 22, 2010 11:06 AM
Comments
Just another example of what can happen when government goes against common sense and the will of the people. The Catholic Church is acting on principle. Finally, someone is drawing a line and saying enough is enough. Of course, they will be excoriated by the press and other liberal institutions who really aren't interested in being fair to the Catholic Church.
Posted By: Truthmeister | February 22, 2010 1:39 PM
The Catholic position is just pathetic. The base their condescendingly slanderous position on "homosexuals" is conjured up from their archaic "Natural Law," which dates back to Aristotle. Slavery is "natural," but Gay people aren't. Give me a break. Real "Natural Law" really boils down to: If it's not forbidden by the laws of physics, it's mandatory. The morality you bring to that determines the morality you extract from it. And the morality you should bring to that is the Golden Rule.
Posted By: Gregory Peterson | February 22, 2010 2:04 PM
If the church takes funds from a government that does not discriminate against gay citizens, then the church cannot discriminate against gay citizens. If the church wishes to continue to discriminate against gay citizens, then the church cannot take government funds. Seems rather straightforward.
Posted By: James in Los Angeles | February 22, 2010 2:18 PM
Perhaps Katelyn Beaty from comment 11:06AM should be caring for those 43 unwanted children???
Nope, wait a minute. It wasn't the care of the 43 unwanted children Katelyn Beaty was concerned about.
Katelyn Beaty was concerned about making sure gay citizens are still treated unfairly via the law.
My bad.
I thought she cared about 'the children' that so many heterosexuals are running around screaming their heads off about protecting while allowing them to rot in orphanages.
How stupid of me.
Katelyn Beaty was DEFENDING the catholic church.
You know, that multi-conglomerate corporation that steals money from the poor and under-educated via a weekly 'stupid tax' dropped into a collection plate so that the Pope can continue building his city of solid gold in Rome while his employees continue to molest little children while the world watches and does nothing.
Morality indeed, Katelyn Beaty and the catholic church.
Morality indeed.
Posted By: Jill7 | February 22, 2010 2:24 PM
I'm so glad a non-discriminating organization has chosen to take care of these children. At least we can have better role models for children than the close-minded Church leaders who've shown a pattern of ignoring their past mistakes (abuse and discrimination, anyone??)
Posted By: JJ | February 22, 2010 2:43 PM
Well, since the Catholics are no longer looking out for these kids, at least we don't have to worry about them getting raped by church leaders any longer.
Posted By: Bill | February 22, 2010 2:53 PM
Jill7, since you use my name repeatedly in your comment, it seems only appropriate to clarify that I left no comment for this post. I published the post for Julia Duin, the author. Before aiming such invective at one person, please make sure you are aiming at the right person. (Of course, not aiming invective is the ideal, but that is a conversation best left outside the blogosphere.)
Thank you,
Katelyn Beaty
Posted By: Katelyn Beaty | February 22, 2010 2:57 PM
I see the anti religionists are out in force on this thread.
Why should the Catholic Church be force to adopt to gays or even employ them. They are a private group and the gay lobby should start their own group if that is what they want.
Of course that is not the agenda, it is militant pro homosexual advocacy that is what they want. They want people to accept that their perversion as normal even though the majority of Americans have voted numerous times they think it is not normal.
Decent Americans know that the sexual perversion so prevalent in American society today is one of the leading causes of the downfall, the degradation of our society, of our country. Why then do we continue to tolerate the immersion of our young people in it? Why do we continue to tolerate it in our society and among our elected? Why do we continue to be silent as the homosexual agenda of forced acceptance of unhealthy sexual perversion is shoved down our throats?
Posted By: ScottyDog | February 22, 2010 4:00 PM
This story is interesting because the Catholic Church has said discrimination against gay people in the workplace, concerning health benefits and credit is unjust and even sinful - going back to the Bishops statements in the mid- 1970s. How does that square with not giving a gay employee's partner health benefits?
And oddly enough some of the most pro-gay areas of the country are heavily Catholic. In fact, a recent poll showed Catholic support in the U.S. for gay marriage was around 54% - Protestant support was only 44%.
Posted By: Pat | February 22, 2010 4:10 PM
i find it honestly pathetic that catholic churches have decided to close their foster programs because of gay marriage. the idea of throwing away the lives of children becuase you don't agree with homsexuality is not just ignorant but hurtful. not for gay people but the children, they deserve more than to be tossed away becasue a church is unable to deal with it. god shall judge them i promise you that
Posted By: Dbuck | February 22, 2010 4:59 PM
Actually I'm pretty sure their views are based on the Bible. Which predates Aristole. I'm not Catholic but I'll bet they have done much more for children than anyone spewing hatred on this blog. The Bible is very plain on the fact that homosexuality is a sexual sin, even more so because it is a perversion of a sexual sin. The Bible tells us to treat everyone with love and respect. That is why Christians must tell the truth, which is we cannot allow our desires to rule over us.
Posted By: sonlil80 | February 22, 2010 7:33 PM
Actually what is ignorant is sticking your head in the sand and saying that gay couples lifestyles choices are compatible with bringing up children. Adam and Steve do not take the place of a nurturing mother/father and visa versa.
Homosexuals have a decreased life expectancy and are ten times more likely to contract a disease than heterosexuals.Homosexual practitioners were proportionately more apt to sexually abuse foster or adoptive children according to recent study of Illinois Child Services(1997-2002).
Traditional child-placement policies were therefore based on assumptions that children fostered by those who engaged in homosexuality would be more apt to be sexually molested, socially isolated, and engage in homosexuality themselves (Bigner & Bozett, 1989; Golombok & Tasker, 1996).
It seems that their research was correct and giving homosexuals our children in foster homes and adoptions should be re-examined.
Posted By: ScottyDog | February 22, 2010 7:37 PM
I really don't see what the problem is supposed to be: The city says contractors cannot discriminate against gay people; the Catholic church says it believes it has to, and so passes on its contract work to someone willing to do it under the new rules. Everybody wins!
Posted By: hyhybt | February 22, 2010 8:01 PM
@ sonlil80: Aristotle was born in 384 B.C., as in BEFORE CHRIST. So how does the Bible pre-date Aristotle when Jesus wasn't even born yet?
It makes you wonder the value of a "Christian education".
Posted By: razorfin | February 22, 2010 8:14 PM
Jesus Christ in Christianity is God. God through his prophets wrote the Old Testament. The Old Testament (part of the Bible) predates Aristotle.
It makes you wonder about the value of secular education.
Posted By: Jen | February 22, 2010 8:23 PM
Yo razorfin, genius.....when do ya think the ancient oral traditions started that resulted in the OLD TESTAMENT? Hint: well BEFORE Aritotle. Where did you get YOUR education?
These comments just prove what most fair-minded, thinking people realize: write something that's even mildly critical of gay marriage or gay adoption and you'll get an avalanche of hateful blowback. Even on a Christian website. Having a civil, intelligent conversation thus becomes impossible.
Posted By: Truthmeister | February 22, 2010 8:27 PM
Gay marriage bills debated in House committee
by Paul Demko
Published: February 22,2010
Time posted: 7:26 pm
Tags: gay marriage, Joe Mullery, Phyllis Kahn, Ryan Winkler
Rep. Phyllis Kahn
The debate over gay marriage was back at the Capitol on Monday afternoon. A trio of bills relating to same-sex unions were heard before the House’s Civil Justice committee.
A proposal introduced by Rep. Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis, would allow two consenting adults to enter into “civil union contracts,” regardless of their gender. Another bill, put forth by Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, would recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states as legally valid in Minnesota.
But the most far-reaching legislation would legalize gay marriage by removing gender-based terminology in existing state statute. The measure was introduced by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, more than a year ago and has 22 other Democratic co-sponsors. Kahn noted in advocating for the bill that she’s probably been married longer than any other current legislator at the Capitol.
“I just want to personally state that I think allowing other people to get married poses absolutely no threat to my marriage,”Kahn told the committee. “The legislative session is probably a little more damaging.”
Chris and Ryan Dolan were the first witnesses to testify in support of gay marriage. The couple, who got married in Toronto, brought along their adopted infant daughter, Olivia, to the hearing. Chris Dolan pointed out that the couple is penalized financially because gay marriage is outlawed in Minnesota, including by having to pay higher costs for health and life insurance policies.
“I can’t state this any clearer: the failure of this state to recognize our marriage is financially hurting our marriage” said Chris, an attorney at Faegre & Benson. “Why is the state of Minnesota making it more difficult for us to provide OIivia with a stable home?”
Dale Carpenter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, prefaced his testimony by stating that he’s a lifelong conservative Republican. He argued that marriage is a powerful legal institution that encourages healthy, monogamous relationships — whether gay or straight.
There have been no negative effects on heterosexual families or on children raised in those families,” Carpenter testified of the increasing prevalence of gay marriage. “No slippery slope to polygamy or anything else.”
But opponents of same-sex unions also had their say. Teresa Collett, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, argued that gay marriage would damage society in eight specific ways. Among the harmful effects, according to Collett: retaliation against individuals who oppose homosexual unions and elimination of tax-exempt status for churches that fail to sanction such marriages.
“Make no mistake, marriage as a civil institution, as a legal institution, is grounded not merely in religion, but in the biological reality that sex makes children and children need a mom and a dad,” she said.
Barb Davis White, an African American who is running for Congress in the 5th Congressional District, argued that gay sex is physically dangerous and that children need both a mother and father in their lives.
“Rosa Parks didn’t move to the front of the bus to support sodomy,” she said.
No votes were taken on the bills and no additional hearings are scheduled.
Homosexuality in India
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Homosexuality is generally considered a taboo subject by both Indian civil society and the government. Public discussion of homosexuality in India has been inhibited by the fact that sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly. In recent years, however, attitudes towards homosexuality have shifted slightly. In particular, there have been more depictions and discussions of homosexuality in the Indian news media[1][2][3] and by Bollywood.[4] On 2 July 2009, a Delhi High Court court ruling decriminalised homosexual intercourse between consenting adults and judged Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to be conflicting with the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.[5]
Religion has played a significant role in shaping Indian customs and traditions. While homosexuality has not been explicitly mentioned in the religious texts central to Hinduism, the largest religion in India, some interpretations have been viewed as condemning homosexuality.[6] Scholars differ in their views of the position of homosexuality within India's main religious traditions. There have been arguments that homosexuality was both prevalent and accepted in ancient Hindu society.[7]
Several organisations like the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, National AIDS Control Organisation,[8] Law Commission of India[9], Union Health Ministry,[10] National Human Rights Commission [11] and The Planning Commission of India[12] have either implicitly, or expressly come out in support of decriminalising homosexuality in India, and pushed for tolerance and social equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. India is among countries with a social element of a third gender.
Contents [hide]
1 History and religion
2 LGBT culture in India
2.1 Advocacy for legalising homosexuality
2.1.1 International pressure
3 Legal status
4 Recognition of same-sex couples
5 Queer Media Collective
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
[edit] History and religion
A monk caresses a layman, from the Temple of Visvanatha, Khajuraho, Central India, 10th century CE.The Manusmriti, which lists the oldest codes of conduct that were proposed to be followed by a Hindu, does include mention of homosexual practices, but only as something to be regulated. Though homosexuality was considered a part of sexual practices, it was not always well accepted. There were punishments prescribed for homosexual behaviour. For instance, the verse referring to sexual relations between an older woman and a virgin (woman) reads"...a woman who pollutes a damsel (virgin) shall instantly have (her head) shaved or two fingers cut off, and be made to ride (through the town) on a donkey",[13] suggesting a severe punishment. However, the verse referring to sexual relations between two virgins suggests a relatively milder punishment – "...a damsel who pollutes (another) damsel must be fined two hundred (panas), pay the double of her (nuptial) fee, and receive ten (lashes with a) rod".[14] These provisions, quoted out of context, seem homophobic, but in fact they are concerned not with the gender of the partners but with the loss of virginity that rendered a young woman unworthy of marriage. For instance, the punishment for a forced sex act between a man and a woman states "...if any man through insolence forcibly contaminates a maiden, two of his fingers shall be instantly cut off, and he shall pay a fine of six hundred (panas)",[15] which seems more severe in comparison to the punishment prescribed for the same act between two virgins. There is also no penalty prescribed for two non-virgins who have sex together.
The punishment for male offenders was less severe: "...an unnatural offence with a man, are declared to cause the loss of caste (Gatibhramsa)".[16] "...man who commits an unnatural offence with a male...shall bathe, dressed in his clothes".[17] The punishment seems extremely mild, as this is supposedly how most villagers traditionally took their baths.
The skewed treatment may have been due to gender bias, considering that the Manusmriti is the same scripture that has stated that the status of woman in the society is the same (or even lower than) that of a man’s land, his cattle and other possessions.[18]
The unabridged modern translation of the classic Indian text Kama Sutra[19] deals without ambiguity or hypocrisy with all aspects of sexual life—including marriage, adultery, prostitution, group sex, sadomasochism, male and female homosexuality, and transvestism. The text paints a fascinating portrait of an India whose openness to sexuality gave rise to a highly developed expression of the erotic.[20]
In "Same-Sex Love in India : Readings from Literature and History", authors Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai analyse the history of homosexual behaviour in India, drawing from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and modern fictional traditions. The preface to the book states that it 'traces the history of ideas in Indian writing traditions about love between women and love between men who are not biologically related.' The book has a collection of stories from ancient texts like Mahabharata, Panchatantra, Kamasutra, Shiva Purana, Krittivasa Ramayana, The Skanda Purana, Amir Khusro, and Baburnama; along with contemporary Indian literature that support the idea.[citation needed]
[edit] LGBT culture in India
There is a vibrant gay nightlife in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore, including discos and nightclubs. The reports of harassment of homosexual individuals and gatherings by the police has seen a gradual decline since 2004[citation needed]. The majority of Indians[citation needed], according to various polls and surveys[which?], still look down upon the LGBT community. However, many social and human rights activists have been working to promote an increased acceptance of homosexuality.[21][22] Time Out (Delhi) has a dedicated column covering gay events in Delhi every week. Now with the emergence of several LGBT support groups across the nation, the much hidden queer community has increased access to health services and social events[2]
In 2005, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who hails from Rajkot in the Gujarat state, publicly came out as gay. He was quickly anointed by the Indian and the world media as the first openly gay royal. He was disinherited as an immediate reaction by the royal family, though they eventually reconciled. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show,[23] and is currently appearing on BBC Three's Undercover Princes.[24]
In 2008, Zoltan Parag, a competitor at the Mr. Gay International contest said that he was "scared" to return to India fearing discrimination. He said, "Indian media has exposed me so much that now when I call my friends back home, their parents do not let them talk to me".[25]
On 29 June 2008, four Indian cities (Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Puducherry) celebrated gay pride parades. These were the first pride parades in Delhi, Bangalore and Puducherry. About 2000 people turned out in these nationwide parades. Mumbai held its pride march on 16 August 2008, with Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley also joining in the festivities.[26] [26]
On 16 April 2009, India's first gay magazine Bombay Dost, was re-launched by Celina Jaitley in Mumbai.[27]
On 27 June 2009, Bhubaneswar, the capital city of the Orissa state, saw its first gay pride parade.[28] The same day, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily announced that the Union Home Minister has convened a meeting with Union Law Minister, Union Health Minister and Home Ministers of all states to evolve a consensus on decriminalising homosexuality in India. On 28 June 2009, Delhi and Bangalore held their second gay pride parades, and Chennai - generally considered to be a very conservative city - held its first.[29]
The Internet has created a prolific gay cyber culture for the South Asian community. Gay dating websites provide an alternative way for meeting people; online communities also offer a safe and convenient environment for meeting gays all around India.[30] The blogsphere has also not been immune to the modern emergence of a queer desi identity. Web logs highlight stories and issues specific to this marginalised community.[citation needed] With India becoming more open to homosexuality, several organisations in the country have recently started promoting the country as a destination for gay tourists from around the world.[31]
Though Bollywood has gay and trans characters, they have been primarily ridiculed or abused. There are few positive portrayals of late like Onir's My Brother Nikhil, Reema Kagti's Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., and Parvati Balagopalan's Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula but they have been sporadic and not mainstream. There have also been a few independent films that deal with homosexuality like Sridhar Rangayan's Gulabi Aaina - The Pink Mirror, Yours Emotionally, 68 Pages and Ashish Sawhney's Happy Hookers. The first Indian film to deal openly with homosexual relations was Fire by Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta. With its 1997 release in India it stirred up a heated controversy throughout the country. Recently Bollywood has appeared more tolerant toward homosexual relationships and has begun to portray them in a better light, such as in Dostana and Men Not Allowed.
[edit] Advocacy for legalising homosexuality
The Naz Foundation (India), a New Delhi based NGO is at the forefront of the campaign to decriminalise homosexuality. The organisation aims to sensitise the community to the prevalence of HIV, as well as highlight issues related to sexuality and sexual health. The organisation has strong linkages with human rights groups and agencies such as Lawyers Collective, Human Right Law Network, Amnesty International, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Naz India has collaborated with these agencies to address cases of sexual rights abuse. Naz India’s efforts in sensitising the government to different issues related to the epidemic include the amendment of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code commonly known as the ‘Anti-sodomy Law’. This act criminalises same sex sexual behaviour irrespective of the age and consent of the people involved, posing one of the most significant challenges in effective HIV/AIDS interventions with sexual minorities.[32] In December 2002 Naz India filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to challenge IPC section 377 in the Delhi High Court.[33]
In September 2006, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and acclaimed writer Vikram Seth came together with scores of other prominent Indians in public life to publicly demand this change in the legal regime.[34] The open letter demands that 'In the name of humanity and of our Constitution, this cruel and discriminatory law should be struck down.'
On 30 June 2008, Indian labour minister Oscar Fernandes backed calls for decriminalisation of consensual gay sex, and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for greater tolerance towards homosexuals.[35]
On 4 July 2008, gay activists fighting for decriminalisation of consensual homosexuality at the Delhi High Court got a shot in the arm when the court opined that there was nothing unusual in holding a gay rally, something which is common outside India.[36]
On 23 July 2008, Bombay High Court Judge Bilal Nazki said that India's unnatural sex law should be reviewed.[37]
Former Indian health minister Anbumani Ramadoss advocated legalising homosexuality in India. On 9 August 2008, he campaigned for changing "Section 377" of the Indian penal code, which makes homosexuality an unnatural act and thus illegal. At the International AIDS Conference in Mexico city, he said, "Section 377 of IPC, which criminalises men who have sex with men, must go."[38] His ministerial portfolio had put him at odds with the Indian Home ministry in seeking to scrap Section 377.[10] In late 2008, he changed his argument saying he does not want the "scrapping" of Section 377 but a mere "modification" of the law treating homosexuality as a criminal offence punishable up to life imprisonment. He said he wants Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resolve the matter, while he wanted to avoid discord with the home ministry, who said the altered law would then result in an increase in criminal incidences of sodomy or offences involving sexual abuse of children, particularly boys. In doing so he alleged that the law even penalises health workers for "abetting," while making this a cognisable and non-bailable offence. "The entire objective of getting homosexuality decriminalised is primarily to reach out to an estimated 4.5 million MSMs across the country as about 86 per cent HIV/AIDS-affected persons in India are ‘Men Having Sex with Men’ (MSM). My concern is purely on health grounds because Section 377 in its present form interferes with health ministry’s efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS epidemic, as even the doctors treating gay patients could be punished. Hence unless we take appropriate steps it would be difficult to contain the spread of the virus." He added the last comment saying the disease through blood transfusion and parentage declined while the other methods were hindering tackling the epidemic.[39]
[edit] International pressure
The United Nations urged India to decriminalise homosexuality by saying it would help the fight against HIV/AIDS by allowing intervention programmes, much like the successful ones in China and Brazil. Jeffrey O'Malley, director of the United Nations Development Programme on HIV/AIDS, said "countries protecting homosexuals from discrimination had better records of protecting them from getting infected by the diseases. [But] unfortunately in India, the rates of new infections among men who have sex with men continue to go up. Until we acknowledge these behaviours and work with people involved with these behaviours, we are not going to halt and reverse the HIV epidemic. Countries which protect men who have sex with men... have double the rate of coverage of HIV prevention services—as much as 60 percent."[40] In talking to the The Hindu, he added that "The United Progressive Alliance government here is in a difficult position as far as amending Section 377 of the Constitution is concerned because of the coming elections as any changes could be misrepresented. We need to change the laws, sensitise the police and judiciary....But when discriminatory laws have been removed, marginalised people have got access to treatment and prevention facilities like condoms." Warning of the urgency he said, "India has achieved success in checking the spread of this dreaded disease through commercial sex workers but transmission through gay sex, and injectable-drug users is still an area of concern. Injectable-drug use can also be controlled through targeted interventions but is difficult to control or change people’s sexual orientation."[41]
[edit] Legal status
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See also: Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
Indian law does not recognise same-sex marriages, nor does it provide for civil unions. Until July 2009, homosexual intercourse was a criminal offence under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which made it an offence for a person to voluntarily have "carnal intercourse against the order of nature." Whilst convictions under this section were extremely rare, with no convictions at all for homosexual intercourse in the twenty years to 2009, Human Rights Watch have said that the law has been used to harass HIV/AIDS prevention activists, as well as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and other LGBT groups.[42] The group documents arrests in Lucknow of 4 men in 2006 and another 4 in 2001. The People's Union for Civil Liberties has published two reports of the rights violations faced by sexual minorities[43] and, in particular, transsexuals (hijras and kothis) in India.[44]
In recent years, the continued existence of this section had become controversial. The Law Commission of India had historically favoured that the retention of this section, but in its 172nd report, delivered in 2000 it recommended its repeal, as did the then Health minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, in 2008. On 2 July 2009, in the case of Naz Foundation v National Capital Territory of Delhi, the High Court of Delhi struck down much of S. 377 of the IPC as being unconstitutional. The Court held that to the extent S. 377 criminalised consensual non-vaginal sexual acts between adults, it violated an individual's fundamental rights to equality before the law, freedom from discrimination and to life and personal liberty under Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution of India. The High Court did not strike down S. 377 completely - it held the section was valid to the extent it related to non-consensual non-vaginal intercourse or to intercourse with minors - and it expressed the hope that Parliament would soon legislatively address the issue.
Decisions of a High Court on the constitutionality of a law apply throughout India, and not just to the territory of the state over which the High Court in question has jurisdiction.[45] As a result, the decision of the Delhi High Court has the effect of striking down S. 377 throughout the territory of India, with the exception of the State of Jammu and Kashmir which has its own penal law. However, the decision does not bind courts outside Delhi, although it has persuasive value, which means that the High Court of any other state could in theory dissent from the decision of the High Court of Delhi and hold the section to be valid.
[edit] Recognition of same-sex couples
There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples under Indian law. During a recent visit to India by the Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was asked by a journalist what he thought of the new law allowing gay marriage in Canada. His reply was that "there would not be much appreciation for a law like that in India," and he went on to talk about how they were culturally very different societies.
The supreme Sikh religious body, the Akal Takht, has issued an edict condemning gay marriage and has told Sikhs living in Canada not to support or allow gay marriages in gurudwaras. In 2005, two unnamed women in Hyderabad asked the Darul Qaza, an Islamic court, for a fatwa allowing them to marry, but permission was denied with a rebuke from the chief qazi. None of the principal Christian denominations in India allow same-sex marriage.
However, since 1987, when the national press carried the story of two policewomen who married each other by Hindu rites in central India,[46] the press has reported many same-sex marriages, all over the country, mostly between lower middle class young women in small towns and rural areas, who have no contact with any gay movement. Family reactions range from support to disapproval to violent persecution. While police generally harass such couples, Indian courts have uniformly upheld their right, as adults, to live with whomever they wish. In recent years, some of these couples have appeared on television as well. There have also been numerous joint suicides by same-sex couples, mostly female (male-female couples also resort to suicide or to elopement and religious marriage when their families oppose their unions). In "Same-Sex Love in India : Readings from Literature and History", author Ruth Vanita analyses dozens of such marriages and suicides that have taken place over the last three decades, and explores their legal, religious, and historical aspects. She argues that many of the marriages can arguably be considered legally valid, as under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, any marriage between two Hindus performed according to the customs prevalent in the community of one of the two partners is legally valid. No license is required to marry, and most heterosexual Hindu marriages in India today are performed by religious rites alone, without a marriage license and are never registered with the state. State recognition is not sought by most couples because it confers few benefits. Most couples seek the validation of family and community, and several female couples in rural areas and small towns have received this validation.[47]
There have also been a couple of high profile celebrity same-sex marriages, such as the civil union of designer Wendell Rodricks with his French partner Jerome Marrel, conducted under French law in Goa, India. LGBT rights organisations have demanded the right to same-sex marriage, and, inspired both by news from the West, have discussed the issue.[48]
[edit] Queer Media Collective
The Queer Media Collective (QMC) is a group of professional journalists who aim to recognise and reward balanced treatment of gay, lesbian and other queer issues in the Indian media and entertainment industry. This group held their first ever meeting in Mumbai in late 2007. The group now has members in Delhi and Bangalore.[49]
The first event hosted by the group was the Queer Media Collective Awards 2008.[50]
[edit] See also
LGBT portal
India portal
LGBT rights in Asia
Ashok Row Kavi
Fire (1996 film)
Homosexuality and Hinduism
Human rights in India
Lesbian Association of India
Non-westernized concepts of male sexuality
Parvez Sharma
Sridhar Rangayan
Trikone
Monday, February 22, 2010
जिस बात से भय लग रहा था
जिस बात से भय लग रहा था कि कहीं हम जैसे लैंगिक विकलांगों के समाज में स्वीकारे जाने पर हमारी पहचान न विकृत हो जाए। आजकल जिस तरह से लैंगिक विकलांगता को एक तीसरा लिंग जताया जा रहा है ये सबसे खतरनाक साजिश है कुछ कुटिल दिमागों की जो कि अपनी विकृत और बीमार मानसिकता को इस तरह से सामने लाकर भोले बन रहे हैं। मुंबई में होने वाली इस तरह की सौंदर्य प्रतियोगिताएं क्या भला कर पा रही हैं ये सवाल कोई नहीं उठाने का साहस करता। स्त्री एवं पुरुष समलैंगिक संबंधों को अपनी सैक्स प्रायोरिटी(काम वरीयता) बता कर रुग्ण कामुकता के लोग अपने लिये समाज में सहानुभूति पैदा कर रहे हैं और साथ में एक जो धूर्तता कर रहे हैं वह है हम जैसे लैंगिक विकलांगों को कुछ पैसों का लालच दिखा कर अपने कार्यक्रमों में शामिल करना। मैं इस तरह के आयोजनों का पूरी ताकत से विरोध करती हूँ, थू है उन आयोजकों पर जो कि अपने लाभ के लिये बेचारे कम पढ़े-लिखे और अपना भला बुरा न समझ पाने वाले लैंगिक विकलांग बच्चों को इस्तेमाल कर रहे हैं। ये प्रतियोगिताएं मात्र वैसी ही हैं जैसे कि अंधों या लंगड़ों के लिये अलग से सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिता कराई जाए।
मूल मुद्दा शिक्षित करके समाज की मुख्यधारा से जोड़ना है ताकि देहव्यवसाय या मजबूरी में नाच गाकर पेट पालने की पीड़ा को समाप्त करा जा सके।
Thursday, February 25, 2010
लैंगिक विकलांगों को सेक्स का खिलौना बनाने के बौद्धिक प्रयास
हमारे देश में समलैंगिकता को जब से उच्च न्यायालय ने अपराधबोध से मुक्त क्या कराया(भले ही उच्चतम न्यायालय में अभी भी इसके विरुद्ध अपील करी गयी है) उनकी चांदी हो गयी जो कि लैंगिक विकलांगो को सेक्स के खिलौने मानते हैं। मुंबई में लैंगिक विकलांगों के हितों के नाम पर काम करने वाले हम जैसे ही एक बंदे लक्ष्मी नारायण त्रिपाठी ने काफ़ी नाम कमाया है। अस्तित्त्व नाम से एक गैर सरकारी संगठन भी चला रखा है। विदेश यात्राओं से लेकर टीवी कार्यक्रमों में दिखना इनका शगल है। जिस तरह हर समुदाय में होता है कि उनके ही स्वयंभू नेता उन्हीं का दोहन और शोषण करते हैं हमारे समुदाय में भी हो रहा है। शबनम मौसी नाम सब जानते हैं उन्होंने लैंगिक विकलांगता को राजनैतिक ताकत हासिल करने के लिये इस्तेमाल करा और लक्ष्मी नारायण त्रिपाठी प्रसिद्धि और पैसा कमाने के लिये इस्तेमाल कर रहे हैं।
अभी हाल ही में मुंबई में एक सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिता का आयोजन करा गया जिसमें कि तमाम जगहों से लैंगिक विकलांगों को बुलाया गया और लाखों रुपये का खर्च कार्यक्रम के आयोजन में दर्शाया गया। जीनत अमान और सेलिना जेटली जैसे भ्रष्टबुद्धि फिल्म अभिनेत्रियो का भी इस कार्यक्रम में सहयोग रहा। इन लोगों ने बड़े बड़े व्याख्यान दे डाले कैमरे के सामने कि जैसे ये कोई क्रान्तिकारी पहल कर चुके हों।
इन सभी से सवाल कि क्या समाज की मुख्यधारा से लैंगिक विकलांगों को जोड़ने का एक यही रास्ता है? सौन्दर्य स्पर्धाओं के बाद ये कहाँ खो जाते हैं सेलिना जेटली की तरह माडलिंग या फिल्मों में आकर सम्मानपूर्वक जीवन क्यों नहीं जी पाते? क्यों नहीं लैंगिक विकलांग बच्चों के लिये आजतक लक्ष्मी नारायण त्रिपाठी या शबनम मौसी ने स्कूल की मांग करी या खुद ही खोल दिया? क्यों नहीं ये आगे आकर CRY जैसी संस्थाओं का सहयोग लेकर बच्चों को पढ़ाती लिखाती हैं? क्यों नहीं इन आयोजकों ने मुंबई में ट्रेन में भीख मांगने या कमाठीपुरा में सेक्स के भूखे दरिंदों की भूख मिटा कर अपने पेट की भूख मिटा कर दर्दनाक जीवन जीने वाले मासूम लैंगिक विकलांगों को इस आयोजन की सूचना तक न दी?(ये कहेंगे कि हमने तो अखबारों में सूचना दी थी तो जरा ये कुटिल बताएं कि कितने हिजड़े अखबार पढ़्ने के लायक बनाए आजतक इन लोगों ने???)।
आखिरी सवाल कि इन आयोजकों ने कैसे निर्धारित करा कि सारे प्रतिभागी लैंगिक विकलांग(हिजड़े) ही हैं, क्या कोई डॉक्टरी सर्टिफ़िकेट था? यदि नहीं तो लाली पाउडर लगा कर तो शाहरुख खान से लेकर आमिर खान तक सभी भाग ले सकते थे। कोई उत्तर नहीं है किसी के पास ......... इस दिशा में कोई प्रयास न करा जाएगा कि लैंगिक विकलांगता के चिकित्सकीय पैमाने निर्धारित हों और इस आधार पर उन्हें शिक्षा से लेकर नौकरियों में वरीयता दी जाए, आरक्षण दिया जाए। ऐसे तो अंधे भी सुंदर होते हैं तो क्या उनके अंधेपन को लेकर उन्हें अलग सा जीव मान लिया जाए और उनकी सौन्दर्य स्पर्धाएं कराई जाएं? क्यों ये विचार इन मासूमों के दिमाग में ठूँसा जा रहा है कि ये सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिता में ही अपना टैलेंट दिखा सकते हैं ? कभी इनकी कुश्ती या दौड़ की प्रतियोगिता रखकर देखा जाए, बस इतना बताना है कि हम जैसे मनुष्य जैसे दिखने वाले प्राणी सचमुच मनुष्य ही हैं तुम्हारे ही पेट से पैदा हुए, हमें एलियन या दूसरे ग्रह से आया न समझो। भड़ास परिवार का प्रयास जारी रहेगा सर्वशिक्षा के बारे में...........
जय जय भड़ास
(this is what I meant by taking care of HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL...in HUMANITARIAN ground
and people who feel these discussions are adult topics and can give bad impression on young kids/youth...then while media and experts need to give balanced/scintific/medical opinion...parents/guardian also need to check what stuff and how many hours their kids are watching TV/magazine or into internet....and definitly answer their queries with logic/and according to their age. These articles written by others are on the same line what I have originally written here in this blog and orkut....now I'll write about it when its very neccessary as I think I have written all ...and as I have already got lots of flake becoz of writing/discussing on these topics....!!!
जय जय भड़ाs
TRP से बचाओ .. यह दौड़ है जहा हर कोई दौड़ रहा ..यह पेशा नहीं ,यह व्यवसाय नहीं ..यह एक धर्म था ,जो बदल कर सनसनीखेज़ हो गया ,जब जब टीवी चैनलों पर बाढ़,भुखमरी आदि की खबरें दिखाई गई ..जब जब वहाँ की TRP ने उसको एक सिरे से खारिज कर दिया ..अब सवाल आपको करना है,क्या देखना चाहते है आप,चयन कीजिए ...सनसनीखेज़ खबरों की चयनता पर सवाल उठाये ...पत्रक...ारिता के इस नए व्यापार को बचाए .TRP हटाओं पत्रकारिता को बचाओ ...मेरी नहीं ...हम सभी की पहल.
Yeh vichaar main bhi pahle vyakt ker chuki hoon....koi khaabar sansanikhej tabtak nahin hoti...jabtak usse sansanikhej banaker pesh na kiya jaye...mere mutabik hur khaber ka ek gambhir pahlu hota hai...aab yeh media per nirbhar karta hai ki woh usse kitni gahrai tak samajh ker...hur pahloo ki chaanbeen ker ke parosti hai?...sirf tatya dikhati bher hai ? ya...ek opinion(vichaar taiyaar karti hai)?....lakin darshakon per bhi nirbhar karta hai ki vah baton ke sandharbh ko samajh ker...sahi paripekshya mein khabaron ko lein...sirf media ki aalochaana na karein!!!......Shubhkamnayein.
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