From: prem@prem.lbl.gov (Shirdi R. Prem)
Subject: Re: Gay Men in India ?
Reply-To: prem@prem.lbl.gov (Shirdi R. Prem)
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 18:56:25 GMT

	I saw a program about a couple of months ago on PBS where they
	covered the issue of gays and lesbians in India. It was as a
	part of another program, and must have lasted about 15 minutes.

	They showed some interviews conducted in bars in Bombay, and on
	college campuses in New Delhi (I think it was IIT and JNU), Bombay 
	Madras and (maybe) Karachi. These folks call themselves "Khush", 
	and the way PBS showed it, it seemed to be mostly prevalent in 
	the urban areas. Most of the folk covered in this program seemed 
	to be from the affluent side of average. Many of them were "ABCD" 
	types, from the States, Canada and Europe, though a couple of them
	were people who came to study in the USA and returned to India.

	They also referred to a magazine called "Trikon" (Triangle)which 
	deals with them, but I am not sure whether it is published in 
	India or in the Bay Area.

	I for one was quite surprised to see the program, not having
	known gay/lesbian activities were quite so widespread in India.
	I guess in a way it is a good thing, because they were planning
	to take a serious stand with the Indian Govt with regard to
	educating Indians in general about AIDS and HIV. 
	
	Being straight myself, I am ambivalent about gay issues, but as 
	far as the spread of AIDS in India is concerned, the thought 
	really scares the living daylights out of me. Having seen the 
	chaotic state of the Indian healthcare infrastructure, and the 
	general lack of awareness and/or education, especially among the 
	poorer sections, India is highly susceptible to an AIDS epidemic.
	If any of you know what is being done regarding this in India,
	please post to the net.

	Prem!

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====                                              -- R. Shirdi Prem         ====
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian