We all want world peace

While there have been scattered hijra pageants in India in the past, earlier this week, Mumbai hosted the nation's first formal transgender pageant. Auditions for "Super Queen" have been taking place across the country for the past several weeks; contestants had been handpicked from ten Indian cities. Veteran actor Zeenat Aman and starlet/LGBT activist Celina Jaitley were on hand as judges.

The event has been organized by 12 Noon entertainment; some of you may be familiar with its CEO, trans-activist Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi. Impressively, they have been able to garner support from the likes of Salman Khan and even Pratibha Patil, the current President of India. While we at Queeristan are sorting through the media trickling in, we have been by conflicted by the dichotomous the use of "eunuch" by some sources and "transgender" by others. From our knowledge, the pageant did not require contestants to be hijras; however, if any of our readers know more information, please do share.

Regardless, it is extraordinary that such an undertaking has gained so much (positive) media buzz both within India as well as abroad. We send our congratulations to the winner, Bobby, and all the contestants. We would take this chance to drop the word "fierce", but it's not 2006.

Weekly Mix Masala

Pune sees its first gay play-- Offbeat
Times of India

A look at the Highs (and Lows) of 2008 for South Asia
Global Voices

Forum on Islam and Homosexuality brings heated discussions from both sides of the table.
Beliefnet.com

As much as we at queeristan love NDTV for it's queer-friendly programming, it's facing heat in the Indian blogging community for infringing on free speech
Desi Pundit

Delhi woman demands alimony from gay ex-husband
Times of India

India not alone in suffering from dated Victorian "morality"
PinkNews

Trials begin in Punjab on possible HIV viral filter
Deccan Herald

15 South Asian NGOs unite to seek acceptance for sexual minorities.
Times of India

GLAAD publishes Media Reference Guide, 7th edition
GLAAD.org

Fashionable Poverty

The New York Times ran a great piece a few days ago on a controversial ad campaign launched by Vogue India.

Vogue India’s August issue present[s] a 16-page vision of supple handbags, bejeweled clutches and status-symbol umbrellas, modeled not by runway stars or the wealthiest fraction of Indian society who can actually afford these accessories, but by average Indian people.

The spread raises some questions regarding the difference between creativity and social responsibility. These models, who on average make less than $1.25 a day, are showcasing items upwards of $1,000. How can one reconcile the vast disparity? Unfortunately, Vogue India editor, Priya Tanna, does not. She states that the critics should "lighten up," adding that "with fashion, you can’t take it that seriously." Tanna's gaucherie rebuttal is a slap in the face to not only India's serious poverty problem, but to the mission of fashion as a whole.

Had this campaign been driven by a more profound cause than mere shock and awe, I would have thought twice before rejecting it as a sophomoric attempt at creativity. Tanna confesses that the works bear no significant meaning, but even the most amateur enthusiast understands that great fashion is created with a great purpose -- without it, what is left is, well, meaningless.

In Vogue India magazine, a child from a poor family modeling a Fendi bib, which costs about $100.

A man modeling a Burberry umbrella in Vogue that costs about $200.

Underground Social Justice (...literally)

A few weeks ago we told you about the publication of an awesome compilation of stories dealing with those living with HIV/AIDS in India. Well, the same people releasing AIDS Sutra are sponsoring a 15-day photography exhibition in Delhi's Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. Avahan, an NGO sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hopes the public will absorb the works and begin questioning the stigma attached to this disease. The photos are actually taken from AIDS Sutra, they illustrate each of the sixteen chapters in the compilation. The works have been enlarged and captioned, they highlight sex workers, hijras, IV drug users, MSMs, and other groups considered at high risk for HIV.

The exhibit was opened by Indian Health Minister and Anti-IPC 377 ally, Ambumani Ramadoss. In recent months, Ramadoss has become increasingly vocal in the people's fight to repeal the British artifactual code criminalizing homosexual behavior. He cites structural issues (like IPC 377) and social stigma as the biggest obstacles India must overcome before the nation's HIV epidemic can be controlled. Rajiv Chowk is India's second largest financial, commercial and business center, thousands of people pass through its metro station daily -- talk about some great exposure!

Weekly Mix Masala

The eighth lesbian suicide in Tamil Nadu as of 2008
merinews

Hey fellow Canadians - we should have covered this earlier for you guys: Sher Vancouver, a Sikh LGBT group
BCLocalNews

In the UK, women win the right to children without fathers
UK Times Online

South Asian parents speak up: "We'd rather you were gay with kids."
Salon.com

And the gay pick for the hottest IPL player is...
Mid-Day

Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival starting...yesterday! Screening The World Unseen with Lisa Ray & Sheetal Sheth
courant.com

Another gay film festival, this one in Florida and in early June.
TampaBay

The murder trial of Satender Singh, the gay Fijian killed last year in California, wraps up
Hate Crimes Bill

Sigh. Is this just a conservative attack on British Indians or a real case of sex-selection spreading to the UK?
TimesOnline

The Red Ribbon Express, touted as the world’s biggest mass blitz for HIV prevention, enters Tamil Nadu.
The Hindu

Who knew Bhutan was so... penis friendly?

Update on Hanes-gate '08

A few days ago, we posted the controversy surrounding the use of slurs and stereotypes in the new Hanes "Lipstick" campaign. Well the images have been circulating the blogosphere long enough to receive an official comment from the McCann Erickson India (the PR divison in charge of the images). Prasoon Joshi, chairman and creative director of the firm, issued the following statement:

We have withdrawn the ads and also apologised to McCann Worldwide, stating it was a mistake. A young team in its excitement and passion for winning awards went overboard. The intention was never to hurt anyone’s sentiments and it was done in complete innocence.

Well it's nice to see a formal comment on the ads; but I still don't understand how off-track a team can go when trying to sell underwear. But perhaps they were aiming for more than underwear; what do you think?

McCann India's Hanes ads run into global controversy

Tighty-whiteys just got a little more interesting...

Hanes (as in the underwear company) has launched a new ad campaign; the new images certainly are invigorating the industry. The new tagline reads, “Hanes. Because the world gives you enough labels”, which is accompanied by some of the following pieces:

While the concept is arguably clever, aren't these social labels a bit hefty for an underwear company? The baggage accompanying these terms can't be glossed over by, what some would call, a marketing gimmick. While I'm sure the ads will propel the ongoing dialogues of race and sexuality, one can't help but inquire about the motives of Hanes. Perhaps had the company been more involved in the current social justice movement the queer and POC communities would be more accepting of this avant-garde approach to selling underwear. To its audience, Hanes likens historical social labels to the annoying tags commonly found on boxer-briefs.

The best twist in the story (in our opinion) is that the entire campaign was created by the Bombay division of PR firm, McCann Erickson. However, no one is certain where the ads will be found. It is hard to imagine any US or European division giving this campaign a green light.

Regardless, Hanes 'Lipstick' Campaign is sure ruffling a few feathers, what are some of you thoughts?

Queer Marketing

Weekly Mix Masala

Par-tay! A bunch of fagulous desis are hittin' da clubz tonight. You should totally go, ma friend!
Queeristan

Desilicious Spring Fling, NYC Saturday April 19th
Sholay Productions

Profiles on South Asian women working in "arts & letters"
Women's Writing

The BNP, a white-supremacist party, is dangerously close to getting elected in the London Assembly.
Unite Against Fascism

More on London elections: Overview of London mayor Livingstone's history with the LGBT community
The Guardian

Jackie Warner, the lesbian Work Out star, is turning on some housewives
NYTimes

Discussion: Reconciling Sikhism with Homosexuality
AfterEllen

Openly gay Muslim poet, Iftikhar Nasim, speaks on being a Pakistani-American gay activist
Thaindian News

Kya woh hon Gay kamyaab? -- Will India see the end to IPC 377?
Mid Day

Engendered (4/18-4/20) a 3-day a South Asian multi-disciplinary arts festival
Engendered

Weekly Mix Masala

Obama Talks All Things LGBT
The Advocate

LGBT Catholics to protest anti-gay pope during his visit to the US this weekend
Queers United

Some Old Gold: Hilarious Music Video
Samwell: What What (In the Butt)

Personal Essay by Allen Carr titled Homosexuality in Sri Lanka Past and Present
Globalgayz

Senate to debate lifting ban of HIV positive visitors to the U.S.
SFGate

An editorial criticizing the Dalai Lama's view of homosexuality
Prosandcons.us

Homoerotic "Last Supper" Sparks Outcry in Vienna
ABC News

Gay desis helping gay desis at the University of Maryland
Washington Blade

Sikh-American weighs in on Decision 2008 and discrimination
Asian Americans for Obama

A Closer Look at "You're Rejected"
Southern Voice

Engendered Species

New Yorkers mark you calendars! Engendered, a South Asian multi-disciplinary arts festival, will be held in Lincoln Center April 18-20. The three-day event focuses on gender, sexuality, ritual, and religion in the context of South Asia.

Engendered includes panel discussions with prominent writers and activists contributing to the emerging South Asian queer identity. Over thirty performing artists will be showcasing pieces that revolve around the notion of gender. Last but not least, Mira Nair, Priya Sen, and Harjant Gill are only a few of the many filmmakers whose works will be screened during the festival.

Engendered is presented by Nayikas, New York's first Odissi Dance Company, in partnership with the Indo-American Arts Council.

Check out the festival program; so many thought-provoking sections, so little time! The deadline for purchasing an all-festival pass has expired, but tickets for individual programs are still on sale. Student rates are available!

Engendered: Gender, Sexuality, Ritual, & Religion

Capturing HijrArt

In recent years, hijra photography has frequently found itself within the walls of South Asian art galleries. The Hijra Photo Exhibition, showing at the Museum Auditorium of Thiruvananthapuram, is the newest to join the list. Photographer P. Abhijith attempts "to depict the secluded world of transgenders, mired in myths and taboos." He believes that the torment hijras suffer stems from society's ignorance towards this marginalized community. Abhijith hopes his work will educate the audience and bring this plight into the social spotlight.

The Hijra Photo Exhibition focuses on community members of Tamil Nadu and Bangalore; friends of Abhijith simultaneously created a documentary capturing the life of hijras on film. The film along with the photographs are part of the Kerela exhibition.



Frames of a strange, secret world