A friend of mine and I had an argument recently. It all started with a letter drafted and signed by people like Amartya Sen, Vikram Seth, etc. It was a signature campaign to repeal Article 377 of Indian Penal Code that makes homosexuality a crime.
The man who drafted the letter wrote in a paper, "As a gay Indian one always feels like an outsider, ostracised. I felt like a criminal all the time.” IPC (which covers only the "unnatural" sex act, and mind you, only male ' not lesbian) apart, does a gay (including both male and female homosexuals) Indian really feel like a criminal socially and culturally in India? I don't think so.
This is one society which doesn't see anything unnatural in two men and two women hugging tightly or moving around with their fingers locked, or with arms around each other's shoulders. The society doesn't find anything odd if a man or a woman on the pillion holds the two wheeler rider tightly from behind. But the same society finds it alarming if a man and a woman hold hands or embrace in public.
Police have in the past arrested young boys and girls sitting close to each other in parks and beaches in Chennai, Lucknow and maybe in many other places. But the same police do not find anything odd if people of the same sex indulge in the same activities. For that matter, take any old Hindi film; all of them celebrate 'gay' behaviour unabashedly though not intentionally. Against this background, I don't understand how a 'gay' man in India feels like a criminal. What he does within the confines of private spaces may be a criminal offence but in public, 'gay' behaviour is quite 'normal'. In fact, it is the man who loves a woman- a natural feeling to have- who should be feeling like a criminal in India. Lovers are arrested and prevented from getting married, and they are treated as people worse than criminals.
Personally I feel homosexuality is unnatural and abnormal. The 'modern and cool' friend of mine was alarmed at my opinion and ridiculed me for not accepting homosexuality and lesbianism as a natural way of life. According to her, there is nothing unnatural in getting attracted to someone of the same sex as it has existed from Biblical times, though not sanctioned by the social or religious establishment. So what? Does that make it natural?
I may be called a woman belonging to the primitive ages but I don't care because I feel that same-sex-attraction is unnatural. Had it been natural, life would not have continued at all on earth both among human beings and animals. The natural thing is for the opposite sex to get attracted because that is the only way life perpetuates itself. Homosexuality is abnormal because normal human beings with normal hormonal levels do not get attracted to the same sex.
My 'cool' friend was also alarmed to hear about my opinion on the film 'Brokeback Mountain'. It was nauseating for me to watch two men make love. It was equally nauseating to watch two women make love in 'Fire'. That led me to search on the Internet what researchers and sociologists say on this subject.
After going through several studies, I found that there was no scientific basis to the 'born gay' theory and ALL researchers have dismissed this theory. A new research study by a University of Illinois team, which has screened the entire human genome, reported that there is no 'gay gene'. In the journal Human Genetics, researcher Dr. Brian Mustanski wrote that environmental factors were also likely to be involved.
Results of a study by Peter Bearman and Hannah Bruckner (Yale University) support the role of "social influences, reject the hormone transfer model, reject a speculative evolutionary theory, and are consistent with a general model that allows for genetic expression of same-sex attraction under specific, highly circumscribed, social conditions".
Going back to the letter that says gay men are treated as criminals in India, let me cite an example, that it is not so. During my walks, I used to see two women- one dressed in either sari or salwar kameez and the other in trousers and shirt- regularly, with their fingers locked all the time. The way they walked, the way they looked, the way they touched, there was something very odd. They looked and behaved more like lovers. One day, I saw the young girl kissing the elderly woman on her cheeks repeatedly and passionately as they walked. A couple of women who walked past them did not even give them a second glace. On the other hand, everyday I see walkers looking angrily at the young boys and girls engaged in love-talk as if they were committing the biggest crime on earth!
Friends' Update
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This kind of abnormal acts are the symptoms of weak mind. Any activity going against the nature will lead to disaster. For instance take the case of AIDS, why does it came into being - - - -
shobha dear,,why you considered this issue as so important,,are there not more issues needing serious debate……..perhaps people like you raising such meaningless issues are equally controversial……..better talk some thing more constructive,,,had it been a constructive post,,just imagine so many responses would have made a lot of difference for betterment of the society,,say child abuse as an issue raised by a few ilanders…i just thought of saying so as i think you have the competence to attract attentions of so many ilanders….better use it more constructively.
please……
great goinng…hot comments pouring on….good…
Homosexuality is fine …its a mans choice ..we live in a free world…but at the same time Gay marriages… I am a wee bit ary…marriage is a institution where in one cojoins someone to procreate naturally… gays can live together as long as they want but marry ??? well in this changing world opinions too change… for me personally I am awee bit worried… interesting post… and the deluge of comments … says it all
Homosexuality a crime?????????
Then what would u call a man who does nothing but F*** his wife in the A**.
How can you say that homosexuality is a crime. Its a term related to mind. Its can”t be a crime.
ok enjoy the life.
Shilpa shetty in House of Commons
The TV Show of London ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ winner Bollywood Actress Shilpa Shetty visited British Parliament’s “House of Common” in London on Wednesday, 07th Feb, 2007.
to know more go to http://latestinindia.blogspot.com/
Can anybody tell me this was happened because of talent or sympathy?
Considering Homosexuality as a crime would be unfair to some people.As some people say that it is a matter of preferences…But at the same time it is very much evident that Homosexuality is abnormal.Abnormality does not conclude crime.Shobha ji said very aptly ….”Had it been natural, life would not have continued at all on earth both among human beings and animals. The natural thing is for the opposite sex to get attracted because that is the only way life perpetuates itself…” ..I guess considering Homosexuality as crime is unfair…But this a sort of hormonal imbalance in an extreme side…which effects not your emotions but your sexual behaviour…I am sure scientists will be in progress to find some antidote for this imbalance in nature….This imbalance might be a result of individual environment and circumstances..might be a sign of depressed or unhealthy psychology…In that case psychiatric treatment should be followed…No one should be punished but counseled.
Shobha ji,
Let me ask you a simple question. If a large section of people considered some aspect of your personality to be abnormal/unnatural/deviant, wouldn”t you feel uncomfortable?
You have cited some examples in which couples of the same sex displaying intimacy in public places are ignored by the people. You then use these to claim that “Gays are not treated like criminals”. I disagree with the logic of your approach. All that can be concluded from your observations is that people in India do not necessarily view same-sex bonding as being indicative of gay behaviour. However, let some gay person come out in the open and proclaim his/her homosexuality and then see how he is treated by others. In fact you yourself are contributing to making gay people being ostracized by considering homosexuality as deviant behaviour.
hello shoba
what is not shocking is your opinion of Homosexuality as being ”abnormal” or your unscientific ”research” into homosexuality. You are entitled to think in the way that defines you. But to punish somebody for being human ( yes thats right, even gays are human beings), having a human trait (genetic or not) is what is ”abnormal”. Its just as abnormal as incarcerating pagans, Jews, untouchables or anybody or anything different to what our inherent perceptions are. after all homophobia also does not have a genetic predisposition. (no anti gay gene)
I have many gay friends, some are married and happy. To reject someones humanity based on their preferences is a cause for creating discontent and unhappiness in your own life. This blog, while being an expression of self; can also be an expression of your greater self and create happiness. The true cause of being gay, anti gay, super gay, lies in our karma. which is why scientific research cannot find it in our genes
First of all i would appreciate that this topics are getting into discussion.
As per my view homosexuality is not a crime. We indians have been brought up in a different environments with different views. There is nothing wrong in this as this the same sex that is happening but instead of a guy and girl it will be guys or gals what ever it may be..
homosexuality is not a crime..
it is one’’s choice to live a life the choose.. you must understand this and let them be even if your personal opinion is against this.
and again i agree with sudha rajendran,,are u equipped mentally to handle if ur children turn out to be gay..
or since u are completely againt the whole gay thing..will you disown them right away? think about it
very thought provoking post..good luck
Your sure have got a lot of comments on your writeup. Somehow homosexuality is something very personal. Personnaly I dont think that we are equipped to handle if something is done out off the ordinary and reactions vary. But I do see your point, I dont agree with it, but it is well put. War of the sexes, huh?
i guess whether it is natural or not depends upon whether the couple were feeling a mutual attaraction or whether they were influenced into this mode of thinking. the former is ofcourse a natural course while the latter isn”t. Heck, even this corollary is subject to fervent arguments.
i have a question however, a gay or a lesbian couple - are they so called just because that happen to feel sexual liberation with each other or are they so called because, they preferably tend to look at each other as life partners as in love kinds?
Shoba, You are so self-righteous and condemning that you”ve forgotten the laws of this universe. The man that you prefer to have a ”natural” relationship with might be one of the millions of gay men hiding as heterosexuals in this society. They have wives and children because this society is hostile toward them. Many even are so afraid of being caught, that they frequently act most vehemently against homosexuality. So, Good Luck! Oh, if by accident your children possibly turn out to be gay, be secure in the knowledge that you”ve helped to make their world so much more dangerous and hostile to them. As a straight woman who suspects one of her relatives is a closet gay, I believe that just as India is overcoming prejudice against untouchables, the disabled, etc. this country must rid itself of homophobia.
As always, we are not comfortable with things that fall out of our beliefs and understanding of relationships. As you correctly said our society always looks suspiciously at a couple man-women or girl-boy being physical in public. But it is not fair to say Homosexuality is right or wrong. People are different and sexual orientation is personal choice.
rightly said. Homosexuality is absolutely abnormal. Period.
Hi shobha i am new to this blog & whatever u say is correct keep bloging u have ur own talent to express as u see this world ur free to blog do not take it seriously of selfish fudel thinking people
happy bloging
take care
regards
sridhar
shreedharavasista@rediffmail.com
Hey Shoba Darling. Two men walking hand in hand or two women doing the same is not a sign of “gayness”. Such stupid notions exist only in the west. Maybe you shoud be more in tune with your own country and stop spewing this western centric nonsense.
I am very glad to read your opinion and 100% agree with you.
The famous gay carson of qeer eye once said that any day he wish not to be gay coz he is refused to hv a normal relationship. i think gay is an abnormal condition happening to normal ppl with no fault of their own. Now society has come a long way to accept gay relationship & i support them.
But in all this arguement there are bunch of ppl who pose themself as gay due to their low confidence level or result of a abusive childhood, i think they are the ppl who should be understood & brought to staright life.
In blogging, each one of us have the right to express our views, on any topic we desire. Shobha has expressed her opinion. It”’’s as simple as that. Should she not condemn homosexuality because some disagree with her? Of course not. Let her have her say.
In blogging, each one of us have the right to express our views, on any topic we desire. Shobha has expressed her opinion. It’’s as simple as that. Should she not condemn homosexuality because some disagree with her? Of course. Let her have her say.
I read the original article and some of the comments. While original article is very well written and author does seem to be ignorant when it comes to homosexuality. I certainly agree that publicly two guys or two girls holding hands is more acceptable than a boy and a girl holding hands. Atleast it used to be. But I think times are changing. I see a lot of hetero couples in metropolitans and I see people scorn at same sex people holding hands. But I don”t think that’’s what Vikram Seth was talking about. I believe he was talking about how the section 377 of indian penal code about sodomy (which was effected in 1862, yes 1862) must be making him feel about having sex with a man. (and not holding hands with a man).
Another thing I want to mention is nature<>nurture/born gay/made gay argument. Well.. we don”t know well enough right now. But most researchers believe that it’’s a combination of both. Researchers found a few gene areas that are common in most gays in early-mid 90s.
It is common knowledge amon researchers that homosexuality is a trait like left handedness is that propagates through maternal genes. read : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8332896&dopt=Abstract
I want to comment on somethign author said : “Homosexuality is abnormal because normal human beings with normal hormonal levels do not get attracted to the same sex. ” How ignorant! There is no harmonal level difference between gay guys and heteros!
If you knew you are different when you were 5 years old, how can you call being gay an acquired taste?