Tom and Jerry

Is Bhutan finally finding its way out of the closet? For the first time, the local media has taken an interest in it's queer folk, particularly in the lesbian scene. Called "Tom and Jerry couples" in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, these women have been categorized into a Bhutanese version of butch and lipstick lesbians. Some have been Toms (a play on tomboys) all their lives, while some have only been deemed so based on current relationships. Azha, the Tom that is featured in the article, brings in the cash, while her past Jerry girlfriends have always taken to doing the chores at home. Unfortunately, many of her Jerrys have opted for men in the long run. These girls should have paid more attention during the cartoons- don't they know that Tom always gets screwed over in the end??

Tom and Jerry: the gay side of the story

Weekly Mix Masala

List of religions & their positions on homosexuality (doesn't include Sikhism though!)
SignOnSanDiego.com

Another list - this one an English language South Asian LGBT bibliography
Columbia University

"Homosexuals seek social networking sites support"...whoa oh oh! We were totally the first on this trend - check us out on facebook
Zee News

Tale of an Indian Lesbian (fiction)
SAMAR Magazine

There are 9 countries that have the maximum death sentence for same-sex relations; Pakistan and Iran are 2 of them. There are 10 countries that have the maximum sentence for life imprisonment for same-sex relations; India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal (hopefully that will change soon) are 4 of them - the other 6 have large South Asian populations.
Pink News

Scroll down to watch the documentary Voices from Nepal, where Scott Long of HRC records stories of LGBT people working for change in Nepal
In The Life

Kinda like the pharmacists who refuse to give birth control, a registrar in UK refuses to conduct civil partnerships
Islington Tribune

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?

For Queer Dummies: LGBT Rights in South Asian Countries

All around the world, queers in different countries face different issues. While some are currently fighting for the right to marry or adopt, others are busy fighting against imprisonment and even death. Here's a quick breakdown of how LGBT rights in South Asia measure up.


Bangladesh:
Homosexual acts are punishable by deportation, fines and imprisonment up to 10 years, or imprisonment for life. Although rarely enforced, there are incidents of queer individuals being sentenced to death by fatwa, or Islamic law. LGBT have been granted asylum by other countries.




Bhutan:
Engaging in homosexual acts is considered a petty misdemeanor and, under the penal code of Bhutan (Art. 213 & 214), is punishable by imprisonment between one month and one year.






India:
Section 377 deems "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" to be punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years with a fine, or imprisonment for life. Although enforcement of the law is rare, it is frequently used to harass the queer community. Judicial review of the law is being sought.





Maldives: Only male homosexual acts can lead to imprisonment for life.









Nepal:
Homosexual acts may be punishable by imprisonment. However, in December 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that the government must create laws to protect the LGBT community and change old laws that discriminate against them. Nepal is going through some exciting changes right now!









Pakistan:
Since 1990, homosexuality is punishable by up to 100 lashes or death by stoning. Honor killings (murders towards individuals who dishonor their family or community) are commonplace towards LGBT individuals. LGBT have been granted asylum by other countries.





Sri Lanka:
Male homosexual acts can lead to imprisonment for up to 10 years.








Interactive Map of Legal Status of LGBT People

LGBT Rights By Country