Weekly Mix Masala

The Kinsey Institute's International Encylopedia of Sexuality is all available online. Articles about India: 516; Nepal: 714; Sri Lanka: 972. For those of you virgins to the Kinsey name - Kinsey is considered the father of sexology. Go watch Kinsey, the movie, for a better idea.

The Kinsey Institute

Check out the website of famous Indian photographer Farrokh Chotia - he's photographed the likes of Aishwariya and Lakshmi Menon. Note the, ahem, color differences between the "ideal" beauty of the Bollywood stars and the more varied features of the legitimate models.

farrokchothia.com

Can't swallow the idea of real live Indian porn? Well there's a comic alternative for you, Savita Bhabhi. Unfortch, no queer scenes as of yet, but it's delightfully ironic.

Savita Bhabhi

Apple donates $100,000 to fight against Proposition 8, which is on the California ballot to eliminate the right of gay marriage from the state constitution. You know, I never would have guessed...

The Tech Chronicles

Turns out that Indians in the US aren't as conservative as we sometimes think. Indians are strong supporters of Obama, and additionally *drumroll* - A majority of Indians in California are against a constitutional amendment banning gay-marriage (aka Prop 8).

SAJA Forum

Weekly Mix Masala

BREAKING NEWS: Many dead in Sir Lanka bus blast
BBC News

Transsexuals vie to win first-ever trans pageant in Kolkata!
Hindustan Times

Alarming trend continues with MORE Queer Crime: 30-year-old married man arrested for the murder of a man who refused to pay him after sex
India eNews

"I am coming out as a Muslim man. My gay identity is secondary." -Parvez Sharma
Advocate.com

A South Asian theater group at Harvard University pushes the borders with a new play, involving queer issues, interracial relations, and the word 'vagina'!
India New England

Controversy over Cricket cheerleaders: are they making the sport flashier or trashier?
BBC News

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

Weekly Mix Masala

Sahran Abeysundara, a queer activist from Sri Lanka, is named as the third grand marshal in Vancouver's pride parade
Vancouver Courier

Can Singapore handle Rose?
The Electric

"My dream role is to play a prostitute" - Bobby Darling
NowRunning

On Bobby Darling's upcoming films: "I even have a kissing scene with a Pakistani actor in one of my movies and I felt nice doing the scene"
Now Running

Reviews on Indian paperbacks, including the Pregnant King and the newly translated Dance.
The Telegraph - Calcutta

Who says Bush is homophobic? (NSFW: Not Suitable for Work)
Fleshbot

Sacramento area gays face increasing tension from influx of the growing evangelical Slavic community
LA Times

Fitna, the controversial short-film by Geert Wilders, has been released. No, we are not going to post the video, nor are we providing a link.

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

"most homosexuals...choose certain occupations like hairdressing, fashion designing and modelling."

An article in the Sri Lankan newspaper, The Island, has caused an uproar in the LGBT community. At first glance, you may think the stereotyping of homosexuality, although wrong, is no major cause for concern. However, take into consideration the LGBT community's delicate balance between freedom and imprisonment (homosexual acts are punishable by law, but the law has not been enforced for decades), and you will realize just how every little bit of propaganda is fuel for a fire that may start burning at any moment.