Mr. Patel and his Gay Elephant

It's one part Spongebob, one part Ren & Stimpy, and a whole lot of political incorrectness. The Mr. Patel series one of many produced by UK animation studio, ZACtoons. Creator Troy Zafer states that, "The series perceptively highlights Indian culture in a positive and light hearted manner, with the hero, Mr Patel always triumphing." While it might not match everyone's humor, the animation and storyline are undoubtedly unique.

Each episode is about 2 min (with a total of ten in the series), all available on YouTube. The one imbedded below deubts Mr. Patel's gay elephant, Rajiv. To set up the clip, Mr. Patel and female interest, Blondie, are trapped in Rajiv's belly. Slick and his thugs hold Rajiv captive to find Mr. Patel so they can buy out his shop. Racist, homophobic, or just plain odd -- decide for yourself...

The Gayest and Brownest Oscars EVER

The Oscars this year was like no other. In order to stave off the terrible ratings of previous years, the producers changed around the format, hoping to keep audiences tuned in for more. While the jury is still out on their success, Hugh Jackman certainly did entertain us. His song and dance numbers livened up our Oscar experience, paying homage to the ceremony's heyday of the past.

While there was no Queer Desi winner tonight, both gays and brown folk have much to celebrate. Here are the artists who, by winning, made us feel as if we won too....


Dustin Lance Black
Best Original Screenplay -- Milk
Black gave a heartwarming speech on his journey to Milk as a gay man. He also spoke directly to LGBT youth,

"who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours."

Smile Pinki
Best Documentary Short Film
Mylan's short film's protagonist, Pinki, is a hard-willed girl from a humble household in Mirzapur. Pinki suffers from a cleft lip, something she never knew a simple surgery could fix. Smile Pinki is a "real-world fairy tale that follows a young girl's journey to a dream smile from isolation and shame."




AR Rahman
Best Original Score -- Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Song -- "Jai Ho"
AR Rahman is finally getting the global recognition he has deserved for decades. His ability to fuse unique beats with nontraditional rhythms has already earned him the title of a musical deity in the Subcontinent. During the presentations of Best Song, the Oscars suddenly transformed into the Filmfares; the performances were gripping with Rahman's two wins as the icing on the cake. And, like every good boy, he thanked his mom.



Sean Penn
Best Actor in Leading Role -- Milk
In what was most likely the biggest surprise of the night, Sean Penn beat out front-runner, Mickey Rourke, for his endearing portrayal of Harvey Milk, gay activist and politician. He like Black, used the podium to address the need to continue Milk's work.

"I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way"

Slumdog Millionaire
Best Picture & 7 other awards!
Slumdog was, by far, the runaway hit at this years' Oscars. With the entire cast on stage receiving the more coveted award of the night, the energy was palpable from even my living room. The underdog story was a case of life imitating art; three months ago no one could even anticipate the success that Slumdog Millionaire and its cast and crew have reaped. And of course, who could forget the adorable young actors who were flown into LA just for the occasion.

The Making of "I Can't Think Straight"

We know how much you all loved "I Can't Think Straight," the lesbian film by Shamim Sarif. Check out some behind-the-scenes action!

Weekly Mix Masala

Sunil Babu Pant, from Nepal, addresses the UN on LGBT issues.
Gays Without Borders

This guy is on fire! Pant also received a "People of the Year Award" from The Advocate magazine!
Advocate.com

Nepal - one step forward, two steps back. Journalist Uma Singh, one of many journalists targeted in Nepal, is hacked to death by 12 to 20 men. One issue Uma covered was women's rights.
SAJA Forum

The Star Screen Awards were very... pseudo-gay this year! Priyanka Chopra wins the Best Actress award for Fashion and Jon Abraham and Abishek Bachchan win the best couple award for Dostana.
Screen India

Which Bollywood stars have Hollywood look-a-likes? These pairings are amazing!!
Ultrabrown

Queer Masti: Bi-sexual Prejudice - Bi Ladki talks about the lack of understanding towards bi-sexuals.
Desiclub.com

Court rules that Bangladeshi trans-persons are full-fledged citizen and are allowed to vote for the first time ever!
Globalgayz.com

What are the HIV related needs of sexual minorities in India? Download the document here:
msmasia.org

Cop torches wife to death in Nagpur, India
Times of India

Move Over Nandita Das...

Happy New Year from all of us at Queeristan!

We hope 2009 has some great things in store (ie. economic stability, removal of IPC377, that John Abraham sex tape, etc). Well one thing that will definitely not be a part of 2009 is George W. Bush. President-Elect Barack Obama will be taking office in less than two weeks, effectively ending the controversial 8-year tenure of Dubya. It seems as if the whole world is celebrating commemorating this event in their own way.

Kunaal Roy Kapur's The President is Coming will be George Bush's Bollywood send-off. It was set to release at the Novemeber 28th, but was pushed back due to the Mumbai attacks. The film is set during the President's diplomatic visit to India. A group of twenty-somethings compete to be the face of New India and the chance to shake the President's hand. It is meant to be a comedic satire spotted with political incorrectness.

Now if any of you have heard of this movie, chances are it's due the press attention of Kokona Sen Sharma's role as a lesbian. The details of her character (other than her sexuality) are scarce, but it should be interesting to see how Sharma takes on this part.

Weekly Mix Masala

Nepal signs onto UN's 1st Gay Rights Statement -- America remains disturbingly silent.
The Advocate
Pink News

Pro IPC 377 government: Gays, not lack of education, should be blamed for HIV
Times of India

Trans in Trinidad, an interview with Jenny Jagdeo.
Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, Allsexuals, and Gays (JFLAG)

Gay Westerners travel to India in search for surrogate mothers.
Times of India

2nd Edition of Vanita's Same Sex Love in India released -- desi queer message more applicable than ever
Wall Street Journal

Mayor of Pune lends an ear to trans woes
Times of India

John Abraham speaks again on Dostana and shockingly reveals large gay populations in San Francisco, LA, and Miami!
But sadly, he misses the mark on gays:

“This is an option people have chosen for themselves or are born with; we should respect that.”

Times of India

Weekly Mix Masala

================================================
Terrorist Attacks on Mumbai
||26.11.08 - 29.11.08||
Summary of Attacks -- Wikipedia
Sequence of Events -- BBC News
Recent Developments -- NYTimes
Wear White on 12/1 in Solidarity -- Facebook Event
================================================


Gays in India fear rules, blackmailers
The Washington Post

AIDS Sutra released this week, watch readings via webcast
SAJAforum

Dostana is (still) shaking up Bollywood
Bollywood films enter brave, gay world
Straight.com

Dostana in Pakistan
Pakistan Paindabad

John Abraham asks men to step it up
XPress


More Bollywood Gay News
Amisha Patel defends boyfriend's sexuality -- and no one cares
Bollywood News Blog

Konkona Sen Sharma jumps on the rainbow bandwagon
India Forums


Prop 8 News
Minorities fear trend from CA gay marriage ban
Reuters

A queer desi reaches out to LGBT Mormons
2015Place.com


Something Inspiring
All-girl rock band shakes Saudi Arabian establishment
NYTimes
Accolade's MySpace

"Gay" Dostana banned in Pakistan

For not even being a real "gay" movie, Dostana is sure being treated like one!

"A single bench of the high court passed the order on Friday on a writ petition filed by Khuram Khan. The court held that the movie propagates homosexuality, which is not only illegal in Islamic Republic of Pakistan but also considered a crime punishable by whipping, imprisonment, or even death, reported Indian paper DNA.

The petitioner maintained that Dostana promotes gay marriage which is prohibited in Islam and all other religions. Gay marriage is an atrocious and obscene act, more likely to be performed by someone of unsound nature, the petitioner said. Islam says a Muslim should neither commit obscene acts nor indulge in their propagation, he added. “Allah tells us in the Qur’an that He created everything in pairs.”

The petitioner then argued that Karan Johar’s Dostana highlights the gay theme and the Pakistan Film Censor Board should not allow its screening, as being sought by the film’s distributor in Pakistan.

The Lahore high court subsequently directed the chairman of Pakistan Film Censor Board not to allow screening of the film and furnish the transcript of Dostana before the court at the next hearing of the case."

India EU Film Initiative

UPDATE: The ban has been lifted for 4 theaters in Lahore. A country-wide screening will be allowed after the Pakistan Film Censor Board gives its final consent!

Weekly Mix Masala

Condom ringtone, ads push sales in India! Listen to it HERE.
Yahoo! News

In Bangalore, two hijras held for abducting a 16 year old boy and forcing him to change his sex.
The Hindu

Also in Bangalore, police kick Hijras out of their homes in an act of "social cleansing"
Human Rights Watch

Dostana Reviews- what do YOU think??
Rediff India Abroad
Articles Base

“Why should homosexuals be looked down upon or singled out? It’s an individual’s take, as to how he or she would like to live their lives. That’s why I love the fashion industry. It’s the only industry that doesn’t discriminate, and encourages talent, whether you’re straight or gay!”
- Priyanka Chopra, from the film Dostana
News Network

Pakistan included in the world's top 10 countries with the most internet censorship! I guess that means no Queeristan for you guys :(
Techachino

Banning of Israeli same-sex couples from adopting or having a surrogate mother leads couples to find answers in India!
Outlook India

Open up your eyes, India! Kinsey-like report reveals Indian sexual practices
India Today

The Intervention - What's every Desi girl's secret? Gay porn, of course.

Queer South Asian Cinema

Below is the trailer for The Ode, Nilanjan Neil Lahiri's adaptation of Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla's novel, Ode to Lata:



While the film looks compelling enough, I'm a little disappointed with this trailer. Ode to Lata is, in my opinion, one of the most important books by a desi writer in a long time. Part of the book's strength is Dhalla's unwillingness to allow Ali's story to become mere soap opera. Rather, Dhalla weaves together a complex literary narrative that relies heavily on tropes of contemporary Indian cinema--Ode to Lata is a most cinematic piece of literature. When I heard that an adaptation was in the works I was excited by the prospect of a desi film that tackled the issue of queer film spectatorship. Imagine the creative possibilities of a film about a queer Bollywood cinephile! Yet, from what I can tell from the trailer above the film adaptation has removed any and all reference to Indian cinema, including the 'Lata' of the title. Seems like a missed opportunity to me. We'll have to wait and see.

Weekly Mix Masala

More Reviews of A Jihad for Love
Arab American News
Bay Area Reporter
San Fransico Bay Times

Behind the veil lives a thriving Muslim sexuality
Sydney Morning Herald

Victims blame Nepali PM for floods
SindhToday.net

HIV positive Indian boy wishes to be sent back to Pakistani jail
Pakistan Daily
The News

Gay and Democracy- how queers are becoming more involved in politics.
Times of India

Carriers of HIV ignored in India
NDTV

Activists want British apology for IPC 377
The Independent

Essay on homosexuality in India
CounterCurrents.org

Health Minister Ramadoss champions gay rights
Sahara Samay

How to combat distance in fighting India's war against HIV/AIDS
Reuters India

UAE contradicts itself in terms of lifestyle
International Herald Tribune

Sanjaya, from American Idol, returns!

Weekly Masala Mix

MUMBAI PRIDE 2008 -- pictures and reviews

The Times of India

Ottawa Citizen

365 Gay

DNA

Boston's MASALA garners attention at their booth during the Independence Day festival!
New England Blade

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funds the world's first condom ringtone in India to promote safer sex
Softpedia
Listen to the ringtone here!

Delhi study finds abused wives at heightened risk for HIV
The Telegraph

NGO launches project Sankalp, an HIV prevention program in Karnataka
Mangalorean.com

Director, Madhur Bhandarkar, tosses around idea of a "Bollywood Brokeback Mountian"
Times of India

India's second candidate for an HIV vaccine reaches a milestone
The Telegraph

My Big Fat Straight Wedding - Andrew Sullivan explains why gay marriage is not really "gay" marriage
The Atlantic

An HIV-positive woman who has never shown symptoms of the virus might provide insights into HIV/AIDS vaccine development!
KaiserNetwork.org

Daivd Gere, brother of Richard Gere, subject of documentary on being a gay family in India
Out In India—A Family's Journey
The Times of India

India launches first HIV health insurance
Only Insurance

Health minister stressed need to scrap Section 377
Indian Express

UK study shows that ethnic minorities with similar sexual behavior show different rates of HIV infection
AIDSmap

Manipur's work to eradicate TB is threatened by the state's rising HIV infections
Panos London

More of LOGO Online's The Click List

Best Mates
a flim by Maninderpal Sahota

"Raj is having serious relationship problems with his girlfriend. He decides to meet up with his old University friend Tom for a drink at the pub. Tom is also having a tough time, he and his wife are struggling with the demands of their toddler. At the pub they are determined to escape their complicated lives."

Weekly Mix Masala

Queeristan would like to wish India and Pakistan very happy 61st birthdays! We hope everyone is enjoying the celebrations all over the world!



Profile of Hanif Kureishi, screenwriter of 1985 queer flick, My Beautiful Laundrette
NY Times

Minister Ramadoss' statement gives gays hope in India
Hindustani Times

Review for A Jihad for Love
Los Angeles Times

HIV and homosexuality in Pakistan research report
AidsPortal

Fellow Queeristani, Naful Khan, comes out!
The Times

A profile of novelist, Manju Kapur
Jabberwock (from August's Elle)

I Can't Think Straight

Shamin Sarif has come out with a second lesbian movie, I Can't Think Straight, which is bound to be as critically-acclaimed as her first GLBT-interest flick, The World Unseen. Unlike some of the other recently released lesbian movies with South Asian leads, something tells me that this is actually one worth noting.
Ultrabrown

Review: A Jihad for Love

Parvez Sharma's important documentary A Jihad for Love is receiving some well-deserved acclaim. After hearing buzz about this film for months, I was lucky enough to attend a screening, here in Chicago, at which Sharma fielded questions from a small but inquisitive audience.

A Jihad for Love follows a series of queerly-inclined folks of various nationalities (South Africa, India, Turkey, France...) as they attempt to confront the seemingly irreconcilable conflict between their Islamic faith and their same-sex desires. Some offer revised interpretations of the Qur'an, some hope to emigrate to escape social (and sometimes political/legal) dangers, and still others are wracked by guilt and shame about their sexual preference.

Sharma's decision to film subjects in a variety of national contexts highlights the immense diversity in beliefs and practices across the Muslim community. Ultimately though the film fails to fully interrogate the profound importance of Islam in these peoples' lives; we get that Islam is important to them, but not exactly how faith functions in daily life and in the formation of identity. Islam (and more broadly, Religion) is portrayed as a given--a static, stable system of belief that exists as is; a force with which it is possible to argue, but rarely to refashion.

Nonetheless, the film packs a substantial emotional wallop in its presentation of complex, intelligent people struggling to (re)define themselves. At its core A Jihad for Love opens up a space for insightful discussion, no small feat for a small-budget documentary released in an era defined by severe anti-Islamic rhetoric.

Weekly Mix Masala

Just like always, taboos about sex prevent HIV prevention. This time, in Pakistan.
New York Times

Bombay High Court aquits two Britons of charges on pedophilia
Times of India

In Australia, a lesbian couple tries to sue their doctor when their in vitro results in two babies instead of one...
Times of India

When Kiren Met Karen review. After all the hype before the movie, this reviewer finds the movie disappointing
AfterEllen.com

New book sheds light on gay life in the Muslim world.
PRWeb

Weekly Mix Masala

Interview with Onir, director of My Brother...Nikhil
DesiCritics.org

Protests urge US and Europe to stop aid to homophobic countries
Pink News

Gay honor killing, a first in Turkey
The Independent

What's wrong when men come together?
Business Standard

Trans tourists detained in Dubai
Gulf News

Profile of The Wire's Omar Little, "the gay stick up man who robs drug dealer for a living"
The Guardian

Pakistan at risk for HIV/AIDS epidemic
Daily Times of Pakistan

South Asian gays silent no longer
The Province

Film Review: My Brother...Nikhil (2005)

Inspired by true events, Onir's debut My Brother...Nikhil is an ambitious, deeply emotional film, featuring subtle performances from its ensemble of seasoned actors. In stark contrast to the big-budget spectacles that have come to stereotypically define India's rich cinematic traditions, Nikhil underplays its melodramatic sensibilities to evince some truly heartrending moments.

Set in Goa, from 1987-1994, the film narrates the story of Nikhil Kapoor (Sanjay Suri), champion swimmer and all-round nice guy, who is diagnosed with HIV at the height of his sports career. News of his diagnosis spreads quickly in the community, ultimately leading to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in an abandoned sanitarium. Nikhil's parents flee Goa in shame, leaving elder sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla) to provide support to her brother, along with Nigel (Purab Kohli), Nikhil's boyfriend.

Given that My Brother...Nikhil centers around issues of HIV/AIDS, gayness, gender bias, and social stigma, the film is sometimes forced to function as an extended public service announcement. For example, the depiction of the legal battles regarding Nikhil's 3-month imprisonment is so underdeveloped it borders on being peripheral. The film works best as a family drama in which parents, children, siblings and partners must come to terms with the ravages of illness and blighted expectations.

Of special mention is the film's narrative style--rather than allowing the film to unfold in a linear fashion (which would have resulted in little more than a two-hour death knell), Onir cleverly uses a docu-drama approach in which each of the principal characters directly addresses the camera, narrating the flashbacks that fill-in Nikhil's story. Though this technique falters a few times, it is surprisingly effective on the whole, especially in terms of character development.

The cast is, without question, the film's biggest strength. Purab Kohli and Lilette Dubey, as Nikhil's boyfriend and mother respectively, are solid. Victor Banerjee is especially fine in the role of Nikhil's father, who must overcome his deep-seeded homophobia in order to reconnect with his son. Juhi Chawla gives a potentially career-best performance as Anamika, Nikhil's sister, confidant and champion. And finally, Sanjay Suri (also serving as producer) turns in a sterling performance as Nikhil. Although often overlooked in mainstream Hindi cinema, Suri proves here that he ranks among the most expressive and dauntless of Indian actors.

Also worth mentioning is the ingenious TV promo-spot (included on the Elite DVD). A range of well-known Bollywood personalities (Karan Johar, Abhishek Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Mandira Bedi, among others) appear to say, "I care for my brother, Nikhil. Do you?" one after another, after another, until a title card with the film's original release date appears. It's rare to see celebrities promoting projects with which they have no affiliation, especially those that deal with what might be considered "controversial" thematic content.

Recommended.

Weekly Mix Masala

Deepa Mehta lends her support for India's pride parades
NDTV Movies

Sex and the Indian City- taking a look at what the show would look like set in India.
Times of India

Interview with Manil Suri, queer author of "The Death of Vishnu"
New York Times

Although the total number of HIV infections in Asian and Pacific Island men in the US remains low, the annual increase is estimated to be 12.1%.
Aidsmap News

Do progressive/activist minorities care about transpeople or is this an issue they want to avoid? Read about black civil rights group's treatment of the policy brutality towards transperson Duane Johnson.

The F Word

How sad! Queer flick When Kiren Met Karen isn't finding any love in India
NDTV Movies

Coming out isn't easy for gay kids. And what if you have traditional Indian parents?
Toronto Sun

Historical records suggest that the first women's shelter was started in Istanbul

The F Word

Watch out! A gang of criminals in Mumbai is targeting young gay men looking for one-night stands. And the modus operandi? They pick them up and dupe them into taking them home. Once there, they pretend to be policemen and extort their money and valuables
Times of India